THE PANDEMIC has put the spotlight on the classroom, with national and statewide test figures showing that students have lost ground in academic subjects. As schools prepare for the new year, a new survey finds Boston Public School parents also have other concerns, including the emotional well-being and physical safety of their children and the day-to-day basics like getting kids to school on time and having teachers to teach them.
In all, 44 percent say they are “very concerned” about their child’s physical safety, while another 25 percent are “somewhat concerned.” Parents express similar levels of concern about their kids’ emotional well-being (42 percent very concerned, 29 percent somewhat). Black and Asian parents are particularly concerned. Half or more of each are concerned about both emotional health and physical safety.
Issues of physical safety within BPS schools have grabbed headlines due to several recent serious incidents. But, as Boston state Sen. Nick Collins recently noted, the day-to-day concerns go well beyond these stories. “As we know, young people can’t advance their learning goals and achievement if you can’t feel safe at school. And if you can’t feel safe in school, what’s the point?” asked Collins. “These concerns are not based on hyperbole. My office receives complaints weekly from families concerned about their children’s safety, largely incidents that don’t make the papers.”
Logistical challenges are also causing upheaval for families. Just 31 percent of parents whose children ride the bus to school say the buses were “always on time” the week before the poll was taken, while 24 percent report half or fewer were on time. Black and Latino parents are much more likely to report their kids ride the bus, meaning they are more impacted by this issue. Keeping classrooms fully staffed has been another challenge, with 39 percent of parents saying their children have had substitute teachers at least a few times a month. One-in-ten parents reported their kids had substitute teachers every day.
Academics are also a concern for parents, with only half (51 percent) saying they think their schools are doing enough for students who have fallen behind. While most parents (58 percent) say their children are on track academically, 24 percent say they have fallen behind. A third (33 percent) of parents with a student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) say their child has fallen behind. Among parents who think their kids are behind, 57 percent think the schools should be doing more to help students catch up.
Despite all of this, overall satisfaction with BPS remains fairly high, with 32 percent of parents saying they are very satisfied with BPS and 47 percent somewhat satisfied. This is largely in line with previous waves of the survey going back to November 2021. The new figures are according to the latest wave of our series of polls of BPS parents for The Shah Foundation going back to 2021. Earlier waves found modest declines in some measures.
High satisfaction is not unique to Boston. In general, local schools are seen as doing pretty well, no matter where or when the poll is taken. These satisfaction figures often exist alongside very significant and well documented challenges. In Boston, the city narrowly averted receivership, with Mayor Michelle Wu committing to significant improvements. These are not new issues: problems with BPS go back a long way, and deep into prior administrations.
But the persistent overall satisfaction can sap momentum for change. If it seems that parents are largely satisfied, there will be less public pressure on the system to address problems that, by the city and state’s own admission, need to be addressed. Political leaders are less likely to take on longstanding and seemingly intractable issues until they are forced to.
On the bright side, if the opportunity presents itself, parents appear ready to engage. Overwhelmingly, parents say they want to be involved: 82 percent report wanting to be “very engaged” with their children’s education. But only 46 percent say that BPS enables them to be that engaged. Just 28 percent strongly agree their feedback is valued by BPS, and 34 percent strongly agree BPS makes it easy to share concerns.
Meet the Author
President, MassINC Polling Group
About Steve Koczela
Steve Koczela is the President of The MassINC Polling Group, where he has grown the organization from its infancy to a nationally known and respected polling provider. During the 2014 election cycle, MPG conducted election polling for WBUR, the continuation of a three-year partnership. Koczela again led the endeavor, producing polls which came within one point of the margin in both the Massachusetts gubernatorial and U.S. Senate Elections. He was also lead writer for Poll Vault, WBUR’s political reporting section during the 2014 Election Cycle.
He has led survey research programs for the U.S. Department of State in Iraq, in key states for President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, and has conducted surveys and polls on behalf of many private corporations. Koczela brings a deep understanding of the foundations of public opinion and a wide ranging methodological expertise. He earned U.S. Department of State recognition for his leading edge work on sample evaluation in post conflict areas using geospatial systems.
Koczela is frequent guest on WBUR as well as many other news and talk programs in Massachusetts and elsewhere. His polling analysis is often cited in local, state, and national media outlets. He currently serves as President of the New England Chapter of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (NEAAPOR). Koczela holds a Master’s degree in Marketing Research from the University of Wisconsin and is a veteran of the war in Iraq.
