Hi there, 

To catch up on this topic, check out our newsletter from a couple weeks ago recapping the background and debate related to Boston’s exam schools. 

What's Happening?

The Boston School Committee adopted a new, more equitable admissions process for Boston’s three exam schools that will group applicants by socio economic level while deemphasizing exam testing. 

This change is expected to drastically increase the number of economically disadvantaged, Black, and Brown students, three groups who have been largely shut out of the schools. (WBUR)

“The idea is that academically high performing applicants of all kinds will compete against students at their same socioeconomic level. It will also place less emphasis on testing — which has given a big advantage to families who can afford tutors and expensive test preparation.” - Adrian Walker, Boston Globe.

Why Does it Matter?

This is real, tangible change that will increase representation for students of all backgrounds in the exam schools. Students will have access to resources and opportunities previously barred from them, changing their lives for the better. 

This decision also represents resistance to political pressure and a concerted effort to make Boston more equitable. The Boston School Committee, led by Superintendent Brenda Casselius, resisted city-wide political pressure to amend the proposal to set aside 20% of seats in the schools for ‘top performing’ students across the city, which would have disproportionately favored economically advantaged students, locking out the very students the change is designed to help. 

In closing 

While this change does not go far enough, we have to celebrate a progressive victory when we have one, and with this new policy, we do. We are grateful for the Boston School Committee for making this change and believe there is much, much, much more work to be done. 

Adrian Walker of the Boston Globe said it best when he wrote, 

"My own wish is that the fervor that accompanies debates over Boston Latin could be applied to pushing for the best possible performance in all Boston public schools.

We shouldn’t be fighting over how to allocate 1,100 seats a year in exam schools. We should be fighting over how to do better by every Boston child. That would be real equity — and a goal worthy of a great city." 

That's it for us this week. As always, we appreciate you helping us grow by sharing us on social media.

Best,

A Better Boston Team

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