BPS Faith-Based Connect

Special Olympics Awards Four Boston Public Schools with National Banner

Special Olympics Massachusetts recently honored four Boston Public Schools with National Banner recognition for their efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities for students with and without disabilities.

Special Olympics Honors Four Boston Public Schools with National Banner Recognition

BPS has four of only 17 schools in Massachusetts and 217 schools nationwide to achieve the status of National Banner School for the 2024-2025 school year.

BOSTON - DECEMBER 19, 2025- Special Olympics Massachusetts recently named Brighton High School, Mario Umana Academy, Trotter Elementary, and the Warren Prescott K-8 School as National Banner schools for their efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities for students with and without disabilities. The four schools earned this distinguished status as a result of meeting 10 national standards of excellence in the areas of inclusion, advocacy, and respect. These standards were developed by a national panel of leaders from the Special Olympics and the education community.

"We are incredibly proud that four Boston Public Schools have been recognized as National Banner Unified Champion Schools," said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. "This honor reflects our district's and schools’ commitment to creating inclusive environments where every student of all abilities can participate, lead, and thrive. Through programs like Unified Sports, inclusive youth leadership, and whole-school engagement, we move closer to building a more inclusive future across all of our schools."

The Unified Champion Schools® model is a strategy for schools Pre-K through university that intentionally promotes meaningful social inclusion by bringing together students with and without disabilities to create accepting school environments, utilizing three interconnected components: Unified Sports; inclusive youth leadership; and whole-school engagement. As many as 16 million young people are taking part in inclusive experiences through Special Olympics. National Banner Unified Champion Schools also demonstrate they are self-sustainable or have a plan in place to sustain these activities into the future.

"At Warren Prescott, our students are at the center of everything we do and our school community works diligently every day to ensure that all our students have the opportunity to connect, lead, and learn alongside their peers of all abilities," said Principal Michele Davis, Warren-Prescott K-8 School. "Our collaborative efforts are grounded in this vision, allowing students to engage meaningfully with each other and helping build a school culture rooted in equity, respect, and inclusion."

Since October 2023, Boston Public Schools (BPS) has been implementing its landmark Inclusive Education Plan for the Boston Public Schools. The plan outlines systemic changes across all BPS divisions to close opportunity gaps and give every student access to rigorous and culturally affirming instruction. This Inclusive Education Plan will transform learning outcomes for all students, upholding the right of every student to be educated in the least-restrictive environment.

"Trotter Elementary celebrates the power of inclusion every day. Our students participate in Unified Sports and school-wide activities that foster understanding, leadership, and friendship across all abilities," said Principal Sarita Thomas, Trotter Elementary School. "Being named a National Banner School emphasizes our commitment to creating a learning environment where all students can thrive socially and academically."

Brighton High School has made history by becoming the first secondary school in Boston Public Schools to earn Special Olympics National Banner recognition. This achievement showcases the school’s commitment to creating an inclusive community where students of all abilities can fully participate in sports, leadership activities, and school life. With its unified sports programs and strong culture of belonging, Brighton sets a great example of what it means to achieve inclusive excellence at the high school level.

"At Brighton High School, our students are at the forefront of creating a community where everyone feels seen, supported, and included," said Principal Andrew Bott, Brighton High School. "This recognition highlights their dedication to uplifting one another, fostering strong friendships, and making our school a welcoming environment for all. We are incredibly proud of the leadership and compassion our students demonstrate every day, which has earned us the Special Olympics National Banner."

Photo: Piano Lab Ribbon Cutting at Umana Academy, 2025.

“This achievement reflects the power of inclusion, teamwork, and community. At the Umana, every student deserves to feel seen, valued, and celebrated, and earning the National Banner recognition affirms that belief,” said Principal Akua-Nia Francillon, Mario Umana Academy. “I am proud of our school, grateful for our dedicated educators, and inspired by our amazing young people who make the Umana a place where belonging and brilliance are lived every day.”

The Unified Champion Schools® model is supported by the Office of Special Education Programs in the U.S. Department of Education. This model has been proven, through research, to be an effective and replicable means to providing students with and without disabilities the opportunity to form positive social relationships and promote a socially inclusive school climate.

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Welcome to BPS FAITH-BASED CONNECT, a resource for connecting Boston Public Schools (BPS) with the surrounding faith-based community's vital outreach efforts. This database is designed to bridge the gap between educational institutions and local resources, recognizing that strong community partnerships are crucial for student success.

Many members of our school-community prefer seeking help from established, neighborhood-based organizations with a history of community trust, which this database highlights. For families navigating daily challenges, this resource acts as a critical, localized safety net, providing immediate access to basic needs. When a crisis hits—such as needing emergency food or clothing—families can quickly identify the closest, most accessible food pantry, clothing closet, or assistance program near their child's school or home.

Some of FBO’s offer localized childcare options. This directory helps connect families with proximate, potentially more affordable or values-aligned childcare and after-school programs offered by local faith-based organizations.

Additionally, BPS FAITH-BASED CONNECT reduces transportation barriers by focusing on proximity to schools, making it easier for families to physically reach and utilize available aid.

Search Faith-Based Connect Organizations by BPS Region

What is BPS Faith Based Connect?

BPS FAITH BASED CONNECT is a platform that offers a dual-function directory:

A comprehensive map of diverse faith-based entities—including churches, mosques, synagogues, and more—located throughout Boston neighborhoods.
A targeted, proximity-aware list of those specific organizations that offer public community ministries, such as food pantries, childcare services, clothing assistance, and basic needs support, enabling BPS staff, families, and community members to easily find nearby assistance or identify collaboration opportunities.
SLIDE DECK

Especially Designed With Our Staff in Mind

For BPS staff—including Family Liaisons, educators, and administration—this database is an essential tool for holistic student support and community engagement:

Efficient Referrals: providing immediate, actionable referrals to specific, nearby resources rather than generic recommendations with the ability to pinpoint exactly which entity offers a specific service within walking distance of the school building.
Informed Crisis Management: When staff identify a student or family in crisis (e.g., housing instability, food insecurity), they can instantly pull up a map of local support networks to help stabilize the situation quickly.
Streamlined Partnerships: Administrators and family liaisons can use the database to vet and initiate partnerships with reliable, local organizations for mentorship programs, tutoring, or facility usage (e.g., using a church basement for a meeting or event).
Understanding the Community Landscape: The directory provides a clear overview of the surrounding community assets, allowing them to better understand the support ecosystem available to their students outside of school hours.

Who Manages Faith-Based Connect?

Do You Know the Difference?

When it comes to faith-related entities, it's easy to confuse a traditional place of worship (like a church, mosque, or synagogue) with a faith-based organization (FBO). Do you know the difference?

While a place of worship primarily centers on regular congregational services, traditions, and religious instruction, an FBO often functions more like a charitable nonprofit, with a mission rooted in faith but focused on delivering social services to the broader community. Furthermore, places of worship that extend services to the public—such as running a food pantry or after-school program—must also critically consider their physical capacity and logistical constraints to effectively accommodate the influx of community members in addition to their regular congregation

Understanding the difference is important, as the two can have distinct operational structures, missions, primary purposes, resource limits, and spatial considerations for public service.

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State Names Six Boston Public Schools as Schools of Recognition

Special Olympics Honors Four Boston Public Schools with National Banner Recognition

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