About BPS-

Boston Public Schools at a Glance 2008-2009 (from the BPS website)

Demographics

Schools & Students

There are 143 schools in the BPS:

6 early learning centers (K-grade 1)

60 elementary schools (K-5)

18 elementary & middle schools (K-8) 16 middle schools (6-8)

1 middle & high school (6-12)

30 high schools (9-12)

3 "exam" schools (7-12)

6 special education schools (K-12)

3 alternative (at-risk) programs

Of these, 18 are pilot schools (1 early learning center, 3 elementary, 4 K-8, 2 middle, 8 high); 2 high schools are Horace Mann charter schools approved and funded by the BPS; and 1 high school is a Commonwealth pilot school.

Projected SY09 enrollment is 55,800 (a decrease of 730 from SY08), including:

25,850 students in kindergarten-grade 5

11,340 students in grades 6-8

18,610 students in grades 9-12

Student demographics:

39% Black

37% Hispanic

13% White

9% Asian

2% Multi-racial, non Hisp.

<1% Other

 

72% of BPS students are eligible to receive free & reduced-price meals in school (62% free, 10% reduced).

Staff

The 2008-09 BPS budget (all funds) includes 9,455 staff positions (FTE), a decrease of 202 positions from 2007-08. Here is a comparison of budgeted positions:

FY08                       FY09

5,003                4,894 teachers

778                   749 administrators

500                   491 support personnel

1,260                1,241 aides and monitors

367                   365 secretaries and clerical staff

1,230                1,203 custodial/safety/technical

521                   513 part-time and summer staff

 

Demographics: Black   White    Hispanic    Asian

Teachers           23%      62%      10%         5%

Principals          47%      36%      14%         3%

 

Pathways to Excellence

In Oct. 2008, Supt. Carol R. Johnson presented eight disrictwide goals for high-quality schools, stronger communities, and academic success for all students. Targets by 2012 include:

§ Grade 1 reading: 80% at or above grade level

§ Grade 3 reading: 100% passing MCAS

§ Skillful, analytical writing in Grade 7

§ Algebra: 30% non-exam 8th graders take Algebra 1

§ "On-track" to graduate by the end of Grade 10

§ SAT I scores 1650+; at least one AP or Honors course for all students in high school

§ English Language Learners (ELLs) acquire academic language mastery and fluency

§ College-ready and success-bound: Dropout rate ?3%; 80% 4-year graduation rate; 70% 4-year graduation rate for ELLs and special ed. students

Please see www.bostonpublicschools.org/pathways/ for additional goals and information.

The SEVEN essentials

To ensure that all students achieve academic proficiency, instruction in the BPS is organized around Seven Essentials for Whole School Improvement:

1. Use effective and culturally relevant instructional practices and create a collaborative school climate that improves student learning, promotes student engagement, and builds on prior knowledge and experiences

2. Examine student work and data to drive instruction and professional development

3. Invest in professional development to improve instruction

4. Share leadership to sustain instructional improvement

5. Focus resources to support instructional improvement and improved student learning

6. Partner with families and the community to support student learning.

7. Maintain high levels of effectiveness, efficiency, and equity in our operations

 

Contacting the bps

Boston Public Schools

26 Court Street • Boston, MA 02108-2505

www.bostonpublicschools.org

Main telephone number..........................617-635-9000

Communications.......................................617-635-9265

communications@boston.k12.ma.us

Superintendent.........................................617-635-9050

School Committee....................................617-635-9014

 

 

Special education

About 11,140 students with disabilities (20% of total) are enrolled in special education programs, including:

5,290 students with mild to moderate disabilities

5,050 students with more severe disabilities who attend special BPS schools and programs

410 students with severe disabilities who attend private day and residential schools

380 students ages 3-4 in Early Childhood programs

In addition, about 310 students enrolled in non-BPS schools receive some special education services in BPS schools.

English language learners

For 24,140 BPS students, English is not their home language. Of these:

10,040 are English-language proficient

3,090 are Former Limited English Proficient (FLEP)

11,010 are Limited English Proficient (LEP) or English Language Learners (ELL)

All ELL students receive English language support from highly qualified teachers of English. Approximate ELL enrollment by program, grades K-12, is:

5,250 Sheltered English Instruction (SEI) programs

430 Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) programs

460 Two-way programs: Students whose first language is Spanish and whose first language is English learn together in both languages

4,870 Non-SEI: student's family has opted out of all BPS ELL programs   

The five most common home languages of ELL students are:

Spanish .......................6,150

Chinese............................890

Cape Verdean creole........820

Haitian creole..................820

Vietnamese.....................670

BPS English language learners come from more than 40 different countries.

 

School choice

Elementary and middle schools are organized in three geographic zones. Students can apply to schools in their zone of residence and to schools outside their zone of residence that are in their "walk zone." School assignments are based on choice, certain priorities, and availability of seats. All high schools are citywide. Fifty percent of a school's seats are set aside for applicants with "walk zone"priority. Remaining seats are open to all applicants.

In 1999, the BPS eliminated race-based assignments, a policy that had been in place since 1974.

Class size

Under the contract (9/1/06-8/31/10) between the BPS and the Boston Teachers Union, the maximum numbers of students per teacher in regular education classes are:

 

K1-Gr. 2	Gr. 3-5	Gr. 6-8	Gr. 9-12
22	25	28	31

 

Many classes are smaller than this. As reported by the Mass. Dept. of Education, the BPS's FY08 ratio of all students to all teachers was 12.8 to 1. The Mass. ratio was 13.6 to 1.

 

 

Boston school committee

The BPS is governed by a 7-member School Committee, appointed by the Mayor from among nominees recommended by a broad-based Nominating Committee.  In 1989, in a non-binding referendum, residents voted to replace the 13-member elected School Committee with an appointed committee. In 1991, the state legislature approved Boston's home rule petition establishing the 7-member, Mayor-appointed committee. The appointed committee took office in January 1992. In a 1996 referendum, residents voted overwhelmingly to retain the appointed committee.

The School Committee is responsible for:

• defining the vision, mission and goals of the Boston Public Schools;
• establishing and monitoring the annual operating budget;
• hiring, managing and evaluating the Superintendent; and
• setting and reviewing district policies and practices to support student achievement.

Chairperson:
Rev. Gregory G. Groover, Sr., D.Min.

Vice-Chairperson:
Marchelle Raynor

Members:
Helen M. Dájer
Alfreda J. Harris
Claudio Martinez
Michael D. O'Neill
Elizabeth G. Reilinger, Ph.D.

Student Representative:
Moriah Smith

The Committee meets approximately twice per month during the school year to adopt, review, and modify policies and practices that support the sound operations of the Boston Public Schools and that enhance teaching and learning and improved student achievement.  On the first Monday of the year, the Committee holds its annual organizational meeting, at which time the members elect a Chair and Vice-Chair and determine the meeting schedule for the upcoming calendar year.

All meetings are posted at least 48 hours in advance at the Office of the City Clerk and at Boston Public Schools headquarters, 26 Court Street.  Most meetings are held Wednesdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Edward Winter  Chambers, 26 Court Street.