Boston, teachers reach tentative contract deal

Dear BPS Community,

We are thrilled to share that the Boston Public Schools (BPS) and Boston Teachers Union (BTU) have reached a tentative agreement. This multi-year agreement includes significant strides in inclusion to meet the needs of our students, families, and educators.

In partnership with the BTU, BPS is committed to increasing inclusive practices and opportunities for all students regardless of their level of need. Inclusion is fully delivered when all students are educated in the least restrictive environment and are provided access to a full continuum of services that meet their individualized and special needs. At BPS, our goal is to ensure that all classrooms in the Boston Public Schools are inclusive and that instructional and behavioral strategies improve academic and social-emotional outcomes for all students, with and without disabilities, in general education settings. This contract will allow us to realize this goal.

​​​​​​​As part of the expansion of BPS inclusive practices, which refers to the instructional and behavioral strategies that improve academic and social-emotional outcomes for all students, with and without disabilities, both parties are committed to increasing opportunities for all students regardless of their level of need. Also named within the agreement is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  This tentative agreement will ensure that we will be able to more effectively meet individual student needs through significant investments in individualized instruction, academic interventions, and professional development as well as other service delivery roles as well ensuring a broader continuum of services is in place at each school.

The agreement acknowledges our educators' needs and focuses on what is required for us to respond to the urgent needs of all of our students. At its core, the agreement anchors our mutual belief that effective inclusive education requires a high level of collaboration among general education, special education, related service providers, and support staff to implement and model an inclusive community.  It allows us to continue our promise of a quality guarantee for all students to receive a world-class education.

BPS and the BTU share a common belief that the achievement and opportunities of our students are our collective responsibility. I want to thank those who worked tirelessly to make this agreement a reality, and I look forward to a fantastic school year ahead.

Thank you for your continued partnership and patience.

Dr. Drew Echelson

Acting Superintendent

Most of the disability community uses "disabled students" and "accessible" or "adaptive education" and finds "special needs" to be a silly euphemism (the need for education, housing, medical care, etc. is not special; everyone has these needs, and disabled folks need them to be accessible). The education field largely uses "special needs" but most of this isn't led by disabled folks.