New Report: Lessons Learned in Lawrence Schools Should Inform Education Funding Debate
March 13, 2019
New Report: Lessons Learned in Lawrence Schools Should Inform Education Funding Debate
Data Show Lawrence Graduating More Latino and Economically Disadvantaged Students than Boston, Spending Far Less
BOSTON – Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA), an affiliate organization of Democrats for Education Reform, today released a new report, “Money, Mediocrity, and Making Change. A tale of two cities: Comparing Progress in Boston and Lawrence.” The report analyzes the success of state receivership in Lawrence Public Schools, comparing Lawrence’s progress to Boston’s and making the case that Massachusetts legislators should look to Lawrence as they consider bills to increase funding for public education.
“More money for schools is a no-brainer, but the Lawrence story proves that how districts spend money makes all the difference,” said Liam Kerr, DFER State Director. “The debate over education funding must be informed by what we know works. We know that more money alone will not get the results our constitution and conscience demand for our most vulnerable students.”
The report shows:
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Boston, at more than $20,000 per pupil, spends more than $5,000 more per student than Lawrence
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Between 2010 and 2017, graduation rates for Hispanic students in Lawrence increased from 45.3% to 71.9%, surpassing Boston’s rate of 69%.
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Economically disadvantaged students in Lawrence have performed better on the state’s standardized tests than their peers in Boston during the first two years of the MCAS 2.0.
Former State Representatives Marty Walz and Juana Matias have joined the call for legislators to consider tying funding to measures that will ensure stronger outcomes for all students.
“Even as Massachusetts is a national leader in public education, large opportunity and achievement gaps persist,” Walz said. Walz represented the 8th Suffolk District, which includes Boston, in the legislature for eight years. She is the lead author of the 2010 Achievement Gap Act that empowered the state to put Lawrence Public Schools into receivership.
“The success in Lawrence proves that change is possible even without an infusion of dollars if a district has strong, creative leadership and empowered schools and teachers,” Walz said.
“I’ve seen first-hand the change that occurred in Lawrence,” said Matias. “We must act with urgency, given that for the first time in a generation, we have the opportunity to address widely affirmed flaws and funding gaps that have long persisted in our public schools. It would be a mistake to not require meaningful reforms in conjunction with increased investments.” Matias represented the 16th Essex district, which includes Lawrence, in the legislature from 2017 to 2018.
The full report is available at www.lawrenceboston.com. ERNA will host its annual Policy Luncheon to discuss the report’s findings on Wednesday, April 3rd at 12pm at the UMass Club (32nd Floor, 1 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108). The public is welcome and should RSVP at www.lawrenceboston.com
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Contact: Matt Wilder
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