Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 2:30 p.m. (Boston time), Boston City Hall, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201
Hearing on Docket #0276
Committee: Education Committee
The Education Committee, chaired by Councilor Mejia, held a second hearing on Docket 0276, an order for a hearing on transparency and accountability in service provision and spending for English learners, sponsored by Councilors Mejia, Culpepper and Santana. Boston Public Schools Deputy Superintendent of Academics Dr. Wright said the district now has 14 dual language programs serving 2,337 students, is phasing out its non-compliant cohort classrooms in favor of state-approved models, and is waiting on a Council of the Great City Schools report to finalize a five-year strategic plan for multilingual learners; councilors pressed staff on low reading proficiency, delays in special education evaluations, dropout rates and access to exam schools. A community panel from the Multilingual Learners Alliance and the Boston Teachers Union presented research and outcome data and called for a long-term plan to expand bilingual education and bilingual staff, and four parents testified about IEP delays and the need for bilingual instruction and support. In a second round, district staff described about $126.7 million budgeted for multilingual services in FY27, educator pipeline programs, and the FY28 budget timeline, and agreed to ongoing quarterly conversations with advocates and the council. The docket remains in committee.
1:42 other.
4:46 Uh, I'm calling us in for the
4:47 record.
4:48 My name is julia mejia,
4:49 at-large city councilor and I
4:51 also happen to be the chair
4:52 of boston city council's
4:53 committee on education.
4:57 Today is OCTOBER the 13th, 2026
5:00 and the exact time is 235.
5:02 This hearing is being recorded
5:02 .
5:04 It is also being live streamed
5:06 at boston.Gov.
5:10 City council tv and broadcast
5:12 on xfinity channel eight rcn
5:15 channel 82 and files channel
5:15 964.
5:18 Written comments MAY be sent to
5:23 the committee email at kcc
5:25 education@boston.Gov.
5:25 And will be made part of the
5:27 record and available to all
5:27 councilors.
5:29 Public testimony will be taken
5:31 at my discretion throughout
5:32 this hearing.
5:34 Um individuals will be called
5:35 in order in which they signed
5:37 up and will have two minutes to
5:38 testify.
5:39 If you are interested in
5:41 testifying in person, please
5:43 add your name to the sign up
5:44 sheet near the entrance of the
5:45 chamber.
5:46 If you're looking to testify
5:47 virtually.
5:49 Please email central staff
5:52 liaison ron cobb at boston's
5:53 iga for the link and your name
5:55 will be added to the list.
5:58 Today's hearing is on docket
6:01 0276 and order for a hearing on
6:02 transparency and accountability
6:03 and service provisions and
6:06 spending for english learners.
6:09 This matter was um offered and
6:11 sponsored by me yours truly
6:13 julia media council culpeper
6:15 and councilor santana and was
6:18 referred to my committee uh
6:19 FEBRUARY 4th 2026.
6:22 Today I am joined by the best
6:24 attendance um in order
6:27 of arrival councilor flynn um
6:29 and councilor at-large murphy
6:31 um, I know that
6:31 councilor culpepper is on his
6:32 way.
6:33 Um, and he he'll be joining us
6:34 shortly.
6:38 Um, and before we get started,
6:41 I am going to ask my colleagues
6:43 if, uh I'm going to read mine
6:44 first so that I can set the
6:46 stage so that we all know why
6:46 we're here today.
6:48 My opening statements normally
6:49 I don't do this, but I think
6:50 it's important for me to lay
6:51 down the groundwork here.
6:53 So good afternoon and thank you
6:55 everyone for being here.
6:57 Uh, to ground everyone in the
6:58 context for today, I want to
7:00 share that this hearing is to
7:01 continue the conversation from
7:02 the first hearing we had on
7:04 this docket on MARCH the 10th
7:06 as a response to the hearing in
7:08 MARCH, this body passed a
7:10 resolution supporting
7:11 developing a comprehensive plan
7:13 for multilingual learners.
7:15 Docket 1147.
