The Boston Globe’s Christopher Huffaker on BPS’ Graduation Requirements | Last Night at School Committee: Special Episode

Last Night at School Committee - MassCore

Earlier this month, we recorded a special conversation with Boston Globe reporter Christopher Huffaker. Huffaker is a reporter for “The Great Divide” - an investigative arm of the paper that analyzes and reports on educational inequities throughout the state. 

Huffaker spoke to our team about a prominent issue we have covered at length on Last Night at School Committee: MassCore. The interview began with a conversation about AP scores around the Commonwealth, and whether the results indicate true success for the state. From there, Ross asked Huffaker to talk a bit more about his recent report that almost one-third of BPS seniors risk not graduating high school in June. In his analysis, Huffaker noted that MassCore, put forth by the state, is a logical benchmark for students to meet, as it aligns with requirements for entry to the Massachusetts college system. He also flagged that this new system was really a situation that raised the standard for many students. As a result, while some students reached a new level of academic achievement, others were left without an opportunity to graduate.

Throughout the conversation, Ross and Huffaker touch on whether the district will vote to amend MassCore as a graduation standard at a future meeting, what “exemptions” may look like for students, and ways to ensure all students meet the completion of MassCore requirements.

Just yesterday, the district released data highlighting that graduation rates reached an all time high last year. We will be on the lookout for how MassCore requirements impact this rate. 

Stay tuned for more from the Shah Foundation team later this month.

Central Office Budget Recap | Last Night at School Committee: March 4, 2026

Last Night at School Committee - March 4, 2026: 

On Wednesday evening, the district held a hearing focused on the Central Office budget. In their presentation, district leadership stated that they prioritized "student-facing" investments that directly supported schools. Highlights from the central office budget include an $86 million increase due to four main categories: health insurance, transportation expenses, special education, and collective bargaining. More specifically, transportation saw a year-over-year rise of 9%, and special education saw a significant jump of 22%. The district was able to find some operational efficiencies in the budget. For instance, they were able to reduce the number of staff at the central office, thus saving $11 million for FY 27. Nevertheless, there are significant financial outlays in the district’s budget that hamper the impact of these minimal savings. 

During the public comment period of the hearing, there were 38 public speakers, many of whom were concerned about the impact of staffing cuts on student life and experience. School committee members then pushed the district to respond to questions about cuts to paraprofessional staffing levels, the enormous cost of transportation, and how student outcomes align with the budget. The budget process will continue with a final hearing on March 18, followed by a School Committee vote on March 25, before heading to the Boston City Council for final appropriation.

Check out our analysis of the BPS Central Budget below: 

Central Budget Overview:  

The proposed FY2027 budget for Boston Public Schools is  $1.71B, a 4.5% increase from current spending levels, and 8% higher than the budget passed in 2026. The BPS budget is divided between ‘Central’ and ‘School’ spending, with the former representing district operations and centrally-budget services like transportation or special education, and the latter representing individual school budgets and teacher salaries. Much of the central budget does represent funds that go to students in schools, which the district refers to as ‘Centrally Funded Directed to Schools.’ While worth keeping in mind, this distinction can complicate comparisons, and in this document, central spending will refer to spending under ‘Departmental Detail’ in BPS budget tables such as this unless otherwise noted. (1) Central spending represents a significant and growing slice of the total budget. BPS plans to spend $873M on central operations, a 10% increase from current spending levels, and $853M on schools, a 1% decrease from current spending levels. For the first time, the total central budget will eclipse total school spending.  Much of this increase comes from a 23% rise in budgeting for ‘Business Services’, which represents mostly employee benefits. Benefits specifically(2) are rising by $40M, driven by a $34M increase to health insurance costs. The district has pointed to employee benefits as the largest driver of the deficit and persistent budgetary woes, which have impacted municipalities and districts across the United States. In large part, this is driven by excess hiring and the district choosing to significantly increase FTEs over the last five years even in the face of declining enrollment.  But while benefits represent a large portion of the increase for the coming fiscal year, they do not explain a majority of the growth in central spending.

 (1)Totals for FY27 represent proposed and not final decisions, but proposed budgets have historically been very representative of final budgets.
(2)  Found here, or in the account category of the budget tables.

Central spending has grown by $223M (34%) from the FY2023 budget to the current budget proposal. But spending on business services only accounts for $44M or a fifth of that growth over the last five years. In fact, spending on transportation increased by $55M over that period – more than benefits! Benefits also do not make up a particularly high proportion of central spending, even in 2027. Business services comprises 26% of all central spending in FY2027, which is still lower than in 2023 when it made up 28% of spending! Even pre-pandemic, business services represented over 29% of central spending in FY2019, far more than they will in the coming year. Even if spending on benefits held steady, BPS would likely still be facing significant budgetary headwinds. The District's budget problems cannot be ascribed solely to ‘unpredictable’ health insurance cost increases; the deficit must be discussed in the context of years of broad budget growth.

Transportation, in particular, is a concerning budget item as it is the second largest expenditure for the central budget behind benefits and is one of the few budgetary items to see an increase even in a deficit year. At a predicted $198M for FY2027, it represents among the largest slices of the budgetary pie. BPS plans to spend nearly as much on bus transportation for 22,000 students (3) as it will on K-8 schools, high schools or centrally budgeted academic programs like special education and early childhood. Here again, the district has offered a number of explanations for the cost increases, but an examination of the data shows that it is not simple. 

(3) Rough estimate per the 2022-25 Transportation Progress Report. Despite Public Records requests, BPS asserts it does not store the data necessary to report current ridership totals.

Transportation Budget Overview: 

In 2022, Boston agreed to a Systemic Improvement Plan with the state and DESE which covered all aspects of BPS’s operations, including transport. At the time, the city and district agreed “to undertake the initiatives outlined below and to be held accountable for reaching specific, identified goals on a clear timeline” over the next three years, ending in June of 2025. For transportation, it included a mandate to achieve 95% on-time performance and an evaluation to analyze efficiency and cost of the transportation department. The district released a mostly positive report on the state of transportation in April of last year, and in a February 2026 School Committee meeting, the district stated: “Since 2022, BPS has made significant progress in addressing many of the long-standing structural issues impeding transportation improvements, leading to measurable, sustained improvements in on-time performance.” While the district has undoubtedly made progress, it has failed to uphold its commitment to the specific targets it agreed to. Moreover, the district has failed to control costs of transportation despite years of promises. 

While BPS enrollment is more than 45,000, only about 22,000 students were transported by the district last year. Still, the transportation budget has grown substantially over the last decade. In 2015, BPS budgeted $101M for transportation, representing 10.4% of the total budget. In the proposed 2027 budget, transportation spending will rise 5% to $198M, representing 11.6% of the total Boston Public Schools budget.  This is after more than $10M of savings from ‘operational efficiencies’ implemented in the coming year. This budget represents a 95% increase since 2015 and a 65% increase since 2019. From 2015 to 2027, transportation spending has grown by an average of 5.8% per year, outpacing total budget growth (4.8%). That gap has grown considerably since the pandemic – the transportation budget has increased by 7.3% annually since 2022, compared to the total budget’s growth rate of just 5.1%. 

The April 2025 transportation report states that “Budget growth will slow and the transportation budget will decline as a percentage of the BPS Operating Budget.” Notably, the district makes no claim that the budget will decline, just that the rate of increase may slow.  The line chart on this page shows the growth of the transportation budget since 2015, with the dotted lines indicating projections based on various trends. Based on the 2015-2027 budget trend,  transportation spending would rise to $212M by 2030, which would be an average growth rate of just 2.5% – half the current rate. Continuing the 2019 trend would result in a budget of $226M, while a continuation of the trend since 2022 results in a nearly $240M budget. All of these projections would have lower average growth rates than what the district has seen since 2019. Even if transportation declined to the same share of the budget as it had in 2015 (10.4%), it would still be $178M in 2027, the same as it was budgeted for in 2025. 

Despite repeated promises about the impact of school closures, declining enrollment, new contracts, and technical innovations, the District has failed to slow the growth of the transportation budget. Even the most optimistic cases predict transportation to remain a major cost driver, even as the district fails to meet its performance expectations and is forced to cut costs elsewhere.  

To read more about the transportation budget, please click here. 

BPS Presents FY2027 Budget: Staffing Cuts, Enrollment Decline, and Multilingual Program Changes | Last Night at School Committee: February 12, 2026 Meeting Recap

Last Night at School Committee - February 12, 2026: 

Last night, the district had a two-part meeting, beginning with a Budget Hearing for FY 2027 and then a short School Committee meeting. The budget hearing largely touched on many of the same financial themes we have heard from the district before, including transportation costs and collective bargaining expenses, while also highlighting some more granular fiscal challenges at the school level. School Committee members asked a number of questions about multilingual programming, cuts to personnel, and the connection between the FY 27 budget and the long-term facilities plan. 

