Edwards Middle School Programming Could Be Implemented in City Schools

Boston Public Schools have been tapped as a finalist in $2.8 million grant competition. If the city wins, it intends to use the money to replicate the success of Charlestown’s Edwards Middle School in two other Boston middle schools, according to a press release.
 
“These funds would go a long way in helping BPS ensure we can give more students the time they need in school,” said Superintendent Carol R. Johnson. “This mission is an urgent one. We will use any resources we have to give our great teachers and students more meaningful time together.”
 
The Edwards Middle School day is three hours longer than at traditional BPS middle schools. As part of ongoing contract negotiations between BPS and the Boston Teachers Union, BPS has proposed to extend the class day by 30 minutes in every school while also offering higher teacher salaries through a new salary structure. The i3 grant would allow BPS to extend the day even further in two additional schools.
 
The BPS application for the grant was submitted as a partnership between the National Center on Time & Learning/Massachusetts 2020 and the Boston Public Schools Office of Innovation, Partnerships & Development.
 
This year’s competition required applicants to submit proposals focused on one of five absolute priorities, including two new priorities aimed at promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and increasing achievement and high school graduation rates in rural schools. The remaining three priorities focused on supporting effective teachers and principals, implementing high standards and high-quality assessments, and turning around persistently low-performing schools.
 
Superintendent Johnson will announce which schools would be the beneficiary of the funds when the grant is secured.
 
To learn more about i3’s potential 2011 grantees visit: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/innovation/index.html