7:18 Following the passage of that
7:20 resolution, there was still an
7:21 appetite to continue the
7:23 conversation on this docket
7:26 about service provision and
7:27 comfort hence a district wide
7:28 plan for our english language
7:30 learners including those with
7:32 disabilities as covered in this
7:32 docket.
7:35 We need to increase equitable
7:36 access to multilingual
7:38 education and a comprehensive
7:40 plan would mean every
7:41 multilingual learner will have
7:44 access to the same curricular
7:45 resources and supports
7:46 regardless of what school
7:47 they're at.
7:50 As someone who came to be pps
7:51 without knowing english and who
7:53 had a mother that did not speak
7:55 english, I know firsthand the
7:56 barriers and difficulties
7:59 students and families whose
8:01 first language is not english
8:01 face.
8:04 Um from part of supporting our
8:05 multilingual learners and
8:07 caregivers is information
8:09 justice including language
8:12 access and our office um often
8:14 manages constituent cases about
8:16 student services provisions and
8:18 or from constituents who do not
8:19 speak english.
8:21 This lived experience has
8:22 highlighted the need for a
8:23 comprehensive plan.
8:25 We acknowledge the work
8:26 of black and the multilingual
8:27 learners alliance.
8:29 That that.
8:31 Um that they have done and plan
8:31 to continue to do.
8:33 And today we're bringing
8:34 together all of those who are
8:36 doing the work and are living
8:38 the realities so that we can
8:39 collaborate.
8:40 I want to say that again so
8:43 that we can collaborate to
8:45 address systemic issues to
8:48 service provisions developing a
8:49 comprehensive district wide
8:52 plan for now and into the
8:53 future in partnership with all
8:55 of the stakeholders will help
8:57 us solidify and work towards
8:59 concrete steps to best support
9:01 our multilingual students,
9:02 families and educators.
9:05 The budget is also an important
9:08 part of this plan as the
9:09 comprehensive plan is being
9:10 developed.
9:12 We need to make sure that the
9:14 priorities the action items,
9:16 policies, programs and staffing
9:18 are more reflected in the
9:19 budget.
9:21 Any plans success relies on
9:24 having the proper resources to
9:25 faithfully carry it out.
9:27 Our dollars need to go towards
9:29 supporting our highest need uh
9:31 students and we look forward to
9:33 working alongside you to do
9:34 just that.
9:35 And I'll just end before I send
9:37 it up to my colleagues is that
9:39 our vision was to have
9:42 community panel alongside the
9:43 administration because we need
9:44 to start breaking down those
9:46 barriers of communication and
9:48 engagement and in order for us
9:49 to really build trust.
9:52 My hope was to have a trust
9:53 building exercise in which we
9:55 can do just that.
9:57 However logistically we
9:59 wouldn't we weren't able to
10:01 make it happen but it is our um
10:03 ,hope that this is not just
10:05 one hearing that will be able
10:07 to work in partnership in and
10:09 inside this chamber and outside
10:11 this chamber on a on a plan
10:13 that meets the needs of our
10:14 students but is also centered
10:15 and the parents that are
10:17 leading this work alongside the
10:17 administration.
10:19 So that's an open invitation.
10:20 I am willing to facilitate and
10:22 bringing people together across
10:24 their differences to get this
10:24 right.
10:25 All right.
10:27 So with that said I am going to
10:29 kick it over to my colleagues
10:31 for opening remarks and then
10:32 we'll go to the panel.
10:34 Councilor flynn, you have the
10:34 floor.
10:37 Thank you councilor mejia for
10:39 holding and sponsoring this
10:40 important hearing today.
10:43 I'd also like to thank
10:45 councilors cole pepper,
10:47 councilor santana council we're
10:49 all councilor murphy so many
10:50 other councilors for their work
10:52 on this issue as well.
10:56 At this time boston public
10:58 schools has not publicly
11:00 articulated a district wide
11:02 operational plan to implement
11:04 native language access for
11:06 english language learners or
11:07 english learners english
11:09 learners with disabilities.