After a brief public comment period, the meeting moved on to a discussion of a new collective bargaining agreement between School Bus Monitors and the district. Notably, this new agreement requires BPS to ask Boston City Council for an extra $1 million this fiscal year to fund the contract. We will keep tabs on how the City Council reacts to this request as well as similar asks in the future. 

Here at the Shah Foundation, we wanted to provide readers with an in-depth look at some of the budget issues for FY 2027. Our team has put together the below analysis, with further commentary and statistics at the link on the bottom of the page.

Budget and Staffing: 

Boston Public Schools proposed a $1.71B budget for FY2027, a 4.5% increase over the current budget, and greater than 8% increase from the $1.58B budget initially passed for FY2026. The total employee headcount for BPS will drop to 10,496, down 5% or 531 positions from FY2026. Total enrollment for the 2026 school year is just 44,416  (46,547 including in-district charters), down more than 1,600 students from 2025 – the lowest enrollment on record. This 8.3% budget increase over last year’s adopted budget is the second largest increase since FY2019. Since that year, the budget has increased by 54%, and total staffing is more than 12% higher. Over the same period, enrollment dropped by 14%, and the total number of BPS schools receiving funding has decreased to 106, down from 124.

The budget increase comes largely from non-salary spending (+12%) compared to salary spending (+1%). Within salary spending, the cuts to administrators (-$3.5M) and teachers (-$6.5M) drove the bulk of the reduction, but this was offset by significant increases to spending on part-time (+$10.6M) and temporary teachers (+$4M). And despite a significant reduction in roles (-8%), the total spending on aides increased slightly (+$1.3) for FY27. Within non-salary spending, employee benefits made up the lion’s share of this increase, up to $219M in FY27, up more than 20% or $40M from the FY2026 budget. However, increases in transportation (+$8M) and purchased services (+$7M) also contributed. The budget calls for cuts of employees across all job categories, with the largest proportional cuts coming for aides, administrators, and support. As the largest group, teachers will see the highest total number of jobs cut – more than 250. Note that the total headcount for every job category except secretarial is higher than it was in 2019, and the total number of employees is only slightly below FY2024 levels. 

BPS also breaks down employment by program, and three program categories account for the majority of job cuts in the 2027 budget. 

Biliungual / SEI has job and budget cuts to almost every program under its umbrella. ‘Bil. Ed. ESL’ will lose 20 FTEs, although its budget only decreases 1%. The ‘SEI ESL’ line item, including 4 FTEs is eliminated entirely, as is the ‘Bil. Ed. Cape Verdean’ line item. ‘SEI Haitian’ will lose 30% of its budget and FTEs. 

General education sees almost all the cuts restricted to elementary education – elementary ed grade 3 will see 56 FTEs eliminated and a 62% budget cut. Universal Pre-K will see 28% or 8 of its FTEs cut.  Special education sees large cuts paired with some increases – SPED McKinley has its budget and FTEs slashed by more than 50%, and ‘SPED Severe Intellectual Impaired’ will see 30% of its FTEs eliminated along with a 22% budget cut. However, ‘SEPD Generic/ Resource’ will increase its headcount and budget by more than 25% and ‘private placement’ will see a $7M budget increase. It should be noted that BPS says that some of these FTE reductions are the results of re-coding people from one job to another – particularly within bilingual programs.  However, the district has not provided any actual breakdown of jobs eliminated vs. positions re-coded vs. vacancies left unfilled, leaving significant ambiguity in this analysis and for parents of BPS students. 

To read more interesting analysis about next year’s budget, click here. 

What’s Next: 

We are in the midst of the budget process - the next budget hearing will be held on March 4th! Stay tuned for more coverage. Be well! 

FY2027 Budget Season Opens: Rising Costs, Declining Enrollment, and a New Funding Formula | Last Night at School Committee: February 4th, 2026 Meeting Recap

Last Night at School Committee - February 4, 2026: 

Last night kicked off the FY 2027 budget season with an overview and a release of all the budget documents. The district’s preliminary FY27 budget proposal totals $1.71 billion, representing a $74 million increase over current spending. This increase comes even as BPS serves roughly 3,000 fewer students than last year, continuing a multi-year trend of declining enrollment. On a per-pupil basis, the district is now spending approximately $37,000 per student. What makes this especially concerning is that increased spending has not translated into improved outcomes. Only one-third of high school students are currently on track to meet BPS graduation standards, and proficiency in ELA MCAS for students in grades 3–8 has declined from 35% in 2019 to 29% in 2025. During that same period, the district added approximately 1,700 positions, raising fundamental questions about staffing growth, productivity, and accountability. Transportation costs illustrate this disconnect. The FY27 budget proposes an additional $11 million for transportation, bringing total spending on yellow buses to approximately $200 million annually, despite ongoing reports from families that buses remain unreliable and poorly coordinated.

Superintendent’s Report - A Response to the Globe: 

The meeting began with an executive session to discuss collective bargaining strategy with United Steelworkers Local 2936, representing bus monitors. While no details were shared publicly, we expect to hear more about this in the coming meetings. Once in public session, the Committee began by recognizing 22 National Board Certified Teachers, a reminder that individual educators continue to demonstrate extraordinary commitment to their professional growth and to their students.

Superintendent Mary Skipper then delivered an abbreviated report, including a brief comment on a Boston Globe article showing that only one-third of BPS students are currently on track to graduate under MassCore requirements. While we have been talking about this issue for months, if not years, clearly the city’s flagship paper has finally caught on to this troubling trend. The Superintendent expressed confidence that these numbers would improve in the coming months as seniors complete coursework and as the district considers exemptions for certain students in the Class of 2026.

The FY27 Budget Presentation: Financial Challenges Ahead

During last night’s budget presentation, Superintendent Skipper framed the proposal as a necessary response to rising costs, pointing to expensive health insurance premiums, transportation, special education services, and collective bargaining agreements as the most important factors. She noted that the district froze central office hiring as early as November 2025 and has since expanded spending pauses to schools. CFO David Bloom provided additional detail, explaining that the district overspent its health insurance budget by $18 million in FY26 due to higher-than-expected premium increases and a reduction in vacant positions. Transportation costs, he stated, continue to rise despite efforts to identify efficiencies, and special education spending is being driven by increased out-of-district placements and post-pandemic service needs.

Committee member Rachel Skerritt pressed district leaders on enrollment projections and how that dovetails with forecasting the budget for the coming years. District officials acknowledged that their forecasting model relies heavily on historical data and failed to anticipate the combined impact of the 2024 election and the rapid contraction of the state shelter system.

In response, the district described a plan to provide “transition support” for under-enrolled schools, two years of additional funding under certain conditions. While presented as equitable funding, the approach closely mirrors the “soft landings” model long criticized for perpetuating inefficiencies by maintaining staffing and programming in schools without sufficient enrollment.

While much of the budget discussion remained abstract, the consequences at the school level are becoming concrete. Schools such as Blackstone, Edison, Hennigan, Condon, and Charlestown High are facing staffing reductions ranging from 12% to 17%, cuts that will directly affect programming, student supports, and personnel.

Perhaps the most important exchange of the night came when Member Skerritt asked how the district could be confident that this budget would not lead to another fiscal crisis. District leaders touched on some new practices, including requiring schools to budget for benefits and eliminating positions rather than creating positions with the expectation that they remain unfilled. But that response only underscored the deeper concern: why were these safeguards not in place already? 

What’s Next: 

This is just the beginning of the budget process. Over the next six weeks, we will be covering the district’s budget presentation to the committees, at both school and district levels, to illustrate how BPS is navigating this challenging time. Be on the lookout for more information related to this budget cycle, as this is crucial for the future of the district. 

The next meeting will be held next week on February 12th at 5:30pm. Stay warm and stay tuned for more on the Boston School Committee! 

BPS Starts 2026 With New Committee Members, a $53M Deficit, and a Special Education Debate | Last Night at School Committee: January 21st, 2026 Meeting Recap

Last Night at School Committee - January 21, 2026

The Boston Public Schools (BPS) School Committee held its first meeting of 2026 this week, coming at a critical moment for the district with new committee members, the current $53 million budget deficit, as well as serious questions about inclusion and transparency.

