NCJ Number
124832
Date Published
1987
Length
60 pages
Annotation
The Boston Compact encourages school improvement in the city by institutionalizing a pledge by the schools to improve attendance rates and standardized test scores and graduation rates. Colleges and businesses have promised to help the school district achieve these goals by providing technical assistance, political support, and increased educational and employment opportunities for school students and graduates.
Abstract
By seeking to change the school district's quality of education, the Compact has displayed distinctive features including comprehensiveness, service to a minority and disadvantaged population, and clear quantitative goals. The demand for system-wide improvement in education occurred as a result of school desegregation, turnover of school and district leadership, and erosion of public confidence in the schools. Changes in demographic, residential, and labor force composition have aroused concern that there would be a diminishing pool of entry-level workers and a negative impact on the city's image as a center of employment. As a result of the Compact, school attendance has increased and standardized test scores are higher, however, the dropout rate has remained high and unaffected so far. Other positive aspects of the program are the increased business support for the city schools, improved teacher and school morale, physical improvements in the schools, raised aspirations for many students, and the development of additional business initiatives. One of the limitations of the Compact is that the lack of linkage between the planners and implementers does not lead to system-wide change. 6 tables.