Boston Renaissance Inspires

MBAE Board Members and staff were treated to an inspiring tour of the Boston Renaissance Charter Public School recently that reminded me of why it is so critical to extend these unique educational opportunities to more students and their families.

The largest public elementary school in Boston, Renaissance offers a high quality education to 1,100 pre-kindergarten to 6^th grade students.   Ninety-six percent of Renaissance students are African American and Latino and more than 70% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. It ranks seventh out of 82 elementary schools in Boston, many of which are one quarter its size.

The School’s success is the result of a combination of factors that define many of the state’s best charter public schools.  A dynamic school superintendent leads a deeply committed staff that brings innovative new resources and programs to the school.  Staff focuses on academic achievement but also on student confidence and character.  Its full service approach to learning includes an on-site vision, dental and health center that helps to break down barriers to learning that exist for too many disadvantaged students.  Instructional technology programs, led by a former teacher from Tech Boston Academy (the school recently made famous by a visit from President Obama), are a central focus of the school and lead to better preparedness for the 21^st century economy.  Visual and performing arts are an integral part of each student’s school day, encouraging students to develop their minds and bodies.  A beautiful new facility and campus provide the environment for serious learning.

Boston Renaissance and other charter schools provide valuable opportunities to students from the most vulnerable neighborhoods.  The flexibility with which charter schools operate has allowed them to challenge old ways of doing things and develop new pathways for success.  The legislature and the Governor should be applauded for passing An Act Relative to the Achievement Gap last year which raised the cap on the number of charter schools operating in the state’s poorest performing districts.  Yet, with the recent Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approval of 16 new charter schools many of the new seats will soon be filled.  What happens to the thousands of students who didn’t get a spot?  Many of them will remain trapped in underperforming schools.

A visit to Boston Renaissance Charter Public School reminds one of the critical impact that a valuable educational opportunity can have on a young person’s life.  MBAE supports making these opportunities available to more children through high quality charters and to all children through excellent public schools of all kinds.