From Our Superintendent
Dear CPS Families,
 You are probably aware that at the February 2 School Committee meeting I presented a proposal for improving education in grades 6-8 in CPS. The recommendation was driven by my, and the community’s, commitment to academic excellence and social justice. We are exploring ways to ensure that every student in Cambridge has equal access to a high quality education and that all students are given the challenge and support to excel academically. Many of you have told me that you agree with my assessment that today many students have these opportunities, but perhaps we cannot say with certainty that all do. By my standards, and by yours, I know, that simply is not good enough.
The proposal itself calls for a ‘hybrid” model in which we would maintain some K-8 schools, establish some traditional K-5 elementary schools, and create a new, state-of-the-art middle school. This approach affords families more and better choices about the best structure for educating their children before they reach the high school. Naturally, the proposal has produced a wave of feedback from staff and parents, which, to tell the truth, I find valuable as it enables us to test big ideas against practical realities. Going forward, the School Committee has requested that I present on April 6 a more detailed plan for how we might implement this new model, with the expectation that following further discussion the Committee would vote on May 18. Prior to my next presentation, we have asked all school councils to engage at the site level to think about how their individual school, as well as the district as a whole, might be affected if a particular school adopted a K-5 or a K-8 structure. Please speak with your principal about how you can become involved in this conversation as your voice is critical to making the best decision. For more details on the proposal as well as the timeline going forward, check the website at [ http://www.cpsd.us ]www.cpsd.us and click on the Middle Grades Initiative button.
Structure aside, the single most important step we can take to ensure academic excellence is to lift the expectations we hold for students. People—children and adults—will rise or fall to the level of expectations others have for them, so we should commit to holding and conveying the highest possible expectations for every student in the district. Some students have told me personally that they feel the work is “too easy,” and they acknowledge that they could be pushed further to become all they want to be. Please, never give up on a student. Please, tell your students every single day, in a dozen different ways, that you believe in them and that you are there to support them as they discover just how well they can do in school.
I invite you to follow this public debate and to weigh in with your thoughts, either through your principal or by direct email to me. As the people on the ground level, you, more than anyone else, understand, on an almost visceral level, what works and what doesn’t, and how we can elevate the quality of education for all Cambridge children.
As always, should you have any questions or comments, please email me at info@cpsd.us.
Regards,
Jeff Young
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