Newton proposes starting the 2027–28 school year before Labor Day
Newton's draft district calendar would have K–12 students start school on September 1, 2027—before Labor Day on September 6.
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Friday, November 13, 2026
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The policy desk
What’s moving in phones
The debate over phones, screens and the school day.
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What’s moving in AI
How artificial intelligence is changing classrooms and school rules.
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What’s moving in student voice
Students speaking up, organizing and helping shape their schools.
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Latest Massachusetts stories
Enrollment falls by 283; kindergarten is smallest since 1984
Preliminary October counts show 11,052 students in K-12, 283 fewer than last year and 166 below projection. This year's 664 kindergartners make up the smallest class since 1984.
Duxbury approves oral-pouch ban across student handbooks
The School Committee unanimously approved adding oral pouches to the district Code of Conduct in all four student handbooks. The rule covers pouches used to ingest nicotine, tobacco, caffeine, or any other ingredient.
Natick presented a draft Memorial school plan for 570 K–4 students and preschool
Natick presented a draft educational plan for the Memorial Elementary School project, with space for 570 students in kindergarten through grade 4 and four preschool classrooms. The committee discussed it as a draft; staff said it would go through further revisions, and members requested more information about staffing costs before approval.
Boston schools propose $46 million grant for air-quality and emissions improvements
The Boston School Committee agenda lists a proposed $46 million grant for districtwide indoor-air-quality improvements and greenhouse-gas reduction. The grant is marked new and would cover FY2027–FY2029; the agenda does not identify the specific projects or establish that the committee approved it.
Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
BPS plans purchasing overhaul after OIG found procurement violations
BPS says it will restructure district purchasing and payment oversight after an Inspector General review found $857,261 in purchases from 2018–24 that failed to comply with parts of state procurement law. In its review of 905 invoices, BPS held or adjusted 13 for issues such as missing or mismatched paperwork, incorrect purchase-order matches, or items outside state contracts; broader reforms are planned for FY2027–28.
Duxbury adopts district rules for AI use in schools
Duxbury’s School Committee adopted the district’s first artificial-intelligence policy, turning a proposal from September into an approved rule. The policy covers responsible AI use and calls for age-appropriate AI literacy instruction for students; violations can be handled under existing digital-resource rules and student discipline.
Duxbury approves updated student medication policies
The School Committee approved updated rules for administering medication and a new policy on students’ self-administration and self-carry of medication. The policies set districtwide expectations for how students may manage medications at school.
Lawrence rolls out school procedures for civil law-enforcement visits
Lawrence Public Schools says its civil law-enforcement policy and protocols are posted and is preparing staff training and family communications. The district said staff may decline to engage with officers and defer to an administrator; it is also adding an emergency-guardianship question to enrollment so families can share arrangements schools may need to access.
More from the news desk
Lawrence sets next steps for superintendent search
Lawrence plans to seek a search firm and has appointed a School Committee subcommittee to help guide the superintendent search. The district aims to begin community engagement early in winter, conduct candidate interviews into winter, and identify a slate by spring.
District proposes barring oral pouches in student handbooks
Duxbury proposes adding possession of any oral pouch—including caffeine, nicotine, tobacco, or other ingredients—to its student code of conduct. If approved, the amendment would be added immediately to district student handbooks; DHS administrators cite increased use and potential effects including rapid heart rate, nausea, and anxiety.
High-school opening plan separates community wing and auditorium
The September 29 update targets January 2027 for the community wing. It does not include the new auditorium. Phase two was expected complete in September 2028.
AI use now counts as cheating unless a teacher allows it
The committee approved 2026-27 handbooks that ban students from using AI tools on schoolwork unless the teacher explicitly allows it for that assignment. Unapproved AI use is treated as an academic honesty violation.
Stricter tardy rule at high schools and monthly absence notices
At both high schools, arriving 20 or more minutes late to class now counts as an absence (it was 30 minutes). Starting in October 2026, families of chronically absent students (missing 10% of days) get monthly notices, and doctor's notes may be needed for absences of 3+ days.
FY26 ended $1.1 million short of money the FY27 budget counted on
Newton closed FY26 within budget but carried only $1.41 million of special-education (Circuit Breaker) money into FY27, about $1.1 million less than the $2.5 million the FY27 budget assumed. Utilities ran about $552,000 over and maintenance about $438,000 over.
Countryside and Franklin move into new buildings midyear
Students at Countryside are scheduled to move into their new $75.98 million building after winter break in January 2027, and Franklin into its $72.6 million building after February break. Horace Mann's $34 million renovation opened in September.
Handbooks: no personal phones in grades K-8 or in high school classes
The 2026-27 handbooks say personal electronic devices are strictly prohibited in grades K-8. In grades 9-12 they are banned during class time, including WIN blocks, advisories and study halls, unless a documented accommodation applies; violations mean confiscation and possible discipline.
Natick adopted a districtwide policy for civil law-enforcement encounters at schools
The School Committee adopted a policy governing how district staff interact with law-enforcement officers engaged in civil enforcement. The district said it had already begun implementing the procedures and that the policy closely follows state guidance.
Natick committee approved Superintendent Bash’s next contract
The School Committee unanimously approved Superintendent Bash’s successor contract, with the redline changes presented at its September 28 meeting. The chair described it as her next contract and said the district would have her “for a long time,” though the captions do not give its term or the specific changes.
District proposes its first rules for AI in school
A new artificial intelligence policy, IJNDE, had its first reading on September 23, 2026. It would let teachers decide when students may use AI, require students to say when they used it and check that what it produced is true, and treat unapproved use as cheating. Staff and students could only use tools the district has approved, and no personal information about students could be typed into them.
Junior high reports hour-long classes and grade-level lunches
September 15 minutes report that junior-high students had adjusted to a new schedule with hour-long class periods and lunches grouped by grade.
Searches begin for permanent principals at Bowen, North and South
The district said it will run searches this fall and winter for permanent principals at Bowen, Newton North and Newton South, with input from staff, families and students. Lisa Gilbert-Smith moved from METCO director to interim Newton North principal.
Committee adopted policy limiting immigration enforcement at schools
The committee voted 9-0 to adopt the state model PROTECT Act policy, which limits civil immigration enforcement on school grounds unless agents have a judge's warrant.
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