哈佛費正清中心出版"中國問題" 36學者紛陳看法 (圖片)

麻州長出席大波士頓商會政府事務會議 (圖片)

BPS FY19 Budget Largest Ever Allocation, a $48 Million Increase

Proposed Boston Public Schools FY19 Budget Marks Largest Ever Allocation, a $48 Million Increase

Boosts Individual School Budgets, Sustains Long-Term Investments in Academic Rigor, Works to Close Opportunity Gaps

Check out this video to learn how the Boston Public Schools budgeting process works.

BOSTON — Wednesday, February 7, 2018 — Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Tommy Chang is proposing to the Boston School Committee a $1.109 billion Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) school district budget that includes a $48 million projected increase over last year’s appropriation, marking the largest proposed BPS budget in the city’s history. The proposed budget features investments in individual school budgets, extended learning time, hiring effective teachers, supports for students experiencing homelessness, and an empowerment program for young men of color, among other vital supports. “With our graduation rate at an all-time high and more Level 1 and 2 schools in the City’s history than ever before, Boston Public Schools continues to lead the nation in public education, and we are committed to building upon our successes,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “Our investments will not only retain the most effective teachers, but will keep students engaged, and on the path toward achieving their dreams.” The City of Boston’s allocation to BPS has increased by $170 million, or 18 percent, over the past five years. Next year’s proposed appropriation is in addition to a collective bargaining reserve to be used when union negotiations are completed. The increased funding from the City comes despite the Governor’s proposed budget that would decrease net state aid to Boston by $17 million. While Mayor Walsh has increased BPS' annual budget by $170 million since taking office, the state’s Chapter 70 funding has only increased by $8 million. The Commonwealth also continues to underfund charter school reimbursements for cities and towns, which under the Governor’s proposed budget translates into $27 million in lost funding in Boston in FY19 alone and more than $100 million over the last five years. The City is bridging this gap and contributing additional resources to strengthen BPS' efforts to provide each of its students a high-quality education in a 21st-century learning environment.  The proposed FY19 budget focuses on a deep investment in the budgets of individual schools. In total, funding going directly to schools will increase by $40 million in FY19, which includes approximately $30 million toward higher teacher salaries and an additional $10 million in further investments. Those additional investments are focused on the district’s highest-need schools and supporting schools in transition due to enrollment shifts. In the proposed budget, no school will see a financial impact for the first one percent of an enrollment decline. In total, BPS has proposed dedicating $3.4 million to ensure smooth transitions for schools with fluctuating enrollments, including a $1 million reserve to support lower performing schools with declining enrollment. Additionally, using a new formula that measures student need and is in adherence with the BPS Opportunity and Achievement Gaps Policy, BPS will be reallocating $5.8 million in external partnership funding to schools with our highest-need students. The district will also be providing an additional $3 million to schools to impact high-need students. “We should all appreciate that the City of Boston and Superintendent Chang have proposed a balanced budget that supports research-backed, long-term investments with students’ best interests at heart,” said Boston School Committee Chairperson Michael Loconto. “The Boston School Committee will carefully deliberate this proposal and is looking forward to meaningful public feedback over the next several weeks.” “As we prepare our students for college, career, and the ever-changing innovation economy, keeping them engaged is more important than ever before,” said Superintendent Chang. “These targeted supports facilitate more rigorous learning in ways that are culturally relevant, help close opportunity and achievement gaps, and build safe, welcoming, and sustaining environments for our young people.” Key Initiatives and Programs Early Childhood Education: In the last five years, BPS and the City of Boston have increased participation in K1 (pre-K) programs by 725 students, for a total of 2,947 K1 students projected for FY19. BPS has invested $5 million into K1 expansion since 2014, totaling about $22.7 million for next year. BPS oversees a nationally recognized early childhood education program that is child-centric, highly developmental and is shown through research to lead to academic gains for several years, helping close opportunity and achievement gaps. Extended Learning Time: In the past three years, 57 schools serving grades K-8 have extended the school day by 40 minutes, which is the equivalent of adding 20 school days per year. BPS is investing $17.4 million to maintain extended hours at these schools next year. Not only does the additional time allow students more opportunity to learn crucial 21st century skills, it provides them time for an array of enrichment opportunities — everything from art and woodworking to robotics and yoga — that research shows bring learning alive by making lessons more relevant for young people. Effective Teachers: BPS strongly believes in ensuring high quality teachers are in every classroom. BPS is proud to offer competitive salaries for educators, making them among the highest paid in the country. Approximately $30 million in the FY19 budget will support higher salaries and an additional $8 million will fund benefits. BPS also invests in ongoing retention and training programs, such as the Lynch Leadership Academy, which has aspiring school leaders spend a year learning and leading with our best mentor principals in Boston. Over the past five years, BPS has transformed how teachers are attracted and retained to work for the district, ending a system in which teachers were hired by Central Office, and adopting a process called Early Mutual Consent Hiring, in which school principals, their hiring committees, and the candidates all agree on hiring decisions. Through this process, all hiring begins earlier in the year — typically in March — compared to the traditional school hiring season in June. This has allowed BPS to select from larger and more diverse pools of applicants.  