Summary statement of the Visiting Committee on Accreditation, 2016
“Watertown High School’s curriculum has yet to be explicitly or purposefully designed to ensure that all students practice and achieve each of the school’s 21st century learning expectations.”
Other findings:
*The school has yet to develop the “school-wide analytic rubrics” required to serve all students.
*The school has “yet to regularly review and revise its core values, beliefs, and 21st century learning expectations.
*The school lacks an “inclusive process”.
Please note that the “visiting committee” that made specific recommendations did not have the authority to make the final decision on accreditation.
The state approved the accreditation of a school that hasn’t designed a curriculum that enables all students to practice and achieve learning expectations. That school lacks an inclusive process and doesn’t even regularly review and revise its core learning expectations. Finally, there were no “school-wide analytic rubrics” in place for measurement purposes at the time of the accreditation visit. While it is impressive politically that Watertown received approval, it is disturbing that the needs of the most vulnerable students were disregarded when that happened.
About the site.
The Other Watertown site is intended to share information about Watertown and its schools. The participants are former students, parents, and other citizens who hope the schools can serve all students. We have special concern for children who come from economically disadvantaged homes, special education backgrounds, racial minority and immigrant backgrounds, and or other non-traditional backgrounds.
The sponsor of the site, Paul Davis, has raised or helped raise adopted, foster, statutory caregiver, and DACA kids who attended Watertown schools. He co-founded a software company called Intelligent Integration Systems, Inc. in 2006. Years ago, he was more active in local politics and served as District Director for Congressman Joe Kennedy II when he was first elected.