Education Leadership Policy Toolkit: Boston Schools

Education Leadership Policy Toolkit: Boston Schools - "Boston Public Schools is one of the oldest school systems in the nation, dating back to 1635. The system maintains an enrollment of over 57,000 students in 145 schools, of which 86% are minority, 20% are in special education programs, and 73% are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch. The school system faces many of the same challenges as other large urban districts in the United States, but with sustained and impressive leadership at the district and school levels along with unified staff dedication to common goals, positive changes are being made.

The Boston school system's motto is "Focus on Children." To make this motto a reality, the district leadership team and community organizations came together to create a comprehensive Boston Plan for Excellence that is used in every school in the district. The plan is a tangible map that outlines specific goals and objectives at each faculty and student level, complete with benchmarks and implementation strategies to ensure that staff work together to achieve their own successes and address difficulties. Staff at every level of the system understand the importance of their role in this plan, and they are able to see where their own specific job fits in and how it contributes to the success of students."