Excellence for All: BPS is allocating $700,000 to grow the academic-enrichment program Excellence for All for the third year, serving 1,700 students in grades 4-6 at 16 schools and bringing the total allocation to $2.6 million. Excellence for All aims to match the high-quality rigor that many students receive in the Advanced Work Class (AWC) program in an inclusive setting that also provides for enrichment, such as foreign languages and robotics. Supports for Students Experiencing Homelessness: For the second year in a row, BPS is providing funding to individual schools to assist students who are experiencing homelessness. The amount will total $1.8 million, which is a $500,000 increase from last year. Schools have discretion over how the funding is used. Some schools have used the funds to hire support staff; while others have expanded clothing closets. The Edison K-8 School in Brighton used the funds to launch a weekend “boost bag” program, which allows students in need to receive a bag of supplemental food on Fridays. Becoming A Man: Becoming a Man is a Chicago-based, nationally-recognized program that successfully serves young men of color using school-based group counseling and mentoring to teach valuable life skills. Boston Public Schools is the first district outside of Chicago to adopt this program, which research has shown increases school engagement, social-emotional skills, and graduation rates, while decreasing arrest rates. Now serving four schools in BPS due to a $600,000 philanthropic donation, Becoming A Man will receive an additional $549,000 in the FY19 BPS budget to expand to three more schools. The Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Dorchester implemented Becoming a Man this school year and, additionally, received funding through the FY18 budget to help students experiencing homelessness, which was used to increase staffing support. The school also uses partnership funding for “Catie’s Closet,” a free clothing and toiletries shop for students. “Our students all have potential, and I have personally watched scores of them persevere through homelessness, trauma, and violence to become successful in college, career, and life,” said Dr. Lindsa McIntyre, headmaster of the Burke High School. “Part of our success at the Burke is that students love being here. When they get support from loving and trusting adults at our school, they’re more comfortable and engaged in the learning they need to prosper.” Over the past few months, McIntyre said Becoming a Man has become “a right of passage for the young men in our school. It offers mentoring, lessons in self actualization, and opportunities for our boys to grow in cognitive and emotional empathy.” Carolyn Kain, chairperson of the Boston Special Education Advisory Council (SPEDPAC), said the FY19 budget proposal keeps crucial supports in place for students with special needs. "We are very pleased that the Mayor and the administration have maintained the recent investments in special education and that there are no changes to the weighted student formula for children with special needs,” Kain said. “The district's work in multi-tiered systems of support, for example, helps achieve long term goals of early intervention and getting the right services to the children who need them most."   The proposed FY19 budget aims to support Boston Public Schools’ longstanding position as a national leader in urban education. Boston was named a top-performing district in the most recent National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP); and has consistently increased the four-year high school graduation rate for more than a decade, reaching an all-time high of 72.4 percent in 2016, the most recent year of available data. Also in 2016, 46 BPS schools received the top-ranking Level 1 or Level 2 accountability levels from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education — representing the highest number of schools in the top-performing categories for the district. In developing the proposed FY19 budget, the members of the Boston School Committee’s Opportunity and Achievement Gaps Task Force, along with members of the BPS offices of Finance, Opportunity and Achievement Gaps, and Equity, analyzed figures to ensure that dollars are being directed toward students with the highest need in an equitable fashion. “I am very pleased with the thoughtful process used to arrive at the budget equity guiding principles, which I feel provide greater clarity, transparency, and guidance as to how budgets should be built at BPS,” said Ayele Shakur, co-chair of the BPS Opportunity and Achievement Gaps Task Force, and executive director of BUILD Boston. “We feel optimistic that the FY19 budget will reflect these principles and the district’s commitment to closing opportunity and achievement gaps for our most marginalized students, particularly in our neediest schools.”   ###

Learn the basics on the BPS budget by clicking the photo above.

