CategoryMassachusetts

The Boston School Committee voted unanimously to drop the use of a standardized test score for entrance to the city’s three exam schools for one year and rely instead of students’ grade point averages. The proposal was advanced by the Exam School Admissions Criteria Working Group and calls for a one-year change to the current

Before voting on a housing ordinance affecting Boston renters and landlords, city councilors discussed the effectiveness of the Mayor Martin Walsh’s changes after the statewide eviction moratorium recently ended. The City Council’s Committee on Government Operations, led by District 1 Councilor Lydia Edwards, focused solely on the language of the ordinance to make sure that

Boston Public Schools parents held dueling demonstrations Sunday morning in front of Boston Latin School in advance of a Boston School Committee vote on a proposal to suspend for a year the entrance exam for the city’s three exam schools. Standing on the steps of Latin School, a group of Latin School parents, students and

City Councilors heard testimony Monday from recent college graduates and higher education activists about the impact of student loan debt on Bostonians — a crisis some characterized as a “second pandemic” that disproportionately affects Black and Latino borrowers. “The American dream is at risk here,” said City Council President Kim Janey during opening remarks. “Student

Gov. Charlie Baker’s new Eviction Diversion Initiative, which promises $171 million in total aid, some of which has already been allocated, is receiving backlash from activists and legislators. While demonstrators with City Life/Vida Urbana were marching to the State House on Thursday, Oct. 15, House representatives were inside discussing alternatives with Rep. Mike Connolly in

Boston Public Schools parents held dueling demonstrations Sunday morning in front of Boston Latin School in advance of a Boston School Committee vote on a proposal to suspend for a year the entrance exam for the city’s three exam schools. Standing on the steps of Latin School, a group of Latin School parents, students and

Despite pressure by activists, the lawmakers have not yet acted on legislation that would extend the statewide eviction moratorium beyond its Oct. 17 deadline. Gov. Charlie Baker Monday announced $112 million in new funding to an Eviction Diversion Initiative and said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s nationwide moratorium will protect Massachusetts

When the first cohort of students returned to school buildings Oct. 1, Boston Teachers Union President Jessica Tang joined Mayor Martin Walsh and Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius at the David A. Ellis school as teachers welcomed their young charges back to classrooms. But a week later, Tang filed a lawsuit against the city

Organizers and legislators are renewing their push for the Housing Stability Act proposed in July. At a press conference Sept. 30 hosted by Homes for All Massachusetts, supporters gathered at the State House and on Zoom to share their concern for the end of the governor’s eviction moratorium. Though Boston’s public housing eviction moratorium won’t

As of Sept. 30, Boston is in the red zone on Massachusetts’ COVID-19 case rate map, a designation that signifies an infection rate of more than eight cases per 100,000 residents. In Boston last Friday, Mayor Martin Walsh said in a media briefing at City Hall that there were 82 new cases the day before.