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BPS says partnerships and external funds will stay central to FY26; district centralizes contracting and vetting
Summary
Boston Public Schools reported 700 community partnerships and proposed a $5.7 million partnerships fund in FY26; the district said it has centralized contracting and introduced vetting criteria to guide school-level partner selection.
Boston Public Schools told the Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means the district currently maintains some 700 partnerships with community-based organizations and that the FY26 budget includes a $5,700,000 Partnership Fund to support school-chosen activities such as tutoring, mentoring and arts programs. "BPS currently has 700 partnerships with local community based organizations from large non profits like the Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, and City Year to smaller grassroots groups," the superintendent said.
District leaders described a centralized contracting and vetting process intended to assure quality and equity in partner selection. The superintendent and Director Karissa Gough said the district centralized the RFP process and evaluated partners using about 14 criteria so schools now pick from a vetted “menu” of providers. "School leaders choose from that menu of partners," Gough said; she noted some partners operate under contracts while others provide in-kind services via memoranda of understanding.
The district said it is moving toward outcome-based funding for partners and has piloted that approach with summer programs. Officials also said they are working with philanthropic partners and a funder-driven internal process to direct resources toward historically under-resourced schools. Councilors asked how central office supports grant management and compliance; the district said it has dedicated liaisons (for example, for Title I) and is strengthening partnership with the Boston Foundation and other funders to improve grant packaging and equitable access.
Councilors and the superintendent acknowledged the pandemic changed the partner landscape; officials said some partners adapted business models and that the district is doing inventory work to determine which historical partnerships still match school needs. The district offered to provide councilors with a list of partners for individual districts on request.
