Principals at the Burke and Holmes schools — both of which now serve high-needs students — are seeking to convert into innovation schools next year, while the Eliot K-8 Innovation School is seeking a five-year renewal of its plan.
The district is also developing concepts for three new schools — an Intrepid Academy at Hale Reservation, the Boston Collaboratory School and Boston Big Picture School — that may be launched in the future as it emphasizes more school choice and individualized learning.
Innovation schools are intended to provide more flexibility in curriculum, daily schedule, annual school calendar and how education dollars are spent. Staff in the in-district autonomous schools operate under waivers from union agreements and teacher training.
The schools are designed to encourage teaching that is focused on individual students’ needs and their own areas of interest. The concept is part of a national effort to improve success rates for struggling students.
Principals and teachers have been developing ways to create or convert existing Boston schools to innovation schools, said Sujata Bhatt, BPS managing partner of Innovation.
“As we all know Massachusetts has been a leader in public education,” Bhatt said. “Despite that, we tend to have persistent opportunity and achievement gaps.”
The push toward more innovation schools comes as the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education called for the state to create a portfolio of student-centered learning schools to address a workforce skills gap, Bhatt said.
The Burke would focus on social and emotional wellness and project-based learning, while the Holmes would focus on social justice issues and making real-world connections.
The Intrepid Academy at Hale Reservation would be a single-semester day school for 11th graders, similar to Outward Bound programs, focused on the outdoors and health, while the Boston Collaboratory School would focus on leadership skills, social awareness and entrepreneurship. The Boston Big Picture School — based on a national network — would provide real-world work experiences for students in the city.
There is no cost associated with Eliot and Burke. But the Holmes conversion would cost $500,000 annually in salaries and other potential budget impacts, BPS said. The School Committee is slated to vote on the Elliot renewal and Burke and Holmes conversions at its meeting Wednesday.
©2016 the Boston Herald Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
