Harsh Report Sparks Board Meeting On Fate Of Boston Public Schools

BOSTON — On Monday, Boston Public Schools received a scathing, almost 200-page report from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education calling the district in "systemic disarray."

The report says the district failed to operate on an "acceptable minimum standard" in several areas including helping students who are learning how to speak English, carrying out the basic functions for students with special learning disabilities, or even having consistent bus routes and drivers.

This report sparked a state education board meeting Tuesday morning to determine whether or not BPS should be put into receivership - which would allow for more control over the district. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is expected to testify during the meeting.

The report stems from a review that started in 2019, and while receivership is one of the main options, the report does not address whether or not the board will recommend it.

"BPS has shown little to no progress in addressing the needs of its students with disabilities, English learners, and students at the district's lowest-performing schools, resulting in continued poor outcomes for tens of thousands of students," the report reads.

Safety is also a growing concern for Boston Public Schools as the report states that the district does not effectively or consistently track or respond to reports about bullying or other safety concerns. As a result, officials suggested a separate review of the impact of school police.

There were some positive highlights in the report which mostly fell under Superintendent Brenda Cassellius - who plans to resign at the end of the school year. The report states that over the last three years, the district has increased staff diversity, hired social workers and has adopted the state's recommended high school curriculum. Officials from the district say a tentative deal has been reached with the bus drivers' union to address operational changes.

Wu also set aside $2 billion to overhaul school facilities and buildings and $10 million for special education.

"The serious challenges highlighted in the review aren't new to our school communities, educators, and students," Wu said in a statement. "As a BPS mom, I'm eager for the partnerships and accountability that will set us up for success in accelerating the pace of change and rebuilding confidence in our schools."

Early Tuesday morning, the Boston Teachers Union organized a protest in opposition to receivership, calling it an "ineffective, anti-democratic and racist policy that is not the answer for Boston Public Schools."

Perhaps the most repeated phrase throughout the report was the "disturbing lack of urgency" that BPS had in making any real changes to the problems indicated three years ago. With the search for a new superintendent, the school falls into a short timeline in finding a replacement to help carry out reforms.

Any school district can be taken over by state receivership if its district is drastically underperforming. As it stands right now, Holyoke, Lawrence and Southbridge Public Schools are in receivership.