Cambridge Public Schools have a history of launching ambitious new policies, and then not following up to see whether those policies are working. Instead, they move on to the next big new vision. For instance, the 2011 Innovation Agenda reshaped the experience of kids in sixth through eighth grades and cost the district hundreds of millions of dollars in new school construction – but the district has never assessed its impact. If elected to the School Committee, I will press to evaluate the impact of the Innovation Agenda and other existing policies.

The School Committee should set new policies knowing that their success will be evaluated rigorously on a set schedule, and that Committee members will be accountable for their votes. They should be prepared to fully explain the basis for the policies they impose on students and educators. If elected, I will always share my decision-making in a format that doesn't require sitting through a multi-hour School Committee meeting.