The Boston Compact, A Teaching Case

The Boston Compact, signed in September 1982, is a formalagrementbetwentheBostonScholDepartmentandmembersof thebusinescomunitytocolaborateinmakingneweducationaland employmentoportunitiesavailabletothecity'shighschol students.Co-signersagredtothefolowing:(1)asistin developing private sector initiatives in employment training; (2) helpdoublethenumberofscholsparticipatingintheJobs Colaborative,aschol-to-worktransitionprogram;(3)recruit30 companies to participate in a priority hiring program for graduates by1984;and(4)increasethenumberofsumerjobsavailablefor studentsby25percentby1984.Thebusinescomunityagredtohire 40June1983graduatesintopermanentjobsandtoincreasethe numberto1,0studentsby1985iftheycouldmetentry-level requirements.Onitsside,thescholdepartmentagredto:(1) reducebothabsenteanddropoutratesby5percentanualy;(2) implement increased standards for graduation that would ensure minimalcompetencyinmathematic:andreadingby1986;and(3) increasejobandcolegeplacementsaftergraduationby5percent anualy.Thebusinescomunityexcededitsgoals,buttheschols werelessucesful.Althoughs-tudentperformanceasmeasuredby standardized tests in mathematic:3 and reading had increased, district averageresultswerestilbelowthenationalaverage.Insteadof decreasing, the dropout rate inc -eased each year. (FMW)