University City board approves multilingual learner evaluation; district to pilot City Connects support model

The University City Board of Education approved a multilingual learner program evaluation and recorded several other routine votes at its recent meeting, while staff described plans to pilot a school-based, wraparound support model funded by a private foundation.

Rebecca Soriano, coordinator of state and federal programs for the district, sought board approval of the multilingual learner program evaluation and outlined the program’s goals and measures. “Our primary goal in the multilingual learner Education Program is English language development,” Soriano said, adding that the program emphasizes academic language across content areas rather than conversational English alone. She told the board that students commonly remain in the program for several years — “as many as 6 years” — and that students must score a 4.7 on the yearly ACCESS assessment in speaking, listening, reading and writing to be considered functionally English proficient.

The evaluation includes a three-year plan to strengthen essential instructional practices for teachers and to raise proficiency levels across the district, Soriano said. Board members thanked Soriano and district staff for the work on the evaluation; a motion to approve the item was moved, seconded and recorded as approved.

Separately, the superintendent’s office updated the board on plans to pilot City Connects, a Boston-based, research-informed intervention that coordinates academic and nonacademic supports around individual students. District staff said the James S. McDonald Foundation (as named in the meeting) has offered funding and that the district expects to receive approximately $300,000 over three years to implement the model at four elementary schools and Julia Goldstein Elementary. District officials said they will post and hire a full-time City Connects program manager who will be trained alongside other managers nationally and will help inventory partners, reduce duplication and track which community supports are effective.

Jason Purnell was identified in the meeting as the foundation president who helped bring the program to the district. District staff said City Connects will leverage existing student-services staff and community partners and will provide data through Boston College’s Center for Thriving Children to evaluate the model locally.

The board also considered and approved several other routine items and a ceremonial resolution. A memorandum of understanding to create a joint field-hockey team with Christ the King (to include students from Brittany Woods Middle School and Christ the King) was presented as an MOU reviewed by the district’s legal counsel; the board moved and approved the MOU during the meeting. The board read and approved a resolution proclaiming February as Black History Month 2025.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (items 5.1 and 5.3): motion made and approved (roll call recorded at the meeting). Notes: specific individual yea/nay roll-call entries are recorded in the minutes. - Resolution: Proclaim February 2025 as Black History Month: moved, seconded, approved. - Multilingual learner program evaluation: moved, seconded, approved. Soriano presented program details and the three-year plan; the evaluation lists the ACCESS 4.7 exit criterion and notes students may remain in services for multiple years. - Memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Christ the King for a combined field-hockey team: moved, seconded, approved. The MOU was described as collaboratively developed and reviewed by legal counsel.

The board’s next steps include returning to the board with a formal financial agreement for the City Connects funding and final contract language for the program manager position. District staff said they will bring the full financial proposal back to the board for formal acceptance before the district receives the unrestricted portion of the funding.