information from the School Committee

Sumbul Siddiqui Mayor OFFICE OF THE MAYOR To: Cambridge City Council From: Sumbul Siddiqui, Mayor Date: October 21st, 2021 Subject: Communicating information from the School Committee To the Honorable, the City Council: On October 19th, the School Committee held its regular meeting. A presentation, which is attached to this communication, was given to the Committee on post-secondary outcomes. Some of these outcomes are in the College & Career Readiness Report published August 2021, which analyzes Cambridge Public School (CPS) high school graduation rates and college-going, persistence, and graduation over time and for demographic groups, including outcomes for all district students (including those enrolled in out-of-district schools). On average, approximately nine out of every ten CPS high school students graduate with a high school diploma within four years, a figure consistent with the state average. While students with disabilities and students who are English Learners (ELs) have the lowest four-year graduation rates of demographic groups, the vast majority of these students graduate within five years. In three of the five years examined, CPS trailed behind the state in first-to-second year persistence for students, in both the initial institution in which students enrolled or any institution enrolled. Students who are economically disadvantaged/low income and English learners were the only student group who exceeded the state in the five-year period, for both initial and any institution. CPS’s Asian graduates’ persistence rates consistently fell below their peers statewide in most of the years and indicators examined. Bunker Hill Community College is the institution with the most CPS enrollments (205 students) over the last five years, followed by UMass-Boston (161) and UMass-Amherst (145). The School Committee discussed various issues related to these outcomes, including the cost of post-secondary institutions, and discussed the need to help fund 100% tuition for two or four year public colleges and universities. As a reminder, the vaccine mandate will be implemented in November. For more details on the student vaccination requirements see this FAQ sheet that includes a timeline. It is expected that vaccines will become available to children under 12 in the coming weeks, at which point additional information from CPS will be made available. Superintendent Greer and Cambridge health professionals are hosting two upcoming information sessions via zoom to answer questions about student vaccinations or any COVID-related topic. These will take place on October 26th and 28th from 6pm-7pm. Register here.

Additionally, CPS is in the process of developing an exciting learning opportunity for students to Recover and Thrive academically through purposeful, joyful, and culturally responsive after school curricula. The STEM Scholars Program will provide an additional 90 minutes of learning, after school, Mon - Fri to students in grades 3, 4, and 5 in the following Cambridge Public Schools: The Kennedy Longfellow, Morse (Title 1 Funded) and Haggerty School (ESSER Funded). The goal of this program is to provide additional high quality learning time for students to build math and literacy skills through inclusive, equitable, and engaging science instruction. The target program dates for the 2021-2022 school year will be January and May 2022. This program will be run in person, assuming there are no changes to the state-wide guidance for in person programming. In order to ensure a high-quality learning experience, we will hire a STEM Curriculum Developer/Program Manager who will work collaboratively with teachers participating in the program, to develop interdisciplinary STEM lessons that embed targeted ELA and Math learning standards, are highly engaging, and culturally responsive. The School Committee’s next regular meeting will be held on November 16th at 6pm. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, suggestions, or concerns. Respectfully, Mayor Siddiqui