Executive Summary
The Boston City Council Committee on Education held a hearing on March 10, 2026, to discuss Dockets #0276 and #0277, focusing on transparency, accountability, and spending for English Language Learners (ELL) and Special Education (SPED) within Boston Public Schools (BPS). The hearing addressed the district's $1.7 billion budget, specifically the $553 million allocated to special education, amidst concerns over stagnant academic outcomes and proposed staffing cuts. Community advocates and educators criticized the district's reliance on the Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) model and the outsourcing of services, while BPS administration defended the ongoing rollout of the Inclusive Education Plan and the use of 'service mapping' to align resources with student IEPs. No formal votes were taken during this session.
Meeting Information
- Governing Body: Boston City Council Committee on Education
- Meeting Type: Committee Hearing
- Date: March 10, 2026, at 2:04 PM
- Chair: Councilor Julia Mejia
- Councilors Present: Ed Flynn, Enrique Pepén, Henry Santana, Erin Murphy, Liz Breadon, Benjamin Weber, John Fitzgerald, Ruthzee Louijeune, and Miniard Culpepper.
Docket #0276: Transparency and Accountability in Service Provision and Spending for English Language Learners
- Sponsors: Councilors Julia Mejia, Miniard Culpepper, and Henry Santana.
- Key Discussion Points:
- Bilingual Education Access: Ari Brands (St. Stephen’s Youth Programs) testified that less than 10% of BPS multilingual learners are in dual language programs.
- Staffing Reductions: Concerns were raised regarding the loss of 110 bilingual teacher positions and 28 bilingual paraprofessional positions in the proposed budget.
- Model Effectiveness: Dr. Maria Delort Serpa advocated for a shift from Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) to Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE), stating, "Learning to read only happens once... by learning through the home language they are learning English."
- Community Demands: Advocates called for a 10-year plan to ensure bilingual seats for every family that wants one and public reporting on Title I spending outcomes.
Docket #0277: Audit of Boston Public Schools Special Education and Return on Investments
- Sponsors: Councilors Julia Mejia and Erin Murphy.
- Financial Overview:
- Total BPS Budget: $1.7 billion.
- Special Education Allocation: $553 million (approximately one-third of the total budget).
- Outsourcing Costs: Nearly $100 million is sent to private special education vendors; outsourced instructional services increased by 15% ($29 million).
- Out-of-District Placements: Costs for placements and transportation total $68 million annually.
- Key Discussion Points:
- Academic Outcomes: Edith Bazil noted that despite record spending, 90% of students with disabilities are not reading proficiently. She stated, "The question is not whether BPS spends enough, the question is whether that spending produces results."
- Racial Disparities: Black males comprise 14% of the district but 29% of special education placements, contributing to the "school-to-prison pipeline."
- Staffing Cuts: The budget proposes cutting 3.3% of special education positions (167 roles).
Administration Panel Testimony and Response
- Inclusive Education Plan: Dr. Simone Wright (Deputy Superintendent) reported early wins, including a 4% increase in English language proficiency for 7th and 9th graders during the Year 1 rollout.
- Service Mapping: Christine Trevisoni (Office of Specialized Services) explained that BPS is moving toward "service mapping" to allocate staff based on individual student IEP minutes rather than fixed classroom models.
- Bilingual Staffing Clarification: Joelle Gamir (Chief of OMME) stated that some bilingual teacher cuts resulted from "coding errors" or decreased enrollment in Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) programs due to new exit criteria.
- Direct Quote on Funding: Dr. Simone Wright stated, "BPS has a moral obligation to provide each student with what they may need to be successful regardless of whether it is legally required or not."
Public Testimony
- Kevin Bott (META): Reported that BPS failed to provide Title I checklists for two years. A recent review revealed over $1 million in unspent Title I funds that could have supported native language teachers.
- Nyla Hicks-Fernandez (BSAC): "I don't want my classmates being forced to be in a general ed classroom when they need to be in a smaller classroom because they have a learning disability... Invest in our education, support our teachers."
- Dr. Liz Tanagbanwa (Charlestown High School): Opposed cuts to the co-teaching model at Charlestown High, noting that 30% of the school's multilingual learners have IEPs.
- Parental Advocacy: Multiple parents, including Carolina Sotos and Nikioli Perez, testified via video regarding the success of bilingual programs in improving student self-esteem and the need for more bilingual seats in neighborhoods like Dorchester and Mattapan.
Official Actions and Votes
- Votes: No formal votes were taken on Dockets #0276 or #0277 during this hearing.
- Requests for Information: Councilor Pepén requested a follow-up briefing on the impact of staffing cuts at the Mattahunt and Sarah Greenwood schools. Councilor Mejia requested the internal "walkthrough tool" used by the district to assess evidence-based teaching.