In Boston Globe Ideas: Where have Boston’s children gone? trib.al/la7vwJw

Where have Boston’s children gone? @BostonSchoolsFund CEO Will Austin begins to answer the question for this weekend’s Boston Globe Ideas The Boston Globe. 🧵 #mapoli #bospoli

Boston is the fifth-most-childless major city in the country, says Boston Schools Fund’s Will Austin. Affordable housing, quality schools, and funding for community organizations could be the solution. trib.al/tuBrLno

The brand new @BostonArtsAcad space finally gives our brilliant students & staff a warm, welcoming space to shine! Plus its energy efficient design is helping build our Green New Deal City.

Thank you to the Boston Schools Fund who announced Wednesday at the Rafael Hernandez School the first recipients of the PEAK investment, which is part of a $2.3M initiative over the next three years. Among these recipients are the Hernández School, Samuel Adams, and Sumner School

There are no winners with an online lottery. Let’s find a better way to raise revenue, Massachusetts. #mapoli commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/online…

New from Will Austin of Boston Schools Fund: State should not double down on regressive lottery by adding online gambling.

Having online lottery in Gov’s draft budget ”allows time for a serious analysis of the inequity and public health costs that flow from the proposal,“ writes Will Austin #mapoli bostonglobe.com/2024/02/09/opi… via The Boston Globe

Why are fewer kids applying to Boston’s exam schools? bostonglobe.com/2024/08/07/opi…

I thought the same thing! But when I extrapolated from the GPA data provided for the 2021 court case, I found that the vast majority of students in the former admission system had B averages are higher, too. Thank you for amplifying my work!

Page 2. bostonschoolsfund.app.box.com/file/796996508…. Even on a spot check, there are schools with no invitations where applicants averaged a B. No doubt, the GPA requirement means fewer students qualify but it doesn’t explain the total difference.

Want to learn more about Question 2 on your MA ballot this fall (the question that would repeal the state's high school graduation requirement)? Here's a short but helpful explainer by Will Austin. dotnews.com/2024/commentar…

"Closing the summer access gap is a potential path to closing achievement and opportunity gaps." Research shows that youth who attend 80% of summer programming will see better outcomes. We're honored to be featured in this piece by Will Austin. bostonglobe.com/2024/08/22/opi…

There is an uncomfortable but true trade-off: Whatever real or perceived value of safety a cellphone may bring, it will most definitely mean a child will do worse in school academically and socially, writes Will Austin. trib.al/2DgOcvI

I’m voting No on 2 because no matter the community, every child deserves the highest quality education. If Question 2 passes, we'll become one of two states that don’t have a statewide standard for graduation. The only standard remaining would be four years of gym.

Any intervention in response to recent MCAS results will go only so far without students frequently participating in class, writes Will Austin. trib.al/6r2EJ9K

“Setting clear goals, public leadership, creating monitoring systems, reinforcing culture, celebrating success, and empowering individual schools does not fit on a bumper sticker. But that is how you drive change.” - Will Austin. bostonglobe.com/2024/11/01/opi…

"Question 2 appears to be yet another data point documenting a major political realignment in this country.  Higher educational attainment has become a significant marker for how many people identify politically and vote." -Will Austin willaustin.substack.com/p/boston-focus…

Fun fact: The federal endowment tax applies only to colleges with over $500,000 in wealth per student. If colleges subject to the current endowment tax let in enough more students, they could escape the tax entirely. Ezra Klein Matthew Yglesias Will Austin open.substack.com/pub/willaustin…