New Bedford to pursue “innovation zones”

Teachers and administrators working together to create positive changes in schools: “A group of teachers working with the school administration to remake New Bedford middle schools is leaning against using a so-called “innovation zone,” a special governing structure that could have allowed principals and a group of elected teachers to approve changes to things like the length of the school day, curriculum or staffing.”

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2017/03/mayor_bps_closures_not_viable_option

BPS budget comes under fire

The Opportunity and Achievement Task Force testified last night: “[We are] opposed to the 2017-2018 budget as it is currently written because it will have a negative impact on the district’s efforts to eliminate opportunity and achievement gaps, particularly for students attending low-performing schools,” said task force member Ayele Shakur, reading from a statement. “By using the current Weighted Student Funding Formula as its foundation, the SY18 budget systematically disinvests in the district’s lowest performing schools that have the greatest needs.”

http://baystatebanner.com/news/2017/mar/22/bps-budget-comes-under-fire/