Superintendent’s Report: Staffing, Closures, and Next Steps

Superintendent Mary Skipper began her report by addressing the district’s next steps following the recent vote on school closures. Superintendent Skipper stated that BPS has held meetings with school leaders to plan transitions, assigned senior project managers to each affected school, and started reviewing student-level data to provide targeted support. Additionally, Superintendent Skipper noted the focus is on student and family transitions, staff support, and community engagement.

Later in her report, Superintendent Skipper turned to one of the district’s most urgent challenges: a projected $53 million deficit in the current fiscal year. She attributed the shortfall primarily to rising health insurance costs, filling vacant positions, additional bus routes, food services, and out-of-district special education. District leadership framed these pressures as largely external and national in scope, rather than fiscal mismanagement. Notably, there was very little public questioning from Committee members on the budget. 

New Committee Members: 

The Superintendent also acknowledged changes to the composition of the School Committee. Two new members, Lydia Torres and Franklin Peralta, joined the body, and Rachel Skerritt was named Vice Chair. The changes come alongside notable departures. Long-time member Michael O’Neill resigned after 17 years of service, and Brandon Cardet Hernandez was not reappointed despite applying for a second term. Known for asking tough questions and centering student outcomes, his departure raises concerns about the loss of critical oversight on the Committee.

Public Comment: Multilingual Learners Left Behind

Only five members of the public spoke during the meeting, a significant drop from recent sessions. Frequent speaker John Mudd raised serious concerns about multilingual education in BPS, and he noted that over 90% of multilingual learners are placed in English-only classrooms, while fewer than 10% are enrolled in dual-language programs. The data suggests a troubling disconnect between the district’s rhetoric on inclusion and the outcomes experienced by multilingual learners. 

The Eliot K-8 Innovation School: An Ideal Model to Follow 

The first report of last night was a mandatory five-year update on the Eliot K-8 School Innovation Plan. Principal Traci Walker-Griffith described a school transformation centered on multi-tiered systems of support, flexible deployment of specialists, and project-based learning, computational thinking, and AI literacy. Coincidentally, the school department published a memo on AI policy that was not mentioned during the meeting. 

She emphasized that the success of the model lies not in unique resources, but in intentional systems, adult learning, and data-driven decision-making. These are tools that could be applied across the district if there is commitment to do so. 

Inclusive Education: Two Divergent Visions 

The most contentious portion of the meeting came during a joint presentation on services for students with disabilities. Superintendent Skipper reaffirmed the district’s commitment to inclusive education as part of the now-concluded DESE Systemic Improvement Plan.

But Edith Bazile, Chair of the Boston Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SpEdPAC), offered a starkly different assessment. She argued that BPS lacks a clear inclusion strategy, a defined timeline, and a dedicated budget. Instead of expanding successful inclusive models, she noted, the district is closing them, including nationally recognized programs like Henderson Upper School. Families, she said, were excluded from meaningful dialogue and often learned about decisions through the media.

Ms. Bazile also raised concerns about access to data, particularly data needed to assess outcomes for students with disabilities. She highlighted autism as a racial and gender equity issue, noting that nearly 80% of students with autism in BPS are male and that Black and Latino students make up the majority of these students. Inclusion, she argued, must be measured by outcomes and the district has not provided sufficient data to evaluate its own practices. Notably, what was framed as a joint presentation often felt like a public debate, revealing deep misalignment between Kay Seale, Director of Special Education for BPS, and parent advocates. The contrast raised serious concerns about communication, trust, and whether the district’s vision for inclusion is shared. 

Conversation with a Former Committee Member: 

Lastly, we had the opportunity to speak with former School Committee member Brandon Cardet-Hernandez. Ross and Jill asked Mr.Cardet-Hernandez to reflect on his role on the Committee as well as his take on certain issues impacting BPS. More specifically, Member Cardet-Hernandez spoke about the recent decision relating to the Madison Park rebuild, how failure of the district to adhere to MassCore requirements, as well as a number of other topics. 

Here at the Shah Foundation, our team put together a deep-dive into both the renovation of Madison Park, the state of MassCore completion, and the aforementioned budget gap. To gain a clearer grasp of the district’s budget concerns, please click here. To learn more about Madison Park, please click here, and to better understand how students in BPS are handling MassCore, please click here. 

The next meeting will be on February 4th at 5:30pm. We look forward to connecting with you then!

Amid Community Outcry, BPS School Committee Votes 6-1 to Close Schools — and Raises More Questions Than Answers | Last Night at School Committee: December 17th, 2025 Meeting Recap

Introduction: 

At last night’s meeting, many important issues were discussed and decided. These included an important memo about enrollment decline, a school closure vote, and a budget update. Conversations between the Committee and district pointed to long-term issues for BPS.

Public Comment Period: 

The meeting moved directly into the public comment period. There were 30 speakers, with the overwhelming majority urging the Committee to halt the proposed school closures. Testimony from teachers, parents, students, and organizers emphasized a lack of transparency, insufficient engagement, and deep uncertainty about what will happen to students once schools close. Speakers repeatedly stressed that families and educators had received vague answers to direct questions about transition plans, accountability, and the future placement of students, particularly those requiring inclusive services.

Public comments reflected a consistent pattern of frustration and distrust. Speakers argued that the timeline for closures was rushed, poorly communicated, and intentionally scheduled during a period when families are least able to engage. Several compared the process to other recent district decisions, including exam school admissions changes, noting a recurring lack of meaningful community input.

A New Collective Bargaining Agreement:

Following public comment, the Committee unanimously approved the collective bargaining agreement between the district and the Boston Association of School Administrators and Supervisors for the 2024–2027 period. The Superintendent noted that the agreement requires a supplemental appropriation to fund the updated contract. While the vote passed unanimously, the discussion raised questions about how collective bargaining costs are cited as a driver of budget pressure while receiving limited scrutiny during approval.

The School Closure Vote: 

The most anticipated item of the evening was the vote on school closures. Chair Robinson framed the decision as part of a broader strategy to improve academic outcomes, address underutilized facilities, and strengthen the district’s long-term sustainability. Superintendent Skipper emphasized declining enrollment, excess capacity, and the need to concentrate resources in fewer schools, referencing the district’s long-term facilities framework and enrollment projections as justification for the closures.

Committee members expressed significant unease ahead of the vote. Several members raised concerns about students who have already experienced multiple school transitions due to prior closures and questioned whether the district has tracked outcomes for those students. Others noted confusion around the district’s emphasis on facilities, particularly in cases where school buildings remain in usable condition. Members also highlighted broader systemic failures, including the absence of a clear, actionable long-term facilities plan and a history of delayed accountability.

Despite widespread concern, unresolved questions, and visible discomfort among several members, the Committee approved the school closure plan by a vote of six in favor and one opposed. The discussion made clear that some members viewed the vote as a necessary fiscal decision rather than an educational one, underscoring the tension between budget realities and student-centered outcomes.

A Financial Update: 

The final presentation of the evening focused on the district’s financial outlook as budget season begins for the Committee. Superintendent Skipper described mounting fiscal pressures, including rising healthcare costs, collective bargaining agreements, transportation expenses, special education costs, and continued enrollment decline. District leadership also introduced the transition from weighted student funding to a new rules-based funding formula, intended to more equitably fund schools and provide greater transparency.

Chief Financial Officer David Bloom explained that the new funding model prioritizes required staffing and non-personnel costs before allocating remaining resources, marking a shift away from per-pupil funding. District leadership emphasized that transition support will be provided to schools over the next two years, as the shift occurs. Committee discussion highlighted the district’s nearly $150 million transportation budget, inefficiencies in service delivery, and parallels between rising healthcare and transportation costs. Members raised concerns about accountability and questioned whether longstanding inefficiencies are being meaningfully addressed.

Committee members also questioned the growth in support staff amid declining enrollment. District officials indicated that staffing reductions will largely affect classroom teachers and paraprofessionals, while attempting to preserve positions tied to inclusive education and student support services. Estimates suggest that several hundred positions may be eliminated as enrollment continues to fall and schools close, reinforcing concerns about the district’s long-term workforce planning.

A Closing Recognition and Looking Ahead:

The meeting concluded with the Committee honoring Vice Chair Michael O’Neill for his 17 years of service to the BPS and the City of Boston. 

The next public meeting will be held virtually on January 21st, 2026 at 5:30pm. In the meantime, we hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season filled with health, joy, and community. We will see you in the new year! 

School Closure Opposition, Inclusive Education Update, and Bilingual Programming Take Center Stage | Last Night at School Committee: December 3rd, 2025 Meeting Recap

The meeting opened with an executive session to discuss a tentative agreement with the Boston Association of School Administrators and Supervisors (BASAS), which the Committee will vote on at its next meeting on December 17th. Additionally, the Committee recognized Taylor McCoy, an Inclusion Specialist at Mattahunt Elementary School, as the 2025 Shattuck Award recipient. Members celebrated her dedication as well as the work of countless educators who serve students every day.