About Steve Koczela
Steve Koczela is the President of The MassINC Polling Group, where he has grown the organization from its infancy to a nationally known and respected polling provider. During the 2014 election cycle, MPG conducted election polling for WBUR, the continuation of a three-year partnership. Koczela again led the endeavor, producing polls which came within one point of the margin in both the Massachusetts gubernatorial and U.S. Senate Elections. He was also lead writer for Poll Vault, WBUR’s political reporting section during the 2014 Election Cycle.
He has led survey research programs for the U.S. Department of State in Iraq, in key states for President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, and has conducted surveys and polls on behalf of many private corporations. Koczela brings a deep understanding of the foundations of public opinion and a wide ranging methodological expertise. He earned U.S. Department of State recognition for his leading edge work on sample evaluation in post conflict areas using geospatial systems.
Koczela is frequent guest on WBUR as well as many other news and talk programs in Massachusetts and elsewhere. His polling analysis is often cited in local, state, and national media outlets. He currently serves as President of the New England Chapter of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (NEAAPOR). Koczela holds a Master’s degree in Marketing Research from the University of Wisconsin and is a veteran of the war in Iraq.
Meet the Author
Research Director, The MassINC Polling Group
About Rich Parr
Richard Parr is Research Director with The MassINC Polling Group. Rich contributes a deep familiarity with Massachusetts policies, politics and media, as well as a background in public policy and media.
Since joining MPG in 2013, Rich has taken primary responsibility for data processing and contributes to survey and sample design. He uses his background in policy and media to craft and edit analysis memos and reports attuned to the political context and salient issues. Rich oversaw data visualization and mapping for WBUR’s Poll Vault during the 2014 election cycle, and co-authored and edited several piece for the site.
Prior to joining MPG, Rich was Policy Director at A Better City, a nonprofit representing Boston-area businesses and institutions on transportation, land development and the environment. In that role Rich became a recognized expert on transportation finance and helped organize a statewide coalition which succeeded in elevating transportation to a top legislative priority. He launched and edited ABC’s blog and oversaw its social media presence. Rich continues to work on transportation projects in his spare time and for MassINC, MPG’s parent think-tank. He is a member of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s Legislative Committee and the Boston Bikes Advisory Group, for which MPG has conducted pro-bono analysis.
Before joining ABC, Rich produced web content for the award-winning PBS documentary series FRONTLINE. He has also worked in new media for political campaigns and in media operations for the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. Rich holds a Bachelor’s degree in Literature from Harvard College.
About Rich Parr
Richard Parr is Research Director with The MassINC Polling Group. Rich contributes a deep familiarity with Massachusetts policies, politics and media, as well as a background in public policy and media.
Since joining MPG in 2013, Rich has taken primary responsibility for data processing and contributes to survey and sample design. He uses his background in policy and media to craft and edit analysis memos and reports attuned to the political context and salient issues. Rich oversaw data visualization and mapping for WBUR’s Poll Vault during the 2014 election cycle, and co-authored and edited several piece for the site.
Prior to joining MPG, Rich was Policy Director at A Better City, a nonprofit representing Boston-area businesses and institutions on transportation, land development and the environment. In that role Rich became a recognized expert on transportation finance and helped organize a statewide coalition which succeeded in elevating transportation to a top legislative priority. He launched and edited ABC’s blog and oversaw its social media presence. Rich continues to work on transportation projects in his spare time and for MassINC, MPG’s parent think-tank. He is a member of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s Legislative Committee and the Boston Bikes Advisory Group, for which MPG has conducted pro-bono analysis.
Before joining ABC, Rich produced web content for the award-winning PBS documentary series FRONTLINE. He has also worked in new media for political campaigns and in media operations for the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. Rich holds a Bachelor’s degree in Literature from Harvard College.
If BPS were to engage more with parents and dig for specific feedback, they may find that parents hold more complex views than the overall satisfaction numbers suggest. Communications are a strong point for BPS in this survey: 50 percdent of parents strongly agree that communications they receive from the district are clear and easy to understand. Using those communications to address parent concerns and share plans for improvement would be a good starting point.
Steve Koczela is the president of the MassINC Polling Group.
