State of the City 2020

An Excerpt from Mayor Walsh's State of the City 2020 Delivered on January 7, 2020:

Our vision starts with the young people in our schools. We believe in a Boston where every single student reaches their potential—no matter what.

For too long, the Boston Public Schools have been a tale of two districts. We are graduating an incredible number of talented, diverse, ambitious young people—all across the city. But too much potential is still being lost for the students who face the toughest challenges. We must do what it takes to be one great district for every single student in every single school in every single neighborhood.

That’s why we’re investing in universal pre-kindergarten; longer school days; English language learning; Special Education; free community college; nurses in every school; mental health counselors; and housing supports. We’re taking down barriers to learning and closing achievement gaps wherever we find them.

Today, more students than ever are in high-quality schools and graduating on time. I want to thank our teachers and school leaders for your work. Recently, the state determined that our district is making “substantial progress” toward closing achievement gaps.

But as long as those gaps remain, we are not satisfied. That’s why we joined with cities, towns, advocates and legislators, to push for a new education finance system that benefits communities across the Commonwealth. I’d like to thank the Legislature for passing this landmark law, and the Governor for signing it here in Boston at English High School. It stops the decline in our state aid and adds significant new funding over seven years.

But our students can’t wait seven years. The time to act is now.

In her first months on the job, Superintendent Brenda Cassellius visited every school and met with residents all across Boston. She’s working with the Boston School Committee on a plan to give every child access to high quality schools. That means: rigorous curriculum; arts, STEM, and health programming; cutting-edge technology; and the social, emotional, and physical supports every single student needs.

Tonight, I announce a funding plan bold enough to make that vision a reality.

Over the next three years, we will provide $100 million in new revenue for direct classroom funding. This level of planned new investment, over and above cost increases, has never been done before. It will reach every school and it will be carefully targeted, so every dollar makes a difference. We’ll begin with intense support for underperforming schools, so we can become one great district.

I want to make a personal appeal to the parents and guardians of children in Boston. Visit the Boston Public schools in your neighborhood. You will find caring, diverse, high-achieving communities. We want your family to be a part of the BPS community—because we believe in all our schools.