Dear Friends,
When it comes to education, our region is at the head
of its class in a number of ways. Home to a number of prestigious,
world-renowned institutions, Massachusetts boasts one of the most educated
populations in the nation, with about 37% of residents 25 and older holding a
Bachelor's degree or higher. After over a decade of educational reform,
Boston is considered to be a leader among large urban school districts by
educational experts nationwide. On average, our
students score above the mean on national achievement tests and we've been able
to track their improved performance on our own rigorous, MCAS exams.
Despite our strengths, we still have work to do. Like
most of the nation, Massachusetts struggles with an unacceptable four year
graduation rate and an indisputable achievement gap, particularly for black and
Latino boys. Read More...
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BPS 10 Boys Initiative
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Spotted in Boston Public Schools: bands of ten black and Latino boys hovering around schools principals' offices. They boast names like Boys to Men, Ten Kings, the MCASters, and the A-Team and may also have been seen together at Celtics or Red Sox games, eating lunch with the principal, or cleaning up a local neighborhood. They're not causing trouble, nor are they being punished. As part of the 10 Boys Initiative, these young men are teaming up and working together to achieve an important goal - reaching "proficiency" on their MCAS exams.
Read More...
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UTEC - Alternative Diploma
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For 19-year-old Eddie Mercado, grades weren't necessarily a problem in high school, but motivation and attendance were.
"I
like learning," says Mercado, "but staying focused is a big challenge
for me. A lot of the emphasis at school was all on college," he said.
"I was more concerned with just graduating and then figuring out what I
wanted to do next."
Read More...
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| Freedom House: Providing Students with 21st Century Skills to Ensure their Success |
Freedom House has long recognized that disparities in academic achievement have long-term negative impacts on students of color and that solutions can be complex and difficult to achieve. An innovative center for community engagement with Boston's public schools, in the past Freedom House has played a central role in efforts that are working to tackle the school's growing dropout rate and close the achievement gap between white students and students of color. The organization is committed to providing students with 21st-century skills to ensure their success in post-secondary education and throughout their careers. Read More...
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| Given Half a Chance: The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males |
Since 2004, The Schott Foundation for Public Education has been
tracking the academic performance of African-American boys across the
nation. This year's report, Given Half a Chance: The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males,
revealed that an alarming 53 percent of black males did not receive
diplomas with their peers during the 2005-06 school year.
Read More...
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| Making the Transition From Middle School to High School:
An Interview with Donna San Antonio |
For most teenagers, making the transition from middle school to high
school is no easy feat. The schools are bigger, there are more classes
to juggle, and often, fewer teachers to turn to for help. More than
just academics, this period of puberty, first crushes, and the desire
to fit in can be a stomach churning experience for anyone. With so many
physical, social, and emotional changes, it's too often also a time
where problems will surface.
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| Creating Advocates for Change at New Mission High |
In an effort to take owner ship of the dropout crisis at the school
level, New Mission High School is launching a multi-faceted program
designed to engage the entire school community. Called the Mission
Advocates Initiative, its goal is to train 28 teachers and 29 10th-12th
Grade students to recognize and respond to early indicators of academic
risk and establish a school culture that welcomes and engages all
students.
Read More...
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In This Issue
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We take a look at local strategies and
initiatives that are working to address the achievement gap and make graduating
from high school a priority for all students.
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