Let’s get one thing straight — Brockton’s kids are being set up to fail, and the people in charge either don’t see it or don’t care enough to fix it.
We’re graduating students who can’t read, can’t write, and can’t compete. That’s not just a data point — that’s a damn crisis. And the worst part? Nobody’s being held accountable. Not the administrators. Not the school committee. Not the bureaucrats who sit through meetings while entire schools fall apart.
It’s time we stop making excuses and start demanding results. That’s why the Champion City Project starts with this principle: Raise the Bar on Academic Achievement — not next year, not after another committee study, but right now.
Stop Pretending This Is Fine
Walk into some of our schools and you’ll see it with your own eyes — broken systems, outdated materials, unmotivated leadership, and good teachers getting buried under red tape and chaos. Look at the numbers. According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Brockton has multiple schools ranked as “Chronically Underperforming” under M.G.L. c. 69, §§ 1J and 1K. And that label doesn’t come easy — it means repeated failure across core indicators like ELA proficiency, math scores, and graduation rates.
For example, Brockton High School alone saw an average MCAS score drop well below state average in both ELA and Math across multiple grade levels in recent cycles. Some elementary and middle schools are so far off the mark, they’re barely functioning as educational institutions.
And yet, we still see promotions. We still see raises. We still see bureaucratic self-congratulation. What we don’t see? Accountability.
The Champion City Fix
1. Aggressive, Measurable Benchmarks
We’re not setting goals to “improve performance” — we’re setting specific metrics tied to grade-level proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA), Math, and Science. That means measurable targets by school, by grade, by timeline.
- If you’re a third grader, you’ll read at a third-grade level.
- If your school is two years behind on math standards, your recovery plan better be locked in and tracked quarterly.
- If you’re a principal of a failing school, your job depends on student growth — not your political connections.
And if a school doesn’t meet the benchmarks? Then we escalate.
This isn’t radical. It’s already the law. Massachusetts General Law Chapter 69, §1I requires each school district to establish measurable annual goals for student performance. We’re just enforcing it — publicly.
2. Public Dashboards – Real Transparency
Parents, taxpayers, and teachers deserve to know exactly how each school is doing — not a whitewashed annual report or a buried PDF no one can find. We will create public-facing digital dashboards that track academic performance in real time. Think of it as PowerSchool for the people.
- MCAS growth? It’s on there.
- Reading level proficiency by grade? On there.
- School discipline data? Yes — that too.
- Spending per student and staff ratios? Absolutely.
We’re not hiding behind bureaucratic language. We’re posting it on the damn wall for every parent and taxpayer to see. If you’re proud of your leadership, you shouldn’t fear transparency. If you are afraid of it — well, you just told us everything we need to know.
This model already exists in other high-accountability districts across the country, and it works. Transparency drives action. Action drives results.
3. School Improvement Plans (SIPs) That Actually Mean Something
The law already gives us the tools. M.G.L. c. 69, §1I mandates that underperforming schools develop and implement School Improvement Plans (SIPs) with specific objectives, timelines, and performance measures. But right now, most SIPs in Brockton read like cut-and-paste wishlists. They’re filled with buzzwords and zero accountability.
That changes under the Champion City Plan.
- Every underperforming school must submit a detailed SIP within 30 days of being identified.
- Plans must include instructional strategy changes, resource reallocations, and staffing accountability.
- Each SIP must be reviewed quarterly at public School Committee meetings.
- Failure to implement or show progress results in personnel reassignment or state oversight.
We’re not waiting for DESE to intervene — we’re going to own our comeback before the state has to step in again.
Data-Driven Accountability Is Not Optional
If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. But in Brockton, we’ve let feelings replace facts for far too long. We’ve excused failure because it’s uncomfortable to confront the truth. Meanwhile, kids lose opportunities they’ll never get back.
The Champion City Project ends that cycle.
We will hold teachers accountable — fairly and transparently, with support. But more importantly, we will hold principals, assistant superintendents, consultants, and central office administrators accountable for student outcomes. If you’re in a leadership role, then lead — or step aside.
And we’ll track it all publicly. Why? Because as taxpayers and parents, you have the right to see where your money goes and what your children are getting in return. And if the answer is failure, we don’t double down — we clean house.
A Final Word to the Community
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Damn, that sounds intense,” you’re right. It is. Because our kids don’t get a do-over. And we’ve wasted enough time protecting broken systems and incompetent leaders.
I’m not here to talk about “rethinking education” or writing another equity plan. I’m here to build a school system that actually works — one that raises young men and women ready to succeed in the real world.
So yes, we will raise the bar.
We will do it publicly.
And we will not apologize for demanding more — from our schools, our staff, and ourselves.
Because this is Brockton — the City of Champions — and it’s damn well time we started acting like it again.
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