Skip to main content

A Community Vision for Boston’s Students and FamiliesChapter 3: Academic Excellence for All

Download the full plan

Chapter Summary

For too long, BPS has been a system where families are pitted against each other through a high-stakes school assignment lottery, budget negotiations, and selective admissions processes to access far too few well-resourced schools.

Every student, regardless of their needs or socioeconomic background, must have a world-class education with every opportunity our city has to offer. That includes English learners—more than 50% of the BPS population speaks a language other than English at home—and students with disabilities, who make up one-fifth of our student population. We will take urgent action to celebrate diversity and difference while empowering every student with rigorous academic programming; multilingual, culturally competent educators; and whole-child support services.

  • Rigorous academics for all learners by investing in age-appropriate, anti-racist curricula; addressing absenteeism; offering summer intensive language and other enrichment programs; expanding access to advanced coursework; committing to full inclusion; and focusing resources for students with disabilities.

  • Fully staffed classrooms, including co-teaching inclusion classrooms; staff to support English learners with disabilities; robust, instructionally-focused professional development; and expanded bilingual programs.

  • Deeper family engagement with Central Office through full-service community schools; the elimination racial inequities in special education; early intervention with high-quality screening; guaranteed translation and interpretation services; equitable fundraising; and intentional outreach to immigrant families.