MetroFuture seeks to eliminate regional disparity in public education quality. The most significant improvements to educational performance would occur in underperforming districts. There will be a decreasing achievement gap for students with limited English proficiency and those from low-income households. With decreased regional segregation and increased quality of urban schools, there would be a smaller gap in educational outcomes among schoolchildren of different races.

Due to slower population growth rates in most Developing Suburbs, fewer new schools would be needed and more resources would be available for rehabilitation and expansion of existing schools. Schools will take a leading role in helping children to develop healthy lifestyles.

If Current Trends continue, racial inequality in education would continue, and lower performing urban school districts would discourage families from settling in urban areas. A recent study projected that 74% of schools in the state would not meet federal proficiency standards in 2014, compared to 22% in 2004. Schools with fewer black, Hispanic, low income, or special needs students are more likely to meet federal standards. Review of MCAS scores indicates that highest performing districts are often made up of middle-class or demographically advantaged communities. As of 2000, almost half of immigrants age 16-24 with poor English skills dropped out of high school.

Objectives:

• The region will have declining disparities in standardized test outcomes and graduation rates by race, ethnicity, gender, income and Community Type.
• Student-teacher ratios will steadily decrease.
• All elementary and middle schools will use a health and physical activity curriculum.
• All of the region’s public schools will have at least one teacher dedicated to each of the following: visual arts, music, theater, and health/physical education.