堡壘村推動數位平等 波市府獎助35,000

LOCAL ORGANIZATION RECEIVES $35,000 TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT ADVANCE DIGITAL EQUITY

BOSTON - Thursday, February 8, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced The Castle Square Tenants Organization (CSTO) as the recipient of a $35,000 grant from the City of Boston Digital Equity Fund. The Digital Equity Fund, created in October, aims to provide support to community-based organizations that help Boston residents fully connect and participate in today's media and information landscape. "A more connected Boston is a more equitable City, a more innovative City and a more prosperous City," said Mayor Walsh. "We're pleased to award this grant to a program that will help our residents grow their digital skills while increasing access to information for all." The CSTO's mission is to promote the economic, educational and social empowerment of low income individuals by providing access to safe, quality affordable housing and supportive direct service programs. The organization offers paid internships through which low-income Boston high school students learn valuable digital skills. The organization also offers a computer repair program that helps make technology accessible to all. The project will serve various Boston neighborhoods, including Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, Mattapan, Mission Hill, Roxbury, South Boston, and the South End. Participants in the CSTO programs gain valuable technology related skills, and often use those skills to help their families and communities. "Mayor Walsh and the City of Boston have been very supportive of CSTO over the years," said Deborah Backus, Executive Director of CSTO. "We are thrilled to partner with the Department of Innovation and Technology on this new project and play a part in bridging the digital divide for all Boston residents." By providing seed funding to The Castle Square Tenants Organization, the City hopes to identify promising strategies that can attract outside funding and further create a City where everyone has the tools and skills they need to succeed in the 21st century. The goal of the Digital Equity Fund is to explore ways to build individual and community capacity to: Use the Internet, digital skills, and digital tools to pursue professional, educational, and civic endeavors; Engage with the Internet safely and securely; Develop needs-responsive, community driven digital skills building opportunities; Increase broadband adoption among the roughly 1 in 5 Bostonians who do not subscribe to this service in the home. The Digital Equity Fund is overseen by the City of Boston Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) and an external Fund Council consisting of five members. Advisory board members are appointed by Mayor Walsh and serve three year terms. To qualify for a grant, nonprofit organizations must be Boston-based and serve Boston residents. The grant received eight applications between October and November 2017. About the Department of Innovation and Technology The Department of Innovation and Technology makes sure the networks, computers and systems that support the City are secure and effective. They also manage the City's websites and technologies focused on service delivery. Contact the Castle Square Tenants Organization The CSTO has a waitlist of students for the spring 2018 semester. For more information about applying for summer or fall 2018 sessions, please contact Deborah Backus at dbackus@cstoboston.org. Individuals and nonprofits seeking refurbished computers or IT support, or who wish to donate used equipment, can contact Irene Chan at ichan@cstoboston.org.

海外僑胞賑助花蓮震災捐款方式

海外僑胞賑助花蓮震災捐款方式

                                         2018年2月8日

臺灣花蓮於2月6日發生芮氏規模6.0級地震，造成民眾傷亡及財產重大損失，海外僑胞咸表震驚與關懷，紛紛表達捐款救災之意願；為使各界捐款有效協助傷者後續醫療及災民災後重建，波士頓僑教中心(以下簡稱「本中心」)將以代收代轉方式，將各界善款送經僑務委員會轉致「衛生福利部賑災專戶」(謹註：衛生福利部係公益勸募之中央主管機關)，俾發揮最大效益。

一、請開立「支票」，抬頭為「衛生福利部賬災專戶」 (MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND WELFARE DONATION A/C)，並註記： 0206 Hualien Earthquake，直接送交或郵寄至本中心(90 Lincoln St. Newton Highlands, MA. 02461)。

二、以「現金」捐款，或開立本中心抬頭(C.C. in Boston)之支票，並請註記「0206花蓮震災專案」。本中心收到上述款項或支票後，將開立「臨時收據」，衛生福利部於收到捐款後會另外開立「正式收據」，該正式捐款收據可依法令規定在臺灣作為抵稅證明之用。

