June 2, 2022
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s follow-up district review of Boston Public Schools released last week highlights critical issues that many in the Boston community have been aware of for a long time. ACT (All Children Thrive) Boston appreciates the work being done by the City and the State to devise a plan to address these longstanding challenges. The core areas of improvement Commissioner Jeffrey Riley highlighted at last week’s board meeting are a good starting point for developing a plan to move forward. However, we strongly believe that the steps outlined – for example, finalizing a comprehensive master facilities plan, presenting a strategic plan for delivering instruction to English Learners, and improving transportation on-time arrival rates – describe the floor, not the ceiling of what BPS needs and can achieve.
At the end of the day, our collective work needs to improve outcomes for students and families, especially Black, Latinx students, students from low-income families, students with disabilities and English learners. ACT Boston has advocated for this crucial focus on equitable student learning outcomes since the mayoral race, and we stand ready to partner with the City, district, and State to ensure all activities and initiatives in response to the DESE review work towards this all-important goal.