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BPS proposes library hires, expands arts and music access; digital collections and partner grants play key roles
Summary
Officials said the FY26 budget adds district-funded library positions at five more schools, expands twice-weekly elementary arts access and reported growth in students graduating with a year of arts. The district also highlighted digital platform Sora and partner grants that support arts programming.
Boston Public Schools officials told the Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means on April 14 that the FY26 budget proposal includes additional librarian positions, continued arts expansion and investments to expand students' access to music and other arts.
Why it matters: Libraries and arts programming play a role in literacy, student engagement and equitable access to enrichment; the district described targeted, data-driven additions as part of the FY26 funding plan.
Officials said five additional schools will receive district-funded library positions this year, building on an initial three schools named in an earlier draft. The district described criteria for selection that include book-circulation rates, use of digital platforms (Sora and Gale) and opportunity-index ratings.
Tony (library services) told the committee the district has grown from roughly 34 libraries to about 73 systemwide and is visiting schools without libraries to assess space and staffing needs. He also discussed an in-house librarian-certification program to address a shortage of certified librarians.
In arts and music, officials described sustained growth since the Arts Expansion Initiative began in 2009. The district reported that elementary students receiving once-weekly arts rose from about 60% to 98% and twice-weekly arts to about 73% in K–8. At the high-school level, the district said a three-years-ago investment of 24 positions increased arts-course-taking among graduates from about 50% to roughly 80%.
Partners and grants: Officials cited grant partnerships — including EdVestors and the Massachusetts Cultural Council's Creative Schools Grant — that provide hundreds of thousands of dollars to creative youth-development organizations. These partnerships provide supplemental instruction and creative learning opportunities not available at every school.
Digital access and book circulation: Staff said BPS uses Sora, an online digital book and audiobook platform, to supplement physical collections and that Sora's catalog expands daily. The district also operates a per-pupil allocation for new physical-circulation purchases at schools with libraries.
What comes next: District staff said they will continue assessments of library space and staffing, expand partnerships for arts instruction and monitor high-school scheduling changes to increase arts access where needed.
