Shah Family Foundation

Celebrating Boston's Historic Women with Sidewalk Stories! ?? Last week, in collaboration with the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail, we launched #SidewalkStories — a series of stickers along BWHT’s walking tours spotlighting remarkable women who shaped Boston’s history. We were joined by the Dorchester Reporter for this historic moment as we placed stickers at nine locations in #Dorchester, highlighting five local women whose contributions have had a lasting impact on our city. We also had the joy of hosting preschoolers at Boston Public Library Codman Square, where they joined us for story time and helped us place a sticker outside the library. Their excitement and energy made them the perfect helpers to make history! ? A huge thank you to Codman Library and the BWHT Board for making this event possible. We’re excited to continue honoring the women who shaped Boston’s past and inspire future generations. ?? Read the full story by the Dorchester Reporter: https://lnkd.in/gXdieQ_n #BostonWomensHeritageTrail #WomensHistory #Boston #ShahFamilyFoundation

A Call for Action: Proactive Leadership on AI in Education ?? ?? A coalition of school advocacy groups and ed-tech organizations, led by the EDSAFE AI Alliance and the SIIA Software & Information Industry Association, is calling on federal lawmakers to take critical action on the subject of artificial intelligence in #education. The call for action, supported by leading organizations including the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), Committee for Children, and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, is urging the House and Senate to host an Insights Forum where lawmakers will hear directly from education leaders and stakeholders regarding their needs and concerns about AI in classrooms. ?? Recent findings from Education Week highlight the top needs of #educators when it comes to AI as enhanced professional development, curriculum that fosters critical thinking, and strong safeguards against plagiarism. The time for action is now. AI’s role in education must be shaped with care, ethics, and collaboration. For more on the coalition’s efforts: https://lnkd.in/g6iGwTTY #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #AIinEducation #EdTech #EdPolicy

Last week, SFF team members Lizzy & Sam had the privilege of attending Boston Community Pediatrics' "Voices from the Front Lines". ?? Hosted by BCP Founder Dr. Robyn Riseberg, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, and other esteemed experts, the evening spotlighted BCP's leadership in tackling the youth #healthcare crisis and reimagining the future of pediatric care. We are proud to support 'Voices from the Front Line' as a sponsor, and to continue our longstanding relationships with both Dr. Riseberg and Attorney General Campbell. ?? Congratulations to the BCP team on a remarkable evening dedicated to advancing healthcare for our youth! #CommunityHealth #PediatricHealth #PediatricHealthcare #ShahFamilyFoundation

New Partnership Aims to Bridge the Gap Between AI Tools & Classroom Needs ?? The School Teams AI Collaborative, a new educational partnership, is working to bridge the gaps between AI development and what is actually needed in K-12 classrooms. The Collaborative, created by nonprofits The Learning Accelerator and Leading Educators, began its work in 19 schools across 9 American cities at the end of October. ???? At the center of this project are more than 90 #educators and school leaders working to develop, test, and document practical uses for AI in their classrooms through the school year. The initiative’s ultimate goal is to use its findings to create open resources that will guide school districts in best practices of AI in the classroom. “Oftentimes technology is just designed for educators to use. This is an opportunity for educators to also design their own tools, to interact with technologists, and to think about, ‘What does it actually look like for my kids in my classroom? What are the problems that we need to solve?’” says Chong-Hao Fu, CEO of Leading Educators. ?? For more on the School Team AI Collaborative’s work and how AI is transforming education: https://lnkd.in/gqB2FB4V #ArtificialIntelligence #AIinEducation #EducationReform

Exciting Collaboration in Mental Health! ?? We’re thrilled to partner with Dr. J. Stuart Ablon, PhD, renowned clinical psychologist and Founder/Director of Think:Kids at Massachusetts General Hospital, on our latest initiative: Your Brain on Social Media. ?? #YourBrainOnSocialMedia empowers families by providing essential tools, research, and expert advice for navigating the complexities of social media. Our goal is to foster meaningful conversations between youth and caregivers in which everyone feels informed and confident in their social media interactions. Thank you for highlighting this work, Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy ?? ?? Read more about our initiative: https://lnkd.in/gYNHtECb #MentalHealth #SocialMedia #FamilySupport #ShahFamilyFoundation

