#10 Solve Chronic Absenteeism

"We need to address chronic absenteeism in our system for we have over 12% of our students absent over 18 times during the year. All students, but especially students in poverty, benefit the most from being in school.  Thus one of the most effective strategies for providing pathways out of poverty is to do all that it takes to get these students in school every day.  This alone, even without improvements in the American education system will drive up achievement, high school graduation, and college attainment rates." - John Monfredo, Worcester School Committee member

#9 Involve More Parents and Students

"I would like to get more of a voice from everyone in our schools. I would like the Parent Advisory Council to have a more comprehensive role in the way our schools progress and let them know they are being listened to. I would also like to create a city wide Student/Teacher Advisory Council for the middle school and high school level. Students in the middle and high school age group are more aware of what is happening at their schools than we tend to give them credit." - Nick D'Andrea, Worcester School Committee Candidate

#8 Revisit Chapter 222

"The Committee needs to take steps to work with our state legislature on revising Chapter 222, so the students who want to learn are not deprived that opportunity by the ones who don’t." - Nick D'Andrea, Worcester School Committee Candidate

Chapter 222 is An Act Relative to Student Access to Educational Services and Exclusion from School. For more information, click here: Chapter 222

#7 Appropriate the Budget

"Appropriating the budget for the Worcester Public Schools is the critical assignment for members of the Worcester School Committee. Committee members must make decisions regarding school safety and discipline, curriculum, professional development, physical plants, personnel, transportation and material resources that would provide optimum learning experiences for all of the students in our system.  There is never enough funding to address all of the needs and wishes of our school system so it is necessary to think critically to provide what is necessary for our students to be prepared for the demands of higher education and the workplace upon graduation." - Molly McCullough, Worcester School Committee Candidate

#6 Offer Career Opportunities

"Some students feel that the public schools don't offer enough career opportunities for them. Offering more career opportunities for high school students will not only decrease the dropout rate of the public schools, but this will also prepare students for college and for the workforce. What works right now is the unlimited learning opportunities some of our teachers provide students." - Cotey Collins, Worcester School Committee Candidate

#5 Improve Facilities

"Although we continue to confront an aging infrastructure, we have long taken advantage of the school construction opportunities which have become available to
us. We are well-positioned to make significant progress in the years ahead of us. Yet we can, and should, do more, and accomplish more." - Brian O'Connell, Worcester School Committee Member

#4 Decrease the Student to Teacher Ratio

The student to teacher ratio is currently 17.4 to 1. It was one of the highest in the state and exponentially larger than the other major cities in the Commonwealth - Boston (13.6 to 1) and Springfield (12.3 to 1).

#3 Stronger Leadership

We need strong leadership at the policy level that is working together to support a direction that is good for all students backed by best practices rather than individuals with great ideas.  I would like to see more open dialogue for making difficult decisions that affect 25000 families" - Hilda Ramirez, Worcester School Committee Member

#2 Improve Safety Measures

"As developments in recent months have made clear, we must also establish within each school, and maintain, a consistent environment and culture which offer all students a safe, disciplined, well-ordered setting for substantial academic accomplishment. We will achieve this when all schools, and our central administration, encourage and support such standards on a consistent basis." -Brian O'Connell, Worcester School Committee member

#1 Retain Teachers

According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the staffing retention rate in 2014 was 79.2% - one of the lowest in the state. 

The 2014 rate is down from 2013 (87.3%).