Citing the value of offering students additional structured schooling before they enter higher education, City Councillor At-Large Michael Flaherty called for a hearing this week to consider a Year 13 program in Boston Public Schools.
Flaherty said the program, which would offer an optional intensive, year-long program that provides additional support to students before leaving high school, could help close the achievement gap.
More than 16,000 high school-aged students study in at least twenty public high schools in the city of Boston, Flaherty noted in his hearing order.
“As we know, we live in a competitive global economy that requires our students to have equally competitive skills to access and fully participate in this economy,” said Flaherty in a statement.
His hearing order highlighted other areas of the country with similar programs, like Oregon or North Carolina, where the 13th year served to smooth the transition into college or a vocational school. Some high schools with the programs partner with local higher education institutions to allow earning early college credits before graduation.
The matter is assigned to the City Council’s Committee on Education and a hearing date will be determined.