11:11 I would like to acknowledge the
11:14 tremendous work of john mudd,
11:16 who has been asking important
11:18 questions and providing
11:20 exceptional leadership not for
11:21 years but for decades.
11:24 At a recent school committee
11:26 meeting, he noted the five year
11:28 long roadmap to address
11:30 achievement gap for english
11:31 language learners.
11:35 With disabilities with
11:36 disabilities and english
11:37 language learners as well.
11:39 Um does not actually have any
11:41 measurable goals in addressing
11:42 mixed results.
11:45 Expanding bilingual education
11:46 or improving literacy.
11:50 English language learners
11:53 services in are essential to
11:55 ensuring that every student has
11:57 the opportunity to succeed
12:02 academically, socially ell
12:03 programs help our students
12:04 develop the language skills
12:06 needed to fully participate in
12:09 the classroom, build confidence
12:10 and engage with their peers and
12:11 teachers.
12:14 investing in these services
12:16 support educational equality
12:18 and ensures that all students
12:19 regardless of their language,
12:22 background or disability can
12:25 reach their full potential as a
12:27 city council with a large
12:28 population of cantonese
12:30 speaking students and families
12:32 ,I recognize the critical
12:34 importance of ensuring our
12:36 schools have the resources and
12:38 support necessary to provide
12:43 english as a second language
12:44 services so that every student
12:46 and family can fully engage in
12:48 their education and our
12:48 community.
12:50 I remain committed to ensuring
12:53 that our esl students have the
12:55 resources they need to succeed.
12:59 The opportunity just a week ago
13:01 to attend saint stephen's youth
13:05 group listening session and
13:07 listening to parents almost all
13:09 mothers mothers of color um
13:14 talking about equal access,
13:18 fairness, justice, equality and
13:20 I learned more in that one
13:21 hour, one hour, an hour and a
13:24 half discussion with the
13:25 mothers than probably eight
13:26 years in the city council.
13:31 This is about social, economic
13:31 and racial justice.
13:34 It's about fairness.
13:36 It's about dignity and respect
13:38 for all english language
13:40 learners and students with
13:40 disabilities.
13:41 Thank you, MADAM Chair.
13:42 Thank you.
13:44 Um, uh.
13:47 Councilor murphy, you have your
13:47 thank.
13:48 you chair.
13:50 Um thank you to the sponsors.
13:52 Thank you for the first panel
13:53 who are here and also the
13:54 community panel who will.
13:55 be up next.
13:58 Thank you for your continued
13:58 advocacy.
14:02 This is an important
14:03 conversation.
14:05 I was an esl teacher alongside
14:10 um in an inclusion classroom so
14:12 it can get tricky but that
14:13 doesn't mean we shouldn't be
14:14 getting it right and we
14:17 shouldn't be over diagnosing
14:19 students who have a language
14:20 barrier with special needs
14:23 which we know happens too often
14:23 also.
14:27 So as we know serves roughly
14:29 17,000 english learners.
14:31 That's about 31% of the
14:33 district's students along with
14:34 thousands of students who we
14:36 formally classified as english
14:36 learners.
14:40 This hearing today and I
14:41 appreciate what the chair said
14:44 this is I wouldn't say at the
14:45 beginning but the middle of a
14:46 continued conversation that we
14:49 have to continue to have not
14:50 expecting to get all the
14:51 answers now, but I think it's
14:52 always important to be.
14:54 Uplifting these concerns.
14:56 These students and their
14:57 families deserve clear
14:59 information about the services
15:00 available to them, whether
15:02 students can access those
15:03 services and whether those
15:04 services are helping them
15:05 succeed.
15:07 Today's hearing is about
15:08 accountability and access.
15:10 We need to understand how eps
15:12 decides where programs are
15:14 offered, how students are
15:16 placed, whether families
15:18 receive information in a
15:19 language they understand and
15:21 how the district measures
15:22 academic progress.
15:24 we also need a clear picture
15:25 of the funding behind these
15:27 services, how the money is
15:29 spent and what results it is
15:29 producing.
