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Beginning this fall, Boston Public Schools (BPS) employees will have access to discounted tuition rates when pursuing a  Master’s degree, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, or Graduate Certificate at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development.

The partnership is designed to meet what BPS and BU acknowledge as a common goal: improving professional growth and development opportunities for teachers and staff serving the Boston Public Schools, and ensuring that they are highly effective educators who support their staff and their students to accomplish significant gains in student academic outcomes.

BU Wheelock’s Dean David J. Chard cites a strong connection between this new partnership and the merger that brought Boston University and Wheelock College together. “One of the motivations for the merger of historic Wheelock College with Boston University’s School of Education was to reinvest in the education and human development needs of Boston,” says Dr. Chard.

He continues: “This agreement is an important step to make graduate education and teacher licensure accessible to all employees of the Boston Public Schools with the express intent of enriching the school experience of thousands of Boston students.”

Dr. Mary Churchill, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives with BU Wheelock, notes that this agreement “indicates a next-level strengthening of our partnership with the district.”

Per the agreement, BPS employees who apply to, are accepted to, and enroll in a Master’s degree, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, or Graduate Certificate program at BU Wheelock will receive a guaranteed scholarship equivalent to 33% of their tuition.

“This agreement is an important step to make graduate education and teacher licensure accessible to all employees of the Boston Public Schools with the express intent of enriching the school experience of thousands of Boston students.” Dean David Chard

These graduate programs support a range of educational professionals. Accordingly, the partnership is intended to encourage BPS employees in a variety of positions to consider graduate-level training at BU. Partnership organizers from BU and BPS note that access to this scholarship extends to school counselors and health professionals.

Ceronne B. Daly, Managing Director of Recruitment, Cultivation and Diversity Programs at BPS, states that this partnership “specifically supports the district’s commitment to the development and retention of our educators of color,” by providing access to alumni of the BPS Teacher Pipeline Programs (including the BPS Accelerated Community to Teacher Program, Community Paraprofessional Development Program, and the BPS Teaching Fellowship Program); and alumni of the BPS Educators of Color Leadership Programs: BPS Male Educators of Color Executive Coaching Leadership Program, BPS Women Educators of Color Executive Coaching Leadership Program.

“The Boston Public Schools is fortunate to partner with organizations committed to supporting our diverse and passionate educators,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. “This expanded partnership with BU Wheelock presents a unique opportunity for BPS teachers to further their education and professional development, which will ultimately create stronger outcomes and achievements for our students.”

BPS employees attending BU Wheelock will gain full access to the same library, technology, and student support services as all graduate students enrolled at the college. A pair of appointed program coordinators—one with BPS, one with BU—will support the operational aspects of the partnership. The initial partnership agreement will operate in an initial three-year term. Beyond that, BU and BPS may extend it in two-year renewal terms.

BU Wheelock will also seek out feedback from BPS employees who enroll in their programs, with the goal of identifying ways to improve courses within each program to better serve the professional needs of BPS employees. BU Wheelock may also seek out further opportunities to connect with BPS employees, including conducting coursework on-site at BPS locations and constructing unique professional development opportunities for BPS employees.

By strengthening its relationship with the Boston Public Schools—and the 125 school locations serving nearly 55,000 elementary, middle, and high school students therein—BU Wheelock takes an important step forward in its service to the City of Boston and the professional fields of education and human development.

BPS employees interested in learning more about this new scholarship should contact whegrad@bu.edu to speak with a member of BU Wheelock’s graduate enrollment staff.