Public comment was emotional and dominated by strong opposition to the proposed school closures, including Another Course to College (ACC), the Community Academy of Science and Health (C.A.S.H.), the Henderson Inclusion School, and Lee Academy. There were 60 speakers scheduled to comment at the meeting, though the actual number of speakers was closer to 50. Students, parents, teachers, and community members emphasized the importance of each school community and the lack of clear transition plans for impacted students. Speakers also pointed to the contrast between the district’s update on inclusive practices and the forthcoming vote to close many schools with high-needs students. Additionally, in response to requests from the public, Committee Members Skarrett and Cardet-Hernandez requested that the district present detailed transition plans for students.

For the fourth meeting in a row, public speakers also raised concerns about the lack of citywide bilingual education programming and urged the district to expand multilingual learner support. The district released a memo to the public about proposed expansion prior to the meeting. Notably, the findings from the district underscored the cost of transportation for students as a major challenge in developing citywide programming. In a separate memo released earlier in the day, the district announced that a system-wide cell phone policy will be released in 2026. We will continue to monitor how this situation plays out.  

Ross and Jill discuss the cost of expanding dual-language programming. 

The only report of the evening focused on the district’s progress toward implementing inclusive education. Superintendent Skipper framed the update as a continuation of the district’s 2022 strategy to move all schools toward inclusive classroom models. BPS previously submitted its Inclusive Education Plan to DESE in October 2023 as part of the Systemic Improvement Plan. District staff described improvements over the past three years and highlighted tools and practices they believe are beginning to show positive student outcomes.

Committee members raised multiple concerns about implementation, clarity, and outcomes. Member Cardet-Hernandez questioned why some schools’ student populations still do not reflect district demographics and pushed the district on protections against over-identification of Black boys and multilingual learners for substantially separate placements. District staff acknowledged ongoing concerns, noting that although the rate of substantially separate placements has decreased to 30.7%, it remains unacceptable.

Member Alkins asked directly about the challenges the district still faces in implementing inclusive practices. The response focused on professional development and cross-functional collaboration rather than on student outcomes or systemwide effectiveness. Member Skerrett pressed for clear benchmarks and targets to measure whether inclusion efforts are actually improving student progress. The presentation offered few concrete indicators, raising lingering questions about outcomes as well as how the district will measure success during upcoming budget discussions.

Long-Term Facilities Plan Presented as Enrollment Drops and Closure Concerns Mount | Last Night at School Committee: November 19th, 2025 Meeting Recap

Last Night at School Committee - November 19th, 2025: 

Here’s what happened Last Night at the Boston School Committee meeting.

Superintendent’s Report:

The Superintendent began with updates on transportation and enrollment, noting that the district has seen record-high transportation performance this fall. Morning on-time performance has reached 95% or higher on nine separate days, a remarkable increase given that in past years BPS only hit that mark twice during the first 45 days of school. Member Cardet-Hernandez, however, inquired about the headline the Superintendent avoided mentioning: the recent bribery and kickback scheme involving a Transdev employee, and the long-standing oversight failures that allowed uncertified drivers and other safety lapses to occur. The Superintendent stated that the latest transportation contract includes stronger accountability provisions, but did not elaborate on what those measures look like. 

The Superintendent then shifted to enrollment, reporting that the district currently serves 46,824 students, an astonishing drop of 1,700 students from this time last year. She attributed the decline to reduced international immigration, fewer children being born in Boston, and smaller cohorts moving through the system. Vice Chair O’Neill followed with questions about how this compares to projections, how much revenue depends on enrollment, and what the district expects for next year. In response, CFO David Bloom explained that Boston’s budget is largely insulated from enrollment declines because city appropriations are not tied to student count. Instead, the budget is tied to local taxes. Moreover, supplemental state and federal grants are based on prior-year enrollment, so the shifts will not have any impact on this coming year.

The district also presented the below data on graduation rates throughout the district. Embedded in a memo circulated to the School Committee, members had long been clamoring for more clarity on these numbers: 

Public Comment and Facilities Tensions: 

Public comment was particularly emotional last night, fueled by the long-term facilities plan scheduled for presentation later in the meeting. Before speakers took to the mic, Superintendent Skipper attempted to clarify that no vote would occur last night and that the December 17 meeting would be the earliest opportunity for action. This preface did little to dissuade speakers, who filled the session with concerns about proposed school closures and reorganizations. Parents, teachers, and students voiced deep pride in their school communities and urged the district to slow down, reconsider, or postpone closures. Others highlighted the need for more multilingual programming and raised concerns about equitable access for out-of-district students seeking admission to BPS.

The Long-Term Facilities Plan: 

The main report of the evening was the long-term facilities plan. Superintendent Skipper framed the work as an effort to align buildings with a shared definition of a high-quality student experience. She asserted the vision is one informed by thousands of surveys, listening sessions, and community engagements. Superintendent Skipper also emphasized that decades of deferred maintenance and sharply declining enrollment have made this planning unavoidable. 

Chief of Capital Planning Delavern Stanislaus then presented an in-depth review of the district’s proposed school closures, mergers, and reconfigurations. The plan includes closing Lee Academy Pilot School, Another Course to College (ACC), and the Community Academy of Science and Health (CASH); restructuring the Henderson School into a unified PreK–8 program; and reconfiguring both Tobin and Russell into PreK–6 schools. Stanislaus also previewed a broader arc of closures, noting that by 2030, the district anticipates approximately eight additional elementary schools and six high schools will ultimately close.

In response to the presentation, Member Cardet-Hernandez highlighted one of the most troubling data points: 39 students who will be displaced in this current slate of closures had been previously impacted before! He urged the district to ensure these students receive a different, more supportive experience this time, while also taking steps to prevent repeated disruption as future closures roll out.

What’s Next:

The next School Committee meeting will be held on December 3rd at 6pm, and the vote on the long-term facility proposals will be held on December 17th. In the interim, we hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! 

Exam School Admissions, Competency Determination, and Graduation Standards Voted On | Last Night at School Committee: November 5th, 2025 Meeting Recap

Last night’s Boston School Committee meeting was filled with votes on various topics crucial to the future of the district, including an adjustment to the Exam School Admissions Policy as well the Competency Determination for the Classes of 2026 and 2027. Here’s what happened: 

Superintendent Mary Skipper opened with how the district is responding to the federal pause on SNAP benefits. She emphasized that all students will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch at BPS sites and highlighted ongoing school-based food drives and a centralized drive at the Bolling Building.

The Committee reviewed and advanced a new group of members for the Opportunity & Achievement Gaps (OAG) Task Force, which advises and holds the district accountable for a shared plan to close equity gaps. The updated slate of members were unanimously approved by the Committee later in the evening.

There were 32 speakers during the public comment period, and many addressed the pending exam school admissions vote, but the night also featured a notable student call for a formal district AI framework, including teacher training and certification for responsible use. Additionally, a number of speakers, once again, urged expansion of dual-language programs, echoing similar requests from last week. It will be interesting to monitor whether the Committee moves forward with this request due to the high volume of testimony. 

In a long-awaited vote, last night was the culmination of months of testimony, presentations, and discussion regarding a change to the Exam School Admissions policy. Superintendent Skipper framed the proposal as a compromise of keeping the benefits of the old system while tweaking other aspects. The recommendation preserves the socioeconomic tier structure while adding a citywide pathway for top-scoring students. In speaking about the decision, Member Stephen Alkins urged deeper equity analysis and simulations to surface nuance for marginalized populations who comprise the district’s majority. Member Rachel Skerritt stressed the core issue in the district: across BPS, there are not enough students meeting grade-level standards in ELA and math to fill the ~1,000 seventh-grade exam school seats.

The adjusted policy passed the committee, with 4 members in favor and 2 members opposed (with one member absent).

Jill talks about how the district sets expectations for students.

After the exam school vote, the Committee then considered three more votes:

1. Chapter 74 (CTE) Admissions Policy for five high schools (Madison Park, English High, Boston Arts Academy, Boston Green Academy, and EMK).

2. Middle School Career Exploration policy to better inform students about CTE pathways earlier.

3. Updated Competency Determination (CD) policy aligned to DESE’s summer 2025 changes (the Committee had approved a BPS CD framework in June 2025; this update brings it into compliance with DESE’s revisions).

