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Community Meeting Scheduled for July
17 to discuss Boston Public School Choice
BOSTON – Boston Public Schools (BPS) will host additional community
meetings in July to talk about ‘what we are hearing’ in our analysis
of community feedback and the next steps in the student assignment
redesign process. A report on the feedback is available on our new
website, www.bostonschoolchoice.org.
In 25 meetings and in an on-line survey BPS heard from residents
living in every ZIP code in Boston, with two exceptions: 02163 (the
Harvard campus) and 02199 (the Prudential Center). About half the
people who participated are current BPS parents, and the other half
do not have children in school. A 27-member External Advisory
Committee is helping the District develop a new school choice plan.
The on-line survey is still available at bostonschoolchoice.org and
will close on July 4.
In July, BPS will host these additional meetings to talk about ‘what
we have heard’ and the next steps:
Downtown: Wednesday, July 11, 6-8pm
Suffolk University 9th floor conference room, 73 Tremont St.,
Downtown
Chinese interpretation provided
Mattapan: Thursday, July 12, 6-8pm
Mildred Ave. K-8 School, 5 Mildred Ave., Mattapan
Haitian Creole interpretation provided
East Boston: Tuesday, July 17, 6-8pm
Mario Umana Academy, 312 Border St., East Boston
Spanish interpretation provided
Roxbury: Wednesday, July 18, 5-7pm
O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science 1st floor library, 55
Malcolm X Blvd., Roxbury
In partnership with Phillips Brooks House Association Summer
Programs
Chinese, Haitian Creole, Spanish interpretation provided
Charlestown: Thursday, July 19, 6-8pm
Warren/Prescott K-8 School, 50 School St., Charlestown
Spanish interpretation provided
Chinatown: Saturday, July 21, 10am-Noon
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Association, 38 Ash St.
Cantonese and Mandarin interpretation provided
Allston/Brighton: Tuesday, July 24, 6-8pm
Edison K-8 School, 60 Glenmont Rd., Brighton
Chinese, Spanish interpretation provided
Earlier this week BPS hosted meetings in Dorchester, West Roxbury
and Roxbury. Publishers, please feel free to use the attached photos
taken at our community meeting Sunday, June 24 at St. Peter’s Teen
Center in Dorchester. At the meeting, Mayor Menino and Dr. Johnson
visited with parents and students.
Among the findings in the community engagement process so far:
· When asked about the factors that make a family want to choose a
school, most participants chose “strong academics,” “safe
environment/welcoming culture” and “proximity to home” as the top
three elements.
· Participants from Charlestown, Downtown, parts of North
Dorchester, the North End, East Boston (in forums) and West Roxbury
tended to ask for the ability to choose a school in their
neighborhood. In Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale and Roxbury,
participants were more likely to select “safety” over “close to
home” when asked about choice preferences.
· Respondents urged BPS to ensure all children have access to the
same types of choices and opportunities for quality schools.
Participants identified equity as a fair distribution of types of
choices and equal access rather than as a set number of choices.
Child care is available at all meetings except the July 11 meeting.
This summer, BPS will use community feedback to develop proposals
for a new student assignment plan. In the fall, BPS and the External
Advisory Committee will analyze the drafts, solicit more feedback
and develop a final proposal. The School Committee is expected to
vote on a plan this winter.
Our new website, bostonschoolchoice.org, will help keep the
community informed and engaged in the process of improving school
choice in Boston; it is not designed to help families choose schools
for the upcoming school year.
The Boston Public Schools, the birthplace of public education in the
United States,
serves more than 56,000 pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students
in 125 schools.
26 Court St., Boston, Massachusetts 02108 |
www.bostonpublicschools.org | Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BostonSchools
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