Feb 4th Panel Discussion: The Boston Public Schools’ Assignment Plan

In 2014, the Boston Public Schools (BPS) switched to a new school assignment plan, one that was developed through dozens of community meetings and countless discussions with the City, BPS officials, and members of the public.

Two years in, is the plan working? What does a “fair” school assignment system look like? And is fairness the same for everyone? Do families differ in what they want in a school? How might the Boston Public Schools Choice and Assignment system balance these factors?

Moderating the discussion will be Hardin Coleman, Dean of the BU School of Education, Vice-Chair of the BPS School Committee and the former Co-Chair of the Mayor’s External Advisory Committee on Improving School Choice. The panel will include:

• Kim Rice – Assistant Superintendent of Operations, Boston Public Schools
• James Racanelli – Director of Operations Management, Boston Public Schools
• Nancy Hill – Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Kelley Fong – PhD candidate in Sociology & Social Policy, Harvard University