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Artwork for Last Night At School Committee

Last Night At School Committee

Shah Family Foundation
Boston Public Schools
Masscore
MCAS
Graduation Requirements
School Closures
Exam School Admissions Policy
Transportation
Community Engagement
Boston Teachers Union
Public Comment
Budget
School Choice
Superintendent Skipper
Graduation Rates
Transformation Schools
Transportation Budget
Special Education
Boston
Exam School Policy
Enrollment Trends

A bite-sized summary of Boston School Committee meetings, and "Deep Dives" on the biggest issues impacting public schools nationwide.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes167Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

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Artwork for Last Night At School Committee

Latest Episodes

Last night's School Committee meeting kicked off with some key updates from Superintendent Skipper. She started off by breaking down the district’s plan to cut around 568 positions. She explained this is a direct response to losing roughly 3,000 stud... more

Last night’s Boston School Committee meeting covered a wide range of issues, beginning with Superintendent Mary Skipper’s report on the district’s ongoing budget concerns, staffing updates, teacher diversity, as well as the implementation of a new ce... more

Last night’s Boston School Committee meeting was straightforward and relatively mundane, highlights of the evening included conversations about transportation, budgeting, and the district’s effort to prepare for the rapid growth of artificial intelli... more

Last night’s School Committee meeting touched on a number of critical issues for BPS, including a vote on a policy amendment to MassCore, an ask for more money to fill a budget gap, an update on decade old policy surrounding opportunity and achieveme... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Chris Huffaker
Data reporter for The Boston Globe; part of The Great Divide team covering education inequities in Boston and Massachusetts
The Boston Globe
Episode: Special Episode: The Boston Globe’s Christopher Huffaker on BPS’ Graduation Requirements
Brandon Cardet Hernandez
Former member of the Boston School Committee
Boston Public Schools
Episode: Boston School Committee: 1·21·26 Meeting Recap
Greg Maynard
Founder and Executive Director of the Boston Policy Institute
Boston Policy Institute
Episode: Breaking Down the State of the Schools and the Boston School Committee 10·29·25 Meeting
Michelle Wu
Mayor of Boston
City of Boston
Episode: Boston School Committee: 9·10·25 Meeting Recap
Superintendent Skipper
Superintendent of Boston Public Schools
Boston Public Schools
Episode: Boston School Committee: 9·10·25 Meeting Recap
Rachel Scarrett
Newly-appointed member of the Boston School Committee and former head of Boston Latin School
Boston School Committee
Episode: Boston School Committee: 9·10·25 Meeting Recap
Orin Gutlerner
Long-time educator and current school leader
Shah Family Foundation
Episode: Understanding MassCore: The Opportunity Myth (Re-Release)
Paul Reville
Former Secretary of Education and Professor of Educational Policy at Harvard
Harvard University
Episode: Understanding MassCore: Why Adopt? (Re-Release)
Ross Wilson
Executive Director of the Shaw Family Foundation with extensive experience in the Boston Public Schools
Shaw Family Foundation
Episode: Understanding MassCore: Academic Standards in BPS (Re-Release)

Hosts

Jill Shaw
Host of Last Night At School Committee; affiliated with Shaw Foundation.
Ross Wilson
Co-host (on vacation during certain episodes); Host of Last Night At School Committee.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 58 ratings
  • Skip

    If you think education discourse needs more criticism from know-it-all billionaires, this is the podcast for you. At one point, Ross actually did the work but seems to have realized criticism from the sidelines pays better, plus no responsibility of actual decisions or real world tradeoffs. Jill seems out of her depth, and often confuses her own misunderstanding for lack of clarity on the part of others.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ID_221
    United States3 months ago
  • Negative Nancies

    I appreciate the update or what happened but would prefer if they kept their negative commentary out. Sometimes feels like a BPS educator bashing podcast and that the hosts know what to do to fix all the “problems” in the education system yet I don’t see any action on their part. Should be renamed to Negative Nancy podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Educadora28
    United States10 months ago
  • Better than nothing

    This show will let you know what was discussed, but it’s more commentary than anything else. Not a good ratio of opinion to actual information.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    FrankwSolak
    United States2 years ago
  • Too many sweeping judgements with little to back!