15:32 I want to be clear that this
15:34 discussion should recognize the
15:35 value of students home
15:37 languages and the importance
15:38 of strong bilingual and
15:39 multilingual programs.
15:42 At the same time, we have a
15:43 responsibility to ensure that
15:45 every student receives the
15:47 instruction and supports they
15:49 are entitled to, including our
15:50 students with disabilities.
15:52 I hope today's testimony gives
15:56 us specific answers, identifies
15:58 gaps and sets out measurable
15:58 next steps.
16:00 Families and educators should
16:02 not have to guess whether a
16:03 student is receiving the right
16:05 services or where to turn when
16:06 they are not.
16:08 So thank you for being here and
16:09 looking forward to the
16:09 conversation.
16:10 Thank you, councilor murphy.
16:12 Uh I want to note for the
16:13 record that we have been joined
16:14 by councilor weber.
16:16 Council member would you like
16:16 opening remarks?
16:17 Uh, no.
16:18 That's okay.
16:19 I mean, it's this important
16:20 conversation.
16:22 Thanks for, uh, to the chair
16:22 for holding it and.
16:24 Look forward to the
16:25 Thank you.
16:25 conversation.
16:27 all right.
16:28 Um, and doctor I because you
16:30 have a hard stop and I also
16:31 want to make sure that my
16:32 colleagues have an opportunity
16:33 to ask questions.
16:34 I'm going to switch things up
16:36 just a little bit in the
16:37 interest of time is that I'm
16:38 just if you could do your
16:40 presentation and then we'll do
16:41 we'll do a round of questions
16:43 with my colleagues before you
16:45 leave and then I'll open it up
16:47 to the rest of the folks.
16:48 Is that okay?
16:48 Sounds good.
16:49 Okay.
16:51 All right.
16:53 do you have a powerpoint?
16:54 No, no.
16:55 Thank GOD, because you.
16:55 know I don't like those.
16:56 Thank you.
16:57 I heard your feedback last
16:58 time.
16:58 You have.
16:59 my feedback.
17:00 I'm coachable.
17:01 oh.
17:01 I love that for you.
17:02 So let's go.
17:05 Good afternoon.
17:05 CHAIRMAN Here.
17:08 Um, councilor flynn,
17:09 councilor murphy and
17:09 councilor weber.
17:12 Um, and I know
17:13 councilor culpepper will be
17:13 joining us soon.
17:15 My name is doctor simon wright
17:17 and I am the deputy
17:19 superintendent of academics for
17:20 the boston public schools.
17:22 I'm here today with key leaders
17:24 from the office of multilingual
17:27 and multicultural education and
17:28 finance to discuss docket
17:32 number 0276 regarding service
17:33 provision and spending for
17:34 english learners.
17:35 And in the interest of time
17:37 I'll allow them to introduce
17:38 themselves after I finish.
17:41 Um I first want to acknowledge
17:43 that hearing from this past
17:45 spring regarding
17:47 accountability, transparency
17:49 and success of our multilingual
17:51 learners and students with
17:51 disabilities.
17:56 As we review docket number 0276
17:58 today feels like an opportunity
18:00 to provide greater flaherty as
18:02 it pertains to how we support
18:04 the success of multilingual
18:05 learners and the
18:06 interconnection to the
18:08 decisions that families make
18:11 regarding bilingual education
18:12 specifically the families and
18:14 caretakers of our multilingual
18:14 learners.
18:19 In addition, I do believe that
18:21 we both feel a sense of moral
18:23 responsibility to ensure that
18:25 each multilingual learner is
18:27 provided with the tools and
18:28 resources to thrive both
18:31 socially, emotionally and
18:33 academically regardless of the
18:35 programmatic choice that one's
18:36 family MAY make.
18:40 It is worth noting that most if
18:43 not all classrooms facilitate
18:45 learning for our multilingual
18:47 learners.
18:50 Dps continues to prioritize
18:52 expanding access to bilingual
18:54 programing across the district.
18:57 This includes sheltered english
19:00 immersion newcomer students
19:01 with limited or interrupted
19:04 formal education, dual language