此外，僑胞鄉親亦可自行匯款至「衛生福利部賑災專戶」(惟金融機構將另收取匯款手續費)，該專戶資訊如下：
（一）金融機構名稱：兆豐國際商業銀行國外部(MEGA INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK CO., LTD.)（二）戶名：衛生福利部賑災專戶 (MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND WELFARE DONATION A/C )（三）地址：臺北市中山區吉林路100號(No. 100,CHI-LIN RD. TAIPEI CITY, TAIWAN)（四）帳號：007-09-11868-0（五）通匯代號(SWIFT CODE)：ICBCTWTP007（六）用途別註記：0206花蓮震災專案(0206 Hualien Earthquake)。

無論僑團（胞）係以「支票」、「現金」或「匯款」等方式捐款，請務必提供本中心有關捐款者中(英)文姓名或單位名稱，連絡電話及通訊地址(倘以匯款方式捐助，請併附銀行匯款單影本)等資料，俾利寄送衛生福利部開立之正式捐款收據。

感謝各位僑胞鄉親對故鄉的關心與協助！

波士頓僑教中心 敬上

中華民國107年2月8日

聯絡電話：617-965-8801

地址：90 Lincoln St. Newton Highlands, MA. 02461

Senator Elizabeth Warren to Host Town Hall in Franklin 2/10

Senator Elizabeth Warren to Host Town Hall in Franklin, MA on Saturday, February 10

Boston, MA - On Saturday, February 10, Senator Elizabeth Warren will host a town hall in Franklin, MA. Warren will take questions from the audience and discuss her work standing up for working families of Massachusetts against powerful corporate interests. Over the past year, Warren hosted 18 town halls across the Commonwealth. The event is free and open to the public. We ask the public to please RSVP at our website: http://elizabethwarren.com/2018franklintownhall.

WHAT:     Senator Elizabeth Warren Hosts Town Hall in Franklin, MA

WHEN:   Saturday, February 10

   12:30 p.m. (doors open), 1:30 p.m. (event begins)

WHERE:  Franklin High School Auditorium

     218 Oak Street, Franklin, MA

MAYOR WALSH, BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION (BPHC) RELEASE HEALTH OF BOSTON REPORT

MAYOR WALSH, BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION (BPHC) RELEASE HEALTH OF BOSTON REPORT

BOSTON - Thursday, February 8, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the release of the latest Health of Boston report that presents the overall health of Boston residents, providing a foundation for the City's further planning and implementation of health-related services and policies, and supports the Boston Public Health Commission's (BPHC) critical role in furthering health equity in Boston.  "This report serves as a roadmap to drive and prioritize our efforts by not only describing the health successes and challenges we face as a city, but also offering real world perspectives," said Mayor Walsh. "We celebrate the progress made in the last decade, and look forward to continuing to build a thriving City with health for all residents at its foundation." "I'm encouraged by the progress Boston has already made toward creating opportunities for all residents to live healthy, fulfilling lives," said Chief of Health and Human Services Marty Martinez. "With this data, we are prepared to look toward the future, to work with partners, providers, and residents on tackling health issues collectively and with a broader lens. We will look beyond individual programs and services to build out a system of compassionate care that encompasses all of the needs of Boston's residents." The  2016-2017 Health of Boston report presents data on environmental health, access to health care, maternal and child health, health-related behaviors, chronic disease, cancer, infectious disease, sexual health, injury and exposure to violence, mental health, substance use disorders, and causes of death. The report focuses on the various social, economic, and environmental factors that impact health, such as education, employment, income and poverty, and housing. Data sources for the report include the U.S. census, birth and death registries, hospital emergency department and inpatient discharge databases, sexually transmitted and infectious disease surveillance data, surveys that describe individual behaviors or community demographics and assets, geographical data, and environmental monitoring data from local and state agencies. Data was collected and analyzed by BPHC, the City's health department. "The data and points of view included within the report serve to guide our work, inform our strategic priorities, and increase our capacity to address these challenges through targeted partnerships and collaboration," said BPHC Executive Director Monica Valdes Lupi, JD, MPH. "This report gives us the foundation to tailor our services to the most urgent needs of Boston residents, specifically the most vulnerable." "The Health of Boston report is a valuable tool in measuring the progress we are making to improve the overall health in Boston," stated Wanda McClain, vice president of Community Health and Health Equity, Brigham and Women's Hospital. "We still have work to do to close the gaps that  exist for racial and ethnic populations who have poorer birth outcomes and higher rates of chronic disease. We are committed to working collaboratively with community partners to ensure health equity for all Bostonians." The data identifies advances in reducing in infant mortality and consistently low prevalence of elevated blood lead levels among children under age 6. It also shows declines in adolescent pregnancy, cigarette smoking and binge drinking among youth, chlamydia incidence, hepatitis C incidence, homicide and cancer mortality. Among the report's findings, some include: From 2006 to 2015, deaths among black infants decreased by 36 percent From 2011 to 2015, the birth rate for Boston females ages 15-17 decreased 57 percent From 2007 to 2015, the percentage of high school students who reported smoking decreased from 7.5 percent to 4.8 percent From 2011 to 2015, the cancer mortality rate decreased by 12 percent for Boston residents overall. "As a community health center on the frontline of care, we're thrilled to see outcomes improving for the people of Boston. The City's health initiatives are gaining meaningful traction, indicating that we're on the right path," said Manny Lopes, president and CEO of East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC). "Seeing such positive data for East Boston, specifically, is deeply affirming the 1,200 EBNHC team members who work to meet our mission every day. We will build on our positive momentum, improving the health and well-being of the Boston community-and continually redefining what's possible." The report also highlights new and continued challenges such as the local impact of the national opioid epidemic, which is claiming lives at a historically high rate, and chronic disease prevalence rates remaining high. Differences in health experience across racial and ethnic groups, men and women, residents of public housing and homeowners, low income and higher income residents, and several other groups who may be at increased risk for poor health are also addressed. The Boston Public Health Commission, the country's oldest health department, is an independent public agency providing a wide range of health services and programs. It is governed by a seven-member board of health appointed by the Mayor of Boston. The full report can be found online.  About the Boston Public Health Commission Public service and access to quality health care are the cornerstones of our mission -- to protect, preserve, and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable. The Commission's more than 40 programs are grouped into six bureaus: Child, Adolescent & Family Health; Community Health Initiatives; Homeless Services; Infectious Disease; Recovery Services; and Emergency Medical Services.