We are thrilled to congratulate Ronald O'Hanley of State Street on receiving the Distinguished Leadership Award at The Ireland Funds' recent Boston Gala! ?? ???? As Board Director and longtime supporter of The Ireland Funds, the largest philanthropic organization in #Ireland, Ron has been a driving force in the organization’s mission to promote peace, reconciliation, and prosperity among Irish communities worldwide. He is an esteemed leader and this recognition is well-deserved! Congratulations Ron! ?? #Leadership #Philanthropy #IrelandFunds #StateStreet

New episode of Last Night at School Committee! ?? At this week's School Committee meeting, the Committee heard a report about the district's adoption of the state's #MassCore graduation standards. In 2021, the district standardized graduation requirements by adopting the MassCore standards for all students, starting with the class of 2026. However, according to the most recent report, only 50% of students are currently meeting these requirements. ?? What will be the implications of this moving forward for high school students in Boston? Tune in to Last Night at School Committee to hear more. #LastNightAtSchoolCommittee #Boston #BostonPublicSchools #PublicSchools #Education #ShahFamilyFoundation

What the End of the MCAS Requirement Means for Massachusetts Schools ?? ?? In the summer of 1993, #Massachusetts implemented the Education Reform Act, a sweeping initiative that lifted the state’s public schools to the top ranks of the nation. Among the Act’s key provisions was the introduction of statewide standardized testing, which became a cornerstone of Massachusetts’ #education system. But following this week's election, The Associated Press has projected voters' approval of Question 2, effectively repealing the requirement for high school students to pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) to earn their diploma. The class of 2025 and beyond are no longer held to any state-wide graduation standard; instead, students will only need to meet local district requirements. ?? What’s behind the change? Supporters of the repeal argue that eliminating the #MCAS requirement will help address graduation disparities and give educators more flexibility to focus on learning beyond standardized test topics. However, critics warn that removing this graduation standard could impact the state’s ability to track student progress and undermine clear expectations for academic success across Massachusetts. The Commonwealth will be among only a handful of states with virtually no course or exam requirements for graduation. ?? Learn more about the implications of Question 2 and the future of MA public schools: https://lnkd.in/g97j2szE #EducationReform #MassachusettsEducation #PublicEducation #StudentSuccess #Election

It’s Election Day! ?? The Shah team reminds you that your #vote is your voice! ??? Polling places in #Massachusetts are open until 8PM tonight. ?? Find your polling location here: https://lnkd.in/g5_NeD5 Let’s show up and be heard! #ElectionDay #YourVoteMatters #YourVoteIsYourVoice #ShahFamilyFoundation

The Growing Disconnect Between Standardized Test Scores and Student Grades ?? As the future of standardized testing evolves, a gap widens between exam scores and student GPAs. ?? From 2018 to 2021, average #ACT composite scores fell from 22.51 to 21.90, while reported high school GPAs rose from 3.48 to 3.59. Similarly, average #SAT scores dropped by four points from 2023 to 2024. However, understanding this disconnect isn't straightforward. Inconsistent grading practices by educators, among other factors, significantly impact how student success is measured, leading to a complicated relationship between grades and test scores. ???? Experts, including The College Board, recommend that standardized test scores remain part of admission decisions, but should not be the sole criteria. Joe Feldman, CEO of Crescendo Education Group, LLC, advocates for enhanced grading training for educators so that student success can be more effectively measured. ?? The future of standardized testing in #Massachusetts is on the ballot, with Question 2 seeking to repeal the requirement for students to pass the tenth-grade #MCAS in order to graduate. ?? Discover more about the findings and implications for education: https://lnkd.in/gwB8rfjC #Education #StandardizedTesting #StudentSuccess #CrescendoEducationGroup #CollegeAdmissions