The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has shredded Boston Public Schools in its evaluate of the struggling district, stressing that BPS “needs immediate improvement.”
The DESE report comes as metropolis officers have pushed again in opposition to the prospect of state receivership forward of Tuesday’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education assembly.
The state’s district evaluate that rips into BPS — however doesn’t particularly advocate a state takeover of BPS — will probably be mentioned on the assembly.
The report additionally arrives as Superintendent Brenda Cassellius will depart on the finish of the varsity yr. The new superintendent will probably be district’s fifth chief since 2013.
“Over the past several years, under Dr. Cassellius’ leadership, BPS has successfully launched several new district-wide initiatives and has further advanced others,” DESE wrote within the report. “However, the district has failed to effectively serve its most vulnerable students, carry out basic operational functions, and address systemic barriers to providing an equitable, quality education.”
“… The problems facing BPS are abundantly clear,” the state added. “This moment requires bold, student-centered decision-making and strong execution to ensure the district delivers the quality education its students deserve. BPS needs immediate improvement.”
In a number of operational areas, BPS is “not currently meeting an acceptable minimum standard for basic district functioning,” in accordance with the state. Failures in primary operations and security protocols have elevated up to now two years within the district.
The state recognized 4 main operational features as problem areas for the district: transportation, amenities, security protocols, and knowledge reporting.
Transportation points have worsened, the state reported.
“In addition to continued low on-time arrivals throughout much of the year, uncovered routes are significantly disrupting learning for thousands of students each month, with a disproportionate impact on students with disabilities,” the state wrote.
In January, as an example, there have been 1,148 uncovered morning routes impacting about 16,000 pupil rides.
“BPS has not made progress in tackling systemic barriers to district improvement such as overhauling the school assignment system, which concentrates high levels of student need in a fraction of the district’s schools, or securing significant changes to the transportation contract, which is a major barrier to dependable transportation services for all students,” the state wrote.
“The district has also experienced steady and significant enrollment declines, yet BPS lacks operational plans that appropriately address excess capacity in the system, resulting in a failure to maximize the impact of district’s considerable financial resources,” DESE added. “Without addressing these deeper systemic challenges, school and district improvement efforts will continue to flounder.”
City officers in a Monday letter to BPS households concerning the report stated they “stand ready to address the long-standing challenges highlighted by DESE that underscore the transformational change that BPS students, families, educators deserve.”
“We believe that a strengthened partnership between the City, BPS and DESE can ensure action on critical challenges and accountability for clear, timely progress,” Cassellius, Mayor Michelle Wu and School Committee Chair Jeri Robinson wrote to BPS households. “Our District’s new Superintendent will play a pivotal function in main that work.
“Together, we have begun discussions with Commissioner Riley and DESE staff to collaboratively determine ways to strengthen our partnership,” the officers added. “To be clear, we believe that an updated and strengthened partnership with DESE is critical to driving solutions, but ultimately, no one is better equipped to accelerate the progress Boston has made than our BPS communities.”
— On the Web: Read the DESE District Review Report of Boston Public Schools
Source: www.bostonherald.com”