Commonwealth Achieves Solar Milestone

Commonwealth Achieves Solar Milestone

State Surpasses 2,000 Megawatts of Installed Solar Capacity

BOSTON – Continuing its commitment to building a robust solar industry in the Commonwealth, the Baker-Polito Administration today announced that Massachusetts has now installed more than 2,000 megawatts (MW) of solar electricity through 78,646 projects across the state. This announcement builds on the administration’s efforts to diversify the Commonwealth’s energy portfolio to reduce energy costs for ratepayers and meet the Global Warming Solutions Act’s greenhouse gas reduction requirements.

“With over 2,000 megawatts of solar now installed, Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in solar deployment and clean energy innovation,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Through our next solar incentive program, SMART, and our forward-thinking solar grant programs, we look forward to doubling that amount of solar and building a sustainable and affordable clean energy future for the Commonwealth.”

Massachusetts has ranked second in the United States for total solar jobs for the last two years, and ranks sixth in the nation for new installed solar capacity. Under the Baker-Polito Administration, 56,031 solar projects have been installed with 1,239MW, and almost 50 percent of the solar capacity in Massachusetts has been installed in the last two years. Additionally, all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts now have at least one solar installation.

“Through the Baker-Polito Administration’s efforts to increase access to solar technology for all ratepayers – from residents of low-to moderate income, to commercial and industrial users – the Commonwealth is now home to a robust solar industry employing thousands of Massachusetts workers,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton. “Building on this significant amount of solar installation is a crucial component of the Administration’s commitment to diversify our energy portfolio, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen our vibrant and growing clean energy industry.”

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s 2017 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report found that the state’s clean energy sector grew by 4 percent between 2016 and 2017, employing a total of 109,226 clean energy workers. Since 2010, the Commonwealth’s clean energy industry has grown by 81 percent, adding over 49,000 workers.

DOER’s new solar incentive program, Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART), will support an additional 1,600 MW of solar in Massachusetts, nearly doubling the amount installed as of today at half the estimated pricing of existing programs. The Baker-Polito Administration also offers a menu of solar programs for residents, businesses and public facilities including Solarize Mass, Mass Solar Connect, Mass Solar Loan, and programs to improve low-and moderate-income residents’ access to clean energy through the Affordable Access to Clean and Efficient Energy Initiative (AACEE).

Building on this significant clean energy deployment, in 2016 Governor Baker signedbipartisan energy legislation authorizing the largest procurement of clean energy generation in Massachusetts’ history, approximately 9,450,000MWh of clean energy and approximately 1,600MW of offshore wind energy, to help lower Massachusetts’ energy costs and achieve our greenhouse gas reduction requirements while encouraging economic growth and activity.