New Designs for School

Increasing Access to Talented Teachers and High-Quality Learning in Greater Boston

Students in high-need schools often lack access to rigorous and engaging learning opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened existing challenges in attendance, academic performance, and social and emotional learning (SEL) that students experience in under-resourced schools. For the most vulnerable students in Greater Boston, the risk of losing an entire year of academic progress was high..

Through Campus Without Walls, many students have a new opportunity to catch up—and get ahead.

Coordinated by BUILD, Boston Opportunity Agenda, and the Rennie Center for Educational Research & Policy, Campus Without Walls leverages the power of public schools, communities, and technology to connect students all over the city—regardless of their neighborhood of residence or their assigned school—with classes taught by the region’s top teachers.

The program liberates young people from some of the structures that traditionally define school-based learning. For us, liberated learning…

• Increases students’ access to great teachers
• Increases visibility for students and families so they can advocate for higher quality experiences at their home schools
• Raises expectations and accountability for high-quality education
• Facilitates more diverse and authentic relationships
• Creates a professional learning community for educators
• Supports deeper learning by connecting students to schools, universities, employers, and out-of-school time providers throughout their communities and the larger world

Connecting Students with Teachers across Greater Boston

In Spring 2021, the Campus Without Walls pilot in Boston launched across 16 schools, 13 community-based organizations, and 2 universities serving approximately 600 students in grades 6-12. While school closures impacted all students in the wake of the pandemic, not all communities faced the same set of challenges. Students at already under-performing high schools were at the greatest disadvantage. That’s who Campus Without Walls has focused on reaching through its virtual offerings.

Most students in the program are from Boston Public Schools as well as charters and parochial schools in Greater Boston with a high percentage of students of color whose families live on a low income.

The program’s teachers are content experts chosen based on criteria from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. To help make sure the Campus Without Walls education is inclusive, the program seeks teachers skilled in culturally affirming practices.

The Campus Without Walls experience works like a virtual field trip. Lead teachers open their classrooms for a thematic unit and invite a partner class in. What students learn varies by semester. The Fall 2021 Course Catalog offers more information on the types of courses offered. Additionally, teachers can pull into their classrooms our enrichment modules which provide units on topics such as college readiness, wellness, and career readiness. The learning is brought to life through project-based learning.

The program connects classrooms to classrooms, so all students can participate synchronously or asynchronously with the lead teacher. Classes are hosted via an accessible online learning platform where students receive personalized teaching and learning content. They also have the opportunity to earn certifications and badges in key proficiencies identified by employers, including Microsoft Office, résumé writing, and design thinking.

The program’s hybrid approach increases access and equity. The virtual component allows students greater access to courses outside of the confines of their actual classroom.

Reimagining Public Education for Equity

Campus Without Walls’ implementation grew as a response to the pandemic but has the potential to make important shifts in public education far beyond this moment. By combining virtual learning technology and entrepreneurial thinking, Campus Without Walls aims to address the inequities present in under-resourced communities and help students thrive through the remainder of the pandemic and beyond. Over time, Campus Without Walls seeks to drive the following systemic changes in our public education system:

• Elevate the teaching profession
• Support teachers as facilitators of learning
• Create a diverse teacher pipeline
• Promote schools as community hubs
• Move toward a competency-based assessment system
• Enable students to access high-quality learning experiences beyond their assigned school for credit
• Help families, students, and teachers gain visibility to high-quality teaching and learning
• Advocate for Broadband for All as a basic right for low-income families

Image at top: Screenshot from BUILD video. This article is based on a Michael & Susan Dell Foundation blog post by Kimberly Kohan, communications officer for the foundation.