Member Skerritt sought clarity on what Competency Determination now means for the Classes of 2026 and 2027 versus graduation requirements. She emphasized that the competency determination is a temporary substitute for grade-10 MCAS as a graduation gate and does not equal a diploma. Instead, it’s merely one eligibility condition alongside MassCore and successful completion of four years of study. 

Embedded within the district’s presentation on this topic were two key infographics that highlight some of the key issues here. The first paints a picture of how the district defines “mastery” for students, along with indicator that a “D-” signals proficiency:

The second graphic illustrates the number of students from the Class of 2026 that are on track to graduate with MassCore. Some of these numbers are really worrisome, and this data underscores the myriad of challenges that the district faces in implementing MassCore: 

Enrollment Trends, Superintendent Contract, and Transformation School Progress Reviewed | Last Night at School Committee: October 29th, 2025 Meeting Recap

Last night’s Boston School Committee meeting covered a wide range of topics, including declining enrollment, the Superintendent’s contract and an update on transformation schools.

Superintendent’s Report:

The meeting began with a Superintendent’s Report. Superintendent Mary Skipper opened by reflecting on the previous night’s “State of the Schools” address, sharing that there was “more pep in the step” throughout central offices following Mayor Wu’s remarks. She also celebrated the opening of several newly renovated schools, upcoming international travel opportunities for students, and an award earned by the BPS Food Team for their work in providing healthy, delicious meals across the district.

Enrollment and Graduation Rates: 

Following the report, Member Brandon Cardet-Hernandez raised two key questions about district trends, enrollment and graduation rates, both of which have been ongoing areas of concern.

Superintendent Skipper confirmed that enrollment is declining across the district, particularly among “newcomer” students, whose numbers are “roughly half” of what they were last year. She explained that while BPS is working to support families, several upcoming cohorts will be smaller, a trend driven by both post-COVID demographic shifts and broader declines in birth rates. The Superintendent also noted that a more complete enrollment report will be presented in November. As for graduation rates, Skipper said that while internal numbers suggest an increase in June graduations and a “robust summer cohort,” final figures will not be available until the state releases official data later in the school year.

Public Comment and the Upcoming Exam School Vote:

During public comment, 33 speakers addressed the Committee, with many focused on the exam school admissions policy. The upcoming vote on this issue will take place next week, and the evening featured impassioned arguments on both sides of the debate, some defending the current system with others pushing for policy shifts. In addition to the exam school discussion, quite a few speakers advocated for increasing access to dual-language programming for students across the district. 

Superintendent’s Contract Discussion: 

The Committee then voted to approve several grants before turning to a discussion of Superintendent Skipper’s new contract. In framing the conversation, Superintendent Skipper spoke passionately about her commitment to Boston and the mission of BPS. Absent in the discussion, however, was a lack of benchmarks or goals tied to Skipper’s renewal. Member Cardet-Hernandez echoed this sentiment, and he called for a more calibrated and evidence-based evaluation process.

Transformation Schools Accountability Update: 

The Committee then heard an update on Transformation Schools, schools identified by the state as requiring targeted intervention. Superintendent Skipper noted that while there are “signs of progress,” persistent challenges remain, including low student achievement and chronic absenteeism. She highlighted that for the third consecutive year, more schools improved their accountability percentile than declined, with 18 schools improving and eight remaining steady.

Member Cardet-Hernandez called the presentation both encouraging and sobering, noting that despite incremental gains, roughly one-third of BPS schools remain in transformation status, serving the highest concentrations of Black, Latino, low-income, multilingual, and special education students. And while it is a positive that the district continued to present this update even though it is no longer mandated, a lot more work needs to be done.

State of the Schools Address:

On this episode, we had a special guest, Greg Maynard, from the Boston Policy Institute to discuss the first ever State of the Schools address from Mayor Michelle Wu. While the Mayor touted new bilingual education, an increase of air conditioning units, and improvement on  transportation times, there were a number of more thorny issues that the Mayor avoided.

The speech stopped short of confronting the district’s most pressing challenges. For instance, while Mayor Wu cited examples of students taking advanced coursework, her discussion of overall academic performance was minimal. Mayor Wu did not address Boston Public Schools’ recently released MCAS results, which remain far below pre-pandemic levels. Fewer than 30% of students in grades 3–8 met expectations in both ELA and math, down more than five percentage points from 2019. Likewise, while Mayor Wu has previously pointed to major capital investments in BPS facilities, more than half of all students still attend schools rated as “inadequate” under the district’s own building experience measure. Over 50% of buildings also lack a full continuum of services, including English learner and special education programs. 

Finally, on transportation, Wu noted that 96% of school buses arrived on time yesterday but did not address the district’s long-term failure to meet the standards required under the 2022 Systemic Improvement Plan (SIP), which set a monthly 95% on-time goal. Public data show the district and its embattled contractor, Transdev, have not met that standard once since the plan began. The annual on-time rate for 2024–25 was 90%, and through the first month of the 2025–26 school year, just 88% according to a public records request. 

Mayor Wu’s State of the Schools address was an important opportunity to confront these challenges head-on. While progress is real, it remains uneven. Test scores are low, facilities are deteriorating, and key obligations to the state remain unmet. Mayor Wu has the political mandate and resources to act decisively; the question is whether the Mayor will use them.

To read the full speech, please click here. 

What’s Next:

The next meeting will be held next Wednesday, November 5th at 6pm. The School Committee will vote on the proposed Exam Schools Admissions Policy shift. We look forward to connecting with you next week! 

Exam School Simulations, Graduation Standards, Summer Learning, and MCAS Results Reviewed | Last Night at School Committee: October 8th, 2025 Meeting Recap

Last Night at School Committee - October 8, 2025:

At last night’s Boston School Committee meeting, members dove immediately into another discussion about the Exam School Admissions Policy Recommendation, foregoing the usual Superintendent’s Report. In response to committee requests from the last meeting, the district presented new simulations that gave equal weight (as opposed to 70% grades and 30% MPA score) to both GPA and MAP assessment scores. The district found that there was minimal change in the overall makeup of students admitted to exam schools.

Public Comment:

There were 21 speakers during public comment, with most urging the Committee to delay the exam school admissions policy change. The reasons were twofold: that the district’s community engagement process has been insufficient, and that any policy shift would risk rolling back progress on diversity. Others spoke about creating a districtwide AI policy, discussed MCAS results, and requested official district holidays for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Secondary Schools Policy Update:

The Committee then moved through grant approvals and then heard a report on secondary school policies, including graduation and vocational admissions criteria. The Committee discussed adding weighted lotteries for all vocational programs, spurring questions about the complexities of admissions for families.

District leaders outlined new competency determination requirements to align with updated state (DESE) standards for the Class of 2026 and beyond, with adjustments for multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and those with exceptional circumstances. Embedded in the district’s presentation was also a recommendation for a watered-down MassCore with a “D-” signaling mastery in certain courses. This raised concerns about expectations and abiding by the previous Committee votes to use MassCore as the graduation standard. 

Additionally, the district failed to present data for the Class of 2025, prompting Member Brandon Cardet-Hernandez to question how many students are currently on track to meet graduation standards. He noted that in the presentation disseminated by the district only 41% of the Class of 2026 appears to be on pace to complete MassCore, and therefore graduate.

Summer Learning Initiatives:

Next, the Superintendent presented on Summer Learning 2025, reporting participation from 14,600 students, up 600 from the previous year. The district highlighted stronger collaboration across departments and improved multilingual family communications. However, outcomes from these summer programs were nonexistent. 

Member Cardet-Hernandez questioned whether the district is truly committed to evaluating outcomes. He pressed for evidence that these expensive programs are actually closing achievement gaps. Member Skerritt echoed that same concern, asking for longitudinal tracking of student outcomes, noting that with today’s data tools, the district should be able to easily compare participants’ attendance, growth, and testing results to prior years.

MCAS and Accountability Results:

The final report of the night centered on 2025 State Assessment and Accountability Results. Superintendent Skipper cited “encouraging progress” in literacy for grades 3–8 and said Boston outperformed other large districts statewide.

But a closer look revealed troubling trends. Member Cardet-Hernandez questioned the effects of “social promotion,” advancing students who haven’t met grade-level standards, and how this impacts high school achievement. Member Skerritt then asked what proficiency targets the district is actually aiming for, suggesting BPS set clear districtwide goals through 2030.

As the below chart indicates, MCAS scores remain below pre-pandemic levels across all grades:

Despite these declines, the district framed the results as “encouraging,” a characterization that is difficult to reconcile with the data.

What’s Next: 

The meeting was emblematic of the district’s current crossroads: a push for optimism and narrative control amid academic stagnation. The next meeting will be held on October 29th. We look forward to connecting with you then! 

