BPS School Supports Chart & Resource Tool: NEW TOOL FOR BPS PARTNERS & FUNDERS
Source: Laura Perille, Executive Director, EdVestors
Date: 2008/12/01
School Support Services, Boston Public Schools:
A Reference Tool for BPS Funders & Partners
Compiled as a resource by EdVestors:
Please send update information to: curtis@edvestors.org
To:BPS Funders, Partners & Education Leaders
From: Laura Perille, Executive Director, EdVestors
Re: EXPLANATORY MEMO – BPS SCHOOL SUPPORTS CHART (Attached)
Date: November 18, 2008
At the request of many individuals both within and outside of the Boston Public Schools, EdVestors offered to compile a reference tool that would assemble available information on all Boston Public Schools, providing a snapshot of school resources and partners. We are circulating this list initially via the Boston Education Funders as well as EdVestors’ own network, but we encourage you to circulate it more broadly to those who may find it useful.
Any attempt to assemble snapshot information in one handy location is fraught with challenges, so we share this document with several important caveats:
1. This chart is by no means exhaustive, but was developed but was developed as an initial reference tool for partners and funders seeking basic information about one or more schools. It is, at best, a snapshot and may provide some helpful starting information for any research you may be conducting regarding schools within the Boston Public Schools. We encourage you to use this list as a starting point only, and to re-confirm data as you go.
2. The information assembled here (or not) does not represent any value judgments on what is or isn’t important: We did our best to assemble information regarding known resources and partners, with an eye towards those that may provide substantial additional staffing or resources, as well as any important background information on the school (for example, current accountability status, name of principal, etc.).
3. Some data are more reliable than others (for example, the list of schools with Family & Community Outreach Coordinators, or FCOC’s, is fairly solid, but the list of school mental health partners is spotty at best, as there currently is no one data point where this information can be found. However, this is one of the reasons why we developed the chart – to identify gaps in commonly-requested information.
4. This chart will be updated and re-circulated periodically: EdVestors has agreed to update and re-circulate this chart at least twice per year, as information does change rapidly. We encourage you to send updates and corrections our way, care of Megan Curtis at curtis@edvestors.org. We will compile suggested updates and additions for the next update (currently planned for Winter 2009).
5. Feel free to make this chart your own: We designed the chart as an edit-able Excel document, so that you can add or delete columns to suit your own purposes and sort it as you see fit (currently sorted by school grade level or type (Alternative Education Programs, Early Learning Centers, Elementary, K-8, Middle and High Schools).
6. We are happy to expand the circulation list for this chart: Please send an email to Megan Curtis at curtis@edvestors.org with “School Support Chart” in the subject line, and we will add you to the mailing list for subsequent updates.
Please note: the chart itself requires printing on legal paper – the only way we could make it fit!
With any questions or suggestions regarding this chart, please feel free to contact Laura Perille at 617-585-5740 or perille@edvestors.org. We hope this chart will be of use to you and your efforts to partner with and support the work of the Boston Public Schools.
Best regards,
Laura Perille
EdVestors
