BPS leaders present mixed MCAS and accountability data, plan to ‘accelerate progress’

The latest MCAS data shows BPS solidly on the path back from pandemic-era losses, district leaders presented at the Boston School Committee — but still a long ways from full recovery.

“I think the story we’re going to share tonight, while there are some wins — and I appreciate the superintendent for naming some — it also tells a very uncomfortable story about the work we have ahead,” said BPS Chief of Schools and Accountability Drew Echelson, pointing to the need to “accelerate progress.”

The state released 2023 MCAS and accountability data in September, with leaders announcing statewide “recovery is fully underway.” In terms of MCAS scores, BPS broadly lagged behind the statewide gains, but the district jumped on accountability targets, metrics like chronic absenteeism and English proficiency.

Echelson pointed to four “key takeaways” from the data Wednesday: BPS is making substantial — 51% compared to a statewide 36% — progress towards recovery targets, but the number of schools requiring assistance or intervention spiked to 44; math scores are rebounding, and literacy scores are stabilizing from the pandemic; there’s a strong relationship between chronic absenteeism and student performance; and younger grades made strong progress in English language learning, but older students and students at low levels did not.

The presentation noted a consistent underperformance for two groups in particular, seventh graders and English language learners with disabilities.

Among other achievements, Superintendent Mary Skipper highlighted the reduction in chronic absenteeism across all grade levels, noting the district team’s hard work to buck the rising national trend.

Leadership spoke about the importance of responding to trends in the data, using steps like creating a MCAS dashboard with broken down results available to schools and teachers.

“This data provides the district with information that will guide us as we continue to support students in making up the lost time during the pandemic,” said Skipper. “We continue to stabilize, and as we stabilize and recover, I expect to see more rapid improvement.”