Exam School Admissions Policy Change Proposed: Tier Structure, Citywide Round, and Equity Concerns Debated | Last Night at School Committee: September 25th, 2025 Meeting Recap

The Boston School Committee held their second meeting of the school year last night, primarily to present a proposal to change the exam school admissions policy. This was the sole report of the meeting and much of the public comment surrounded this proposal.

After the Superintendent’s report, Member Cardet-Hernández pressed for updates on graduation rates and summer school outcomes. Superintendent Skipper noted those would come at the October 8th meeting, alongside official enrollment numbers.

Exam School Admissions Policy Recommendation:

The district formally presented its recommended changes:

1. Remove all school-based points, which Skipper described as confusing, inequitable, and less impactful over time.

2. Reduce housing-based points from 15 to 10 points, aligning with observed differences in composite scores.

3. Add a “citywide round”: the first 20% of seats at each exam school would go to applicants with the highest composite scores citywide, regardless of tier.

4. Maintain the current four-tier structure, based on neighborhood population, not applicant numbers.

Superintendent Skipper emphasized that these changes would ensure fairness, prevent inflation of scores above 100, and preserve the original intent of the 2021 policy. However, School Committee members raised important questions about the implications of the policy shifts. For instance, Member Polanco García pressed for plans to better support newcomers and English Language Learners, whom Skipper admitted still lack sufficient resources. Meanwhile, Member Rachel Skerritt sought clarity on whether the proposal preserves equity while creating a pathway for the city’s highest achievers. She also noted the district’s failure to deliver on earlier promises to strengthen rigor in grades 4–6, which was promised five years ago. Zooming out a bit, Member Cardet Hernández questioned why BPS continues to frame admissions around three schools instead of tackling system-wide quality, noting families’ desire for options across all grades. And Member Stephen Alkins asked about the drop in projected Black student enrollment (from ~20% to 15%) and urged more transparency in data and grading practices. To cap it all off, Chair Robinson underscored the Committee’s failure to improve early-grade preparation, warning that focusing solely on exam school admissions leaves thousands of other students behind. Clearly, members have many questions, and it is unclear if this policy change will meet the stated goals of clarity, stability, and simplicity.

BPS Opens School Year With New Committee Member, Back-to-School Updates, and Exam School Admissions Discussion | Last Night at School Committee: September 10th, 2025 Meeting Recap

The Boston School Committee met last night for its first meeting of the school year. The meeting covered a wide range of topics, from the district's back-to-school updates to the ongoing discussion of the exam school admissions policy. Here’s a recap of what happened:

The meeting kicked off with a warm welcome to the newest member of the Boston School Committee, Rachel Skerritt. Skerritt, who has previously served as Head of Boston Latin School, is joining the committee and brings a fresh perspective to the group. We are looking forward to hearing from her in the months and years ahead. 

Mayor Wu Makes a Surprise Appearance: 

Mayor Michelle Wu kicked off the meeting with a heartfelt welcome to the Boston school community. The Mayor touched upon some major areas of improvement for the district, including better transportation arrival times. The Mayor and Superintendent complimented each other for their partnership in overcoming enduring challenges across the system. 

Superintendent Mary Skipper began her report with a comprehensive overview of how the first days of school have been going. She highlighted some key areas and spoke to some important data points that illuminate both weaknesses and strengths throughout BPS

• Enrollment Numbers: As of the first week of school, enrollment was just over 48,000 students, with 2,400 new registrations since June. However, the district cautioned that enrollment numbers would fluctuate, especially as the district waits for students to report.

• Attendance: The first day attendance was 78.8%, a two-point increase from the previous year. By the end of the week, that number rose to 79.8%, showing steady improvement. Yet, this is still alarming as it means that 1/5 children are not showing up to their school.

• Transportation: The district touted its best-ever on-time performance for school buses. While the numbers are up, 3 out of 10 kids are still arriving late to school, which remains a significant issue, considering the $188 million spent on school transportation. For comparison, other districts like Newark, New Jersey, spend $105 million less for similar levels of service.

Several public comments touched on a variety of pressing issues:

• Exam School Admissions: Some speakers questioned the fairness and impact of the current admissions policy, which continues to generate debate in the district.

• Inequality and Achievement Gaps: One speaker made a passionate appeal for a more transparent, equity-centered approach to school closures, emphasizing the need for a master facilities plan that addresses historical disparities and ensures students' needs are met.

• Support for English Language Learners: There were calls for more tailored support for English Language Learners, particularly given the increase in multilingual immigrant students in the district.

• Disability Support: One parent spoke about the district’s failure to properly support students with disabilities, sharing her own experience navigating the IEP process.

The committee spent a significant portion of the meeting discussing the exam school admissions policy. As we've seen in past years, the discussion is anything but straightforward. Superintendent Skipper and her team presented some background on the issue, pointing out that the goal of the policy tweak was to increase diversity at the district's prestigious exam schools. However, we do know, they want to create stability, consistency, and clarity. And, it also, may be in a reaction that the number of applications to exam schools is down and, as the chart below notes, the highest number of students leaving the district are in middle grades. 

It seems like BPS was moving away from bonus points to schools, and either changing the tiers to reflect the number of applicants or adding a 20% citywide to the exam school policy. Alas, the conversation went in a number of different directions, and it is unclear where the district will go from here.

Summer Meeting Covers Superintendent Evaluation, Federal Funding Concerns, and Student Support Gaps | Last Night at School Committee: July 9th, 2025 Meeting Recap

The only Boston School Committee meeting of the summer opened with a goodbye to a leaving member, included a summary of the Superintendent’s progress, and ended with more questions than answers. Here's what happened last night:

Goodbye to a Member: 

The meeting began with another goodbye to Committee Member Lima Barbosa who previously announced that she will be leaving the school committee for another professional opportunity. Chair Robinson commended her work on the committee and wished her well in the future. Of note, there is still no word on the process for filling her position.

Administrative Votes: 

The meeting included votes on various grants in the district as well as an ask from the district to ensure that the leased land permits for the Boys and Girls Martin Richard Foundation Field House Project were legally approved. The votes were approved unanimously. 

Public Comment - Lack of District Support:

During the public comment portion of the meeting, there were 10 public speakers that advocated on behalf of different issues. There was a wide range of comments last night, including more testimony about the closing of the Dever, achievement gaps for English Language Learners, support for bus monitors, exam school policy concerns, and significant issues at the Mel King Academy. 

There were also several speakers focused on the poor support offered to students and families in need. One parent spoke to the cumbersome process of school placement related to the student’s IEP, and another parent testified about the district’s failure to adequately assist her medically-disabled son. Much of this testimony was heartwrenching, illustrating some significant gaps in the BPS' support for students with unique needs. 

Federal Funding in BPS:  

Over the past six months, we have been closely following how the federal government’s cuts could impact the district. Last night, Superintendent Skipper offered some insight into resource allocation for next year and beyond. Superintendent Skipper stated that, as of now, no positions will be cut in ‘25-’26 due to funding cuts from the Trump Administration. However, the Superintendent did note that certain title funding may be in jeopardy that could strip away professional development opportunities as well as English Language Learner programming. This will be an issue we continue to monitor. 

Superintendent’s Evaluation: Where’s the Data? 

At the last meeting, the School Committee outlined their evaluation of Superintendent Mary Skipper, and they deemed that Superintendent Skipper was "proficient." During this meeting, committee members unanimously voted to approve their evaluation of the Superintendent, yet certain committee members questioned some aspects of the district’s progress in terms of quantifiable data. Member Cardet-Hernandez inquired about how data was used to inform committee members’ decisions, specifically in terms of graduation rate, enrollment numbers, and achievement gaps. In response, the Superintendent stated that she would provide members with “memos” when this data becomes available. 

Here at the Shah Foundation, we decided to conduct our own analysis of the committee members’ evaluations, and we found a few notable pieces of data. First, across 48 written pages and more than 9,000 words of evaluation on the four standards, there were fewer than 50 data points cited. Second, two of the members did not cite a single specific number in their evaluation of the superintendent's performance. Third, just two members used more than 10 specific data points. Clearly, quantifiable data is not a crucial aspect of the members’ evaluation process.

With respect to media coverage of the evaluation, the Boston Globe ran a headline stating that “BPS Superintendent Skipper receives high marks in latest evaluation.” However, this attention grabbing title fails to adequately dissect and uncover the truth behind the committee’s analysis. In the body of the article, the Globe notes that “progress remains uneven across schools” and much of the analysis from members echoes the same.

Looking Ahead

The School Committee’s next meeting is slated for September 10th.  In the meantime, enjoy the summer! 