    So quick to pass blame with a limited understanding of how BPS works. Before making huge sweeping judgements I encourage the hosts to interview staff and get a more inside scoop. Structural problems prevent transformation schools for succeeding. The issue is systemic and boldly claiming they should all be closed and restarted is misguided. Some of the most talented and dedicated staff work at these schools and gains can be huge but this isn’t represented in data due to systemic issues.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    KramKram72
    United States2 years ago
  • Digestible Overview of BPS

    Just started listening to Last Night at School Committee - I missed the last meeting & this recap was a perfect summary. Easy listen & excellent highlights! A must listen for MA parents, educators & anyone curious about our schools.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ctine414
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners often value the focus on transparency and accountability in district planning and budgeting.
A number find the concise summaries useful for staying informed about Boston Public Schools without listening to lengthy meetings.
Fans appreciate accessible explanations of complex budget and policy topics, though a few wish for more interviews with district staff.
Some listeners feel the show is harsh toward district leadership and data framing; tone can come across as critical rather than constructive.
There are mixed feelings about the balance between commentary and data; some want more data-backed analysis and fewer opinions.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Special Episode: The Boston Globe’s Christopher Huffaker on BPS’ Graduation Requirements
Q: What are the potential exemptions or changes being discussed to MassCore in Boston?
Potential exemptions are being considered, such as waiving world languages for new arrivals who require intensive English instruction; this suggests possible revisions to the graduation standard to balance rigor with feasible scheduling and equity.
Special Episode: The Boston Globe’s Christopher Huffaker on BPS’ Graduation Requirements
Q: How do the on-track rates for MassCore vary between schools like Boston Latin Academy and Charlestown High School?
There are stark disparities: some schools report very high on-track rates (e.g., Boston Latin Academy) while others have very low rates (e.g., Charlestown High School), illustrating that higher graduation standards alone do not guarantee uniform achievement without addressing scheduling and resource gaps.
Special Episode: The Boston Globe’s Christopher Huffaker on BPS’ Graduation Requirements
Q: What is MassCore and why did Boston Public Schools adopt it as a graduation requirement?
MassCore is a state-recommended set of courses designed to ensure students are eligible for admission to state public universities, with four years each of math and English, three years of science and history, language study, and other electives; Boston adopted it to raise the bar so graduates are better prepared for college or career.
Boston School Committee: 2·04·26 Meeting Recap
Q: What's our level of confidence that the budget that's being proposed is not going to get us in a position next year where we have overspent mid-year?
The superintendent acknowledges uncertainties in budgeting but emphasizes plans to include benefits within the school budget and to be cautious about new hires and their associated costs.
Boston School Committee: 2·04·26 Meeting Recap
Q: How is it possible that students are suddenly going to increase their completion on MASCOR requirements over the coming weeks and months?
The superintendent suggests that opportunities will arise for seniors to complete their required courses, indicating that support systems will be in place to help students meet graduation expectations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Last Night At School Committee

What is Last Night At School Committee about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A bite-sized take on Boston Public Schools through concise recaps of School Committee meetings, plus focused commentary on budget pressures, enrollment trends, facilities projects, and policy debates. Episodes frequently examine data transparency, governance dynamics, and the impact of decisions on families, students, and educators, often highlighting how budgets, AI policy, and exam-school access intersect with equity and accountability. The format's strength lies in clear, accessible summaries aimed at residents, parents, and professionals who want quick, informed views on local education issues and how city decisions translate to classrooms.

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Which podcasts are similar to Last Night At School Committee?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Last Night At School Committee:

1. Boston Public Radio Podcast
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How many episodes of Last Night At School Committee are there?

Last Night At School Committee launched 6 years ago and published 167 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Last Night At School Committee?

Recent guests on Last Night At School Committee include:

1. Chris Huffaker
2. Brandon Cardet Hernandez
3. Greg Maynard
4. Michelle Wu
5. Superintendent Skipper
6. Rachel Scarrett
7. Orin Gutlerner
8. Paul Reville

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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