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Acceleration Agenda

"Today, Boston Public Schools, the birthplace of public education in this nation, offers the best education possible for some of our students. Boston Public Schools has the capacity to offer the best education possible for all of our students."

-- Dr. Carol R. Johnson, Superintendent

The Boston School Committee has adopted the Goals, Academic Targets, Key Strategies and Vision of the Boston Public Schools Graduate set forth in the BPS Acceleration Agenda. Superintendent Carol R. Johnson presented this five-year strategic vision to the BPS community in November, 2009, and after feedback from families, students, staff and community members, she presented the final version of the Acceleration Agenda in May 2010.

The Acceleration Agenda sets ambitious targets for rapidly improving student achievement across all grade levels and communities across the BPS system. Because student success depends on great schools as well as a supportive community, the Acceleration Agenda also calls for deepening our ties with neighborhood groups and after-school partners.

This five-year plan also holds BPS administrators, headmasters and principals accountable for student success. To help the public measure our progress, BPS will launch a web-based "Acceleration Agenda Dashboard" in September, 2010. The Dashboard will allow anyone to view real-time data on test scores and other benchmarks at the district level. This winter, it will expand to allow users to view progress at individual schools.

Mission Statement

As the birthplace of public education in this nation, the Boston Public Schools is committed to transforming the lives of all children through exemplary teaching in a world-class system of innovative, welcoming schools. We partner with the community, families and students to develop within every learner the knowledge, skill, and character to excel in college, career, and life.

The Boston Public Schools graduate...

1. Loves to learn, views the world as a classroom without walls, and thinks critically about the issues within it.

2. Succeeds academically in college-level courses across content areas.

3. Masters verbal and written expression in English, with emerging proficiency in a second language.

4. Uses mathematical skill, scientific inquiry, and state-of-the-art technology to invent new solutions to persistent and unanticipated problems.

5. Exhibits growth, self-discipline and reflection through innovative expression and artistry.

6. Acknowledges and respects people with diverse backgrounds, histories, and perspectives.

7. Assumes personal responsibility for physical and emotional well-being by making healthy choices.

8. Contributes confidently and positively in professional and social settings, both independently and as a member of a team.

9. Demonstrates resourcefulness and resilience in the face of setbacks and obstacles, relying on personal assets and support from others to achieve goals..

10. Participates actively in a democratic society as a responsible, courageous leader who challenges injustice.

To achieve this mission, we must...

Ensure all students achieve MCAS proficiency
Close access and achievement gaps
Graduate all students from high school prepared for college
and career success

Academic Targets

The Acceleration Agenda includes nine academic targets through 2014:

Reading by the end of Grade 1
Reading to learn in Grade 3
Skillful, analytical writing in Grades 4-12
Algebra 1 in Grade 8
English Language Learners acquire academic language mastery and
fluency
Significant academic growth for students with disabilities
"On-track" to graduate by the end of Grade 10
High school graduation
College-ready and success-bound

Download a PDF with specific targets for each of these goals:
Annual Academic Targets, 2009-2014

Key Strategies

The district's work to achieve these goals is organized into four
broad core strategies, each of which includes various initiatives and
tactics:

Strengthen teaching and school leadership
Replicate success and turn around low-performing schools
Deepen partnerships with parents, students, and the community
Redesign district services for effectiveness, efficiency, and
equity

Video excerpt: Superintendent Johnson's presentation

"Turnaround Schools"

Part of the second strategy listed above -- replicating success and turning around low-performing schools -- includes targeted interventions in 12 schools with several years of inadequate progress. The Acceleration Agenda outlines a plan to hold these schools and the district accountable for dramatic improvement, along with additional supports and investments. More information on Turnaround Schools can be found on the Turnaround Schools webpage.