Year-End Meeting Covers Superintendent Evaluation, Graduation Votes, BPD Memorandum, and Exam School Admissions Review | Last Night at School Committee: June 17th, 2025 Meeting Recap

The final Boston School Committee meeting of the academic year opened with celebration, closed with controversy, and packed quite a bit in between. Here's what happened last night:

Celebrating Students: 

The evening began with the presentation of the Michael Casserly Award for Educational Courage and Justice Scholarship to Andrew Droncraso, who delivered a touching tribute to his mother. Committee members then recognized the graduating members of the Boston Student Advisory Council (BSAC) for their leadership and service.

Saying Goodbye: 

Committee Member Lima Barbosa announced that next month’s meeting will be her last. Her departure will create an opening on the Committee, yet we did not hear about the process of filling her seat. Host Ross Wilson announced that he will look into potentially joining the committee in her stead. 

Public Comment: Eid, Henderson, and Equity:

The Eid Coalition Group dominated public comment as multiple speakers urged the district to close schools on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The parents, students, and advocates highlighted the difficulty of having to choose whether they must miss a school day or an important holiday. They urged the School Committee and district leadership to work with them to find a viable solution. 

Additionally, parents from the Henderson Inclusion School gave a moving statement about how the school’s original inclusive mission has eroded, illustrating greater concerns raised over the past year about its decline.

Votes, Votes, Votes: 

The School Committee ticked off a number of unanimous votes on various matters that had been previously brought up before the members. These included: authorization for student activity funds, superintendent approval authority over trust expenditures, Boston Green Academy’s charter renewal, Urban Achievers High School private school application, graduation requirements amendment for alternative education, and the competency determination for the Class of 2026. Notably, there was little inquiry from any School Committee members on graduation rates for this past year. We will be on the lookout for further information about this during future meetings. 

Superintendent’s Report: Progress, But Few Details

Superintendent Mary Skipper opened her report with a thank you to this year’s retiring BPS staff. She then introduced a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Boston Police Department, which outlines limited circumstances under which schools will share information with law enforcement. The agreement maintains the district’s commitment to restorative justice and explicitly prohibits inquiries into students’ immigration status. The quarterly update on transformation schools noted “slow and steady” progress, particularly with more coaching and monitoring around grade-level curriculum as well as excitement and school culture improvements. The Superintendent also stated that there remains major issues with chronic absenteeism throughout these schools. Additionally, the report was light on specific academic metrics and hiring targets, though the Superintendent did state that there would be further data MAP and MCAS data in the fall. 

Superintendent Evaluation: “Proficient”

The Committee presented its annual evaluation of Superintendent Skipper, giving her an overall rating of 4.0 out of 5 and labeling her “proficient.” According to the report, she showed improvement in every category over the past year. However, the evaluation relied on a BPS-specific rubric, diverging from the state’s DESE model, raising questions about alignment and transparency. More critically, the Committee did not address major issues in its evaluation, including: the long-term facilities plan, ballooning White Stadium costs, declining enrollment, transportation controversy, and federal funding uncertainty. The Committee is scheduled to vote on the evaluation at its July meeting.

Exam Schools: Bonus Points No More?

The night’s final report focused on the exam school admissions policy. While no changes were proposed, as the district made clear their presentation was just an analysis, data simulations hinted at a likely shift away from the controversial “bonus points” system, especially as exam school applicants have dropped by more than 1,000 students over the past five years.

Vice Chair O’Neill expressed concern about the unintended consequences of the current tier-based residency system, despite having supported the policy in the past. Two public speakers critiqued the district for their actions, stating that the information they presented was clear when they began the process of changing the admissions policy.

Looking Ahead

The School Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for July 9th, when it will formally vote on Superintendent Skipper’s evaluation. We’ll be watching to see if the Committee addresses the growing list of challenges still waiting for meaningful debate.

School Choice Vote, Madison Park Trades Partnership, Charter Renewals, and Federal Funding Concerns on the Agenda | Last Night at School Committee: May 14th, 2025 Meeting Recap

Last night’s Boston School Committee meeting began with an executive session, during which members received an update on a labor agreement between the district and the Administrative Guild, which represents the secretaries and clerks working in Boston Public Schools (BPS).

The public portion of the meeting opened with a hearing on the Massachusetts School Choice Plan for the 2025–2026 school year. However, with no public speakers present, the meeting moved swiftly to the Superintendent’s report.

Superintendent’s Report: 

• Tragedy and Accountability

Superintendent Mary Skipper began her report by acknowledging the recent tragic deaths of two BPS students. Chair Jeri Robinson and Superintendent Skipper expressed condolences to the affected families. Superintendent Skipper also referenced ongoing collaboration with TransDev, the city’s contracted school bus provider, to prevent future incidents. However, a Boston Globe article published this week revealed that the bus driver involved in one of the incidents had an expired certification. Notably, the Superintendent did not directly address this detail, and we will continue to monitor for follow-up.

• Madison Park & Building Trades Partnership

Superintendent Skipper went on to highlight a new partnership between Madison Park Technical Vocational High School and the Greater Boston Building Trades Unions. The agreement guarantees direct entry for the top-performing 50% of Madison Park graduates into pre-apprenticeship union training programs. This marks the largest such agreement in the state and provides a meaningful career pathway for BPS students into the trades.

BSAC Pushes for Cell Phone Policy Reform

The Boston Student Advisory Council (BSAC) presented next, reporting on a recent visit to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, where students advocated for a districtwide cell phone policy. The current policy (see page 20) has not been comprehensively updated in two decades. While individual schools have adopted varied approaches, the absence of a consistent, modern policy remains a pressing issue.

Budget, Grants, and Public Testimony

Following BSAC’s presentation, the Committee received a briefing on the allocation and management of school trust funds and then voted on a series of school grants.

During public comment, 23 speakers addressed a range of issues, including:

• Support for Boston Green Academy’s charter renewal

• Reactions to the proposed Urban Achievers Private School

• Insightful testimony on climate resiliency initiatives in schools

• Sociedad Latina advocacy for districtwide cell phone and AI policy

School Choice Debate Sparks Spirited Critique 

One of the evening’s most intense exchanges occurred during the vote on whether BPS should participate in the Massachusetts School Choice Program. Although Superintendent Skipper had previously cited capacity constraints, she reframed her opposition by warning that a pilot program could divert focus from core priorities such as inclusive education and early college pathways.

Member Brandon Cardet-Hernandez issued a detailed rebuttal. He argued that the district was prioritizing fear over innovation, and emphasized the potential for school choice to support Boston’s workforce—many of whom reside outside the city—and promote equity and integration. He also contested claims regarding financial burdens, noting that many are not grounded in evidence. Ultimately, the school committee, once again, voted to opt out of school choice. 

Charter Renewals and Alternative Pathways

Later in the meeting, Boston Green Academy presented its charter renewal application. The district also provided an update on graduation requirements for students in alternative education settings. BPS reaffirmed its post-2021 graduation standards and highlighted alignment with other urban districts across the state. Superintendent Skipper added that the updated framework expands early college and career access for alternative education students.

A New Private School on the Horizon

The final presentation focused on the proposed Urban Achievers Private High School. Committee members and district leaders expressed strong support, praising the additional school choice it would offer to Boston families. The enthusiasm stood in contrast to the hesitance shown around broader school choice discussions earlier in the meeting.

A Question on Looming Federal Funding Cuts

During the meeting, Member Cardet-Hernandez raised a key concern about the impact of frozen or rescinded federal grants. Superintendent Skipper confirmed that many grants are currently stalled due to legal challenges, which is affecting the district’s budget planning.

Accountability Watch: Committee Questions

As part of a new initiative to improve transparency, we’re tracking key questions raised by School Committee members that remain unresolved. Here’s the current list:

• Can we create a task force for achievement and opportunity gaps? – Dr. Stephen Alkins

• In the district, how many psychologists are there per student? – Chair Jeri Robinson

• Where are we now in terms of budget priorities? – Chair Jeri Robinson

• Can we see enrollment data at the transformation schools? – Brandon Cardet-Hernandez

• How will the new Boston Teachers Union contract improve student outcomes? – Chair Jeri Robinson

• Can we get tangible follow-up on a pilot program for joining the Massachusetts School Choice Plan? – Quoc Tran

• Can you add two columns to the grant spreadsheets for evaluation notes and whether the grant is ongoing? – Dr. Stephen Alkins

The School Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17th. We look forward to hearing more from district leadership and will continue monitoring follow-through on outstanding questions and initiatives.

