The Boston School Committee voted Nov. 19 to approve five grant awards totaling $18,775,752. The largest award is a continuing entitlement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) totaling nearly $18.2 million for the 2025'26 school year; the district said the grant will serve approximately 12,000 students and about 100 staff districtwide.

Superintendent Mary Skitma summarized the package: a Special Education Early Childhood entitlement of just over $513,000 serving roughly 1,000 students; a competitive civics teaching and learning grant of $40,160 to support nonpartisan student-led civics projects; a continuing competitive early-college planning grant for $25,000 serving about 100 students at several high schools; and a $15,000 Campus Without Walls planning grant to pilot a 2-year virtual course-sharing platform for a small group of schools.

The committee moved and seconded the motion to approve the grants; with no objection, the grants were approved by unanimous consent. District staff said they will continue to monitor federal budget proposals that could affect future IDEA program structure and will report any meaningful changes to the committee.

What it means: The IDEA award is a major, continuing federal entitlement intended to help districts provide special-education and related services. The committee approved the grants as presented to fund services and pilot programs over the coming school year.