About Partners for Student Success

Overview

Partners for Student Success (PSS) is a multi-year initiative that aims to more tightly align the efforts of schools, OST programs, social service providers, and other essential services in order to ensure that struggling students get the support they need to succeed. The long-term goal of PSS is improved academic and developmental outcomes for children targeted by this effort.


PSS is a joint initiative led by Boston After School & Beyond in collaboration with the City of Boston, Mayor Thomas M. MeninoBoston Public Schools, The Boston Foundation, Full-service Schools Roundtable, Harvard University’s Program in Education, Afterschool and Resiliency (PEAR), Ludcke Foundation, Massachusetts 2020 Foundation, Nellie Mae Education Foundation, and the Wallace Foundation.


The PSS initiative will be piloted in fifteen public elementary schools over the next three years. Eligible schools are Boston public schools that are in “Corrective Action” for failure to make “Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), as designated under the No Child Left Behind Act, or in“Restructuring”, as classified by Massachusetts Department of Education, for at least two years.

PSS will work with schools to:

  • Identify struggling students’ strengths and needs
  • Align OST programs and services with patterns of need in the student body
  • Engage more students in appropriate programs and services, ranging from OST enrichment to academic support and mental health services
  • Strengthen the quality and capacity of OST programs and services
  • Strive for system-level changes

How will PSS accomplish its goals?

There are three key components:

  • Increased Alignment
  • Managers of Extended Learning Services (MELS)
  • Capacity Building

Increased Alignment

Boston believes in enabling children to succeed. Over the past decade, the City has made significant efforts to support the academic success and healthy development of its children. Yet, many children still fall through the cracks. PSS will build upon existing efforts, increasing their integration and coordination. PSS believes that increasing alignment between schools and OST programs and services maximizes impact. An integrated strategy for in-school and out-of-school would better serve Boston’s children by ensuring that in-school and out-of-school learning activities are mutually reinforcing, knowledge and best practices are shared, and students’ academic, social and emotional needs are identified and addressed in a holistic way.

Managers of Extended Learning Services (MELS)

A newly created position in each PSS school, MELS will play a critical role in ensuring that OST programs and services are aligned with the school in which they work. 

Capacity Building

PSS will build quality and capacity in schools and OST programs to ensure that schools are positioned to succeed. The first five PSS schools were selected in January 2006. A second group of five schools was chosen in January 2007, and the third group by January of 2008.