BTU Contract, Special Education Model, Transformation Schools, and School Choice Debate Fill Four-Hour Meeting | Last Night at School Committee: April 16th, 2025 Meeting Recap

Last night’s meeting was a long one, lasting just over four hours. The main agenda item of the night was a recap of the new contract agreed to between the Boston Teachers’ Union (BTU) and the district. Before this recap, the Superintendent gave a lengthy update on happenings in the district, which included a note about a new transportation policy. While this was not an agenda item, the district did announce a new policy that may remove some students from routes who do not ride the bus for 10 days in a row. There were few questions about this policy and members further encouraged the district to increase the “on-time” rate of buses earlier in the year than seven months into the school year. 

District leaders then presented to the School Committee on the details within the newly agreed upon BTU contract. More specifically, the Superintendent and her team outlined updates to an increase in wages for paraprofessionals as well as a new model for serving students with disabilities. The district’s explanation of the revisions to the model for special education were convoluted, at best. 

Another area of concern that emerged from the district’s presentation was the financial implications of the new contract, with the Superintendent’s team stating they felt “uncomfortable” with the cost of the contract. The contract, as well as the supplemental appropriations necessary to fund the contract, passed the school committee vote unanimously. 

After a short public comment period and a few votes on small grants, the meeting moved on to a discussion of transformation schools. As mandated by the Systemic Improvement Plan (SIP), these quarterly updates provide a glimpse into the progress, or lack thereof, of the district’s most underperforming schools. While two principals from these schools shed some light on some positive news, the majority of the presentation touched on many of the same points we have been hearing, mainly, continued concerns about student achievement and chronic absenteeism. School Committee members asked pointed questions about potential alternatives to transformation schools and whether we are using the best data practices to monitor their growth. Due to the district moving out of the SIP, there was uncertainty about how this information will continue to be shared moving forward, but we will continue to keep an eye out for updates on them in the future. 

Finally, the meeting wrapped up with a discussion on the Massachusetts School Choice Plan for SY 2025-2026. In the past, and last night, the district has opposed having the district opt-in to school choice, which would allow students from other cities and towns to enroll in BPS. Member Cardet-Hernandez proposed to allow municipal employees, including teachers, who live outside of Boston, to enroll their kids in BPS. This potential pilot program received significant pushback from the Superintendent and her team and was shut down without any further conversation. 

BPS Exits State Improvement Plan and Votes to Pass FY26 Budget in Three-Hour Meeting | Last Night at School Committee: March 26th, 2025 Meeting Recap

Last night’s meeting lasted three hours, and it centered on two main topics: Boston emerging from the Systemic Improvement Plan (SIP) and the vote on the FY26 budget. The meeting began with Chair Robinson recapping major news from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) board meeting on Tuesday. In short, DESE announced that the SIP, which expires in June, would not be renewed by the state. While state officials praised the district’s improvements and work, it was clear that the results of the SIP were a mixed bag. Nevertheless, the state is now moving the district out of the SIP, and the Superintendent spent a large portion of her report highlighting the vast improvements including bus arrival times, increased test scores, and new career pathways for BPS students. However, School Committee and DESE board members had words of caution given the urgency of necessary improvements in BPS. The oversight will officially end on June 30th, but the School Committee did note that they will look to continue internal oversight. Clearly, though, there is much work to be done in the district given the results shown below and in a recent report by the Boston Policy Institute.

After a short public comment period that hit on major pain points from the community, the meeting moved on to the vote on the FY26 budget. While there was not much suspense as to whether the budget would pass or not, School Committee members did raise certain concerns about its scope and priorities. More specifically, members questioned, once again, how the budget fits into the district’s long-term plan, the presence of school accountability measures, and the needs in the district that still need to be addressed. Though one member voted no, the budget ultimately passed, with six yea votes.

The School Committee meeting ended with a presentation on an amendment to the code of conduct. In short, due to a change in state law, the district had to adjust their use of discipline, and they are moving more towards a system of “progressive discipline.” There will be a vote at the next School Committee meeting on the amendment.

FY26 Budget Hearing, BTU Agreement, Madison Park Vote, and School Closure Plan Dominate Five-Hour Meeting | Last Night at School Committee: March 20th, 2025 Meeting Recap

Last night’s meeting lasted around five hours, hitting on many important topics. Before the official meeting, the School Committee hosted its third and final budget hearing for the FY26 budget. The Superintendent and her team answered questions from School Committee members, including inquiries about the role of federal funding in the budget, how long-term goals are achieved in the budget, and the cuts made to community advancement programs. While School Committee members raised concerns over the budget’s impact on accelerating student outcomes, these questions were left unanswered. 

Following the conclusion of the budget meeting, the regular School Committee meeting began. Chair Robinson announced that the district had reached a tentative agreement with the Boston Teachers Union following months of negotiation. While main details were not discussed, the Superintendent and her team said that they would provide an update at a future meeting. Following this, the meeting moved into public comment, where nearly every speaker was a community member representing schools on the proposed closure and merger list voicing their pleas to keep their school communities open.

After public comment and quick votes on grants and the renaming of the Sumner/Philbrick school, the School Committee voted on the Core Program Statement of Interest to the MSBA for Madison Park Vocational High School. Last month, during a City Council hearing, the Mayor’s team announced plans to seek MSBA funding for a new Madison Park facility, with the estimated cost rising to nearly $700 million—up from the originally earmarked $500 million. While there was not much further discussion after last meeting’s comprehensive discussion, School Committee members did question what alternative plans were in place if the district did not receive the money. Once again, the O’Bryant School was only tangentially mentioned and there was minimal discussion about what the future will hold for that community. In the end, the School Committee unanimously voted to approve the Statement of Interest. 

Finally, the School Committee meeting ended with a vote on the aforementioned school closures and mergers. The public comment during the evening was filled with tangible emotion from community members, and it was clear that this carried over to School Committee members as well. Multiple School Committee members harped on the difficulty of these decisions and the necessity of making hard choices for the benefit of long term district health. The Superintendent and her team responded to questions about how educators will be supported during the transition as well as the assistance BPS is offering to families that will be forced to change schools. Moreover, the Superintendent stated that no child reassigned during this process would be forced to leave their current school again. However, due to the lack of a long-term facilities plan, there is no way to track this across the district; hence, it is unclear how the Superintendent will keep this promise. Nevertheless, their answers seemed to satisfy the School Committee as the closure and merger plan passed by a vote of five to one. The shift in facilities will take place in June 2026. 

Competency Determination Vote, Madison Park Funding Proposal, and Data Transparency Concerns Fill February Meeting | Last Night at School Committee: February 26th, 2025 Meeting Recap

Last night’s meeting was a jam packed meeting covering many important topics. The meeting began with the Superintendent’s Report, where she provided an extremely brief update on transformation schools. This update is a requirement as part of the district’s Systemic Improvement Plan with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and usually provides insights and data about some of the lowest performing schools in the district. However, the Superintendent’s team did not provide these data points and insights. The Superintendent also highlighted acceleration academies that took place during February vacation, but did not discuss the impact of this strategy on student performance. School Committee members raised concerns about the lack of data presented, as well as highlighting the need for better procedures to ensure that data requested to the School Committee is actually presented in a timely fashion.

Following a public comment period that raised issues regarding topics such as facilities and exam schools, and quick votes on grants and approval of the accelerated repair project submissions to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), the School Committee voted on the competency determination requirement for the class of 2025. As the state continues to lack a revised, temporary policy for the state’s competency determination, schools districts across the state are creating their own revised policy. The Superintendent and her team proposed a policy that requires current seniors to earn a passing grade from a list of coursework if they did not previously pass the MCAS. Last night’s vote was preceded by conversation about the usage of the MCAS as a graduation requirement, which the district is allowed to utilize. While the School Committee engaged in a conversation that explored this and how the competency determination connects to its graduation requirements, the conversation was cut short after the Superintendent’s team noted they needed to act on only the competency determination, and the School Committee voted in favor of the policy unanimously. The committee then heard two quick reports on an update from the Boston Student Advisory Council and the naming of the Sumner/Philbrick school to the Sarah Roberts Elementary School.

The final discussion focused on a Core Program Statement of Interest to the MSBA for Madison Park Vocational High School. Last month, during a City Council hearing, the Mayor’s team announced plans to seek MSBA funding for a new Madison Park facility, with the estimated cost rising to nearly $700 million—up from the originally earmarked $500 million. Committee members raised concerns about the absence of the O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science, which shares the same building, in the proposal. They also questioned the city’s backup plan if MSBA funding is not secured and how the district plans to increase Madison Park’s enrollment by 1,000 students. As these concerns remain unresolved, a vote is scheduled for the next meeting on March 20.