Mark Your Calendar
- Monday, March 31 | Eid al-Fitr (No School & CPS Offices Closed)
- Friday, April 18 | Good Friday (No School & CPS Offices Closed)
- Monday, April 21 - Friday, April 25 | April Break (No School & CPS Offices Closed on April 21)
Good Evening CPS Community:
The Cambridge Preschool Program will accept additional program applications starting Wednesday, March 26 through Friday, April 14, 2025. This application window is designed for families with an eligible
3- or 4-year-old eligible child, who have recently moved to Cambridge and/or families that otherwise missed the fall application window. Limited seating is available. You can learn more about the Cambridge Preschool
Program through the City of Cambridge Office of Early Childhood website.
During last week’s School Committee meeting, Interim Superintendent Murphy delivered updates on the Proposed 2025-2026 Budget.
You can find more information regarding areas of focus below.
As a reminder, there will be no school next Monday, March 31.
Sincerely,
The CPS Team
In this Issue
- March 18th School Committee Recap
- Review the 2025-2026 Proposed Budget
- Upcoming Events
- District & Community Resources
- The Bright Spot
Need to Know
March 18th School Committee Recap
A School Committee meeting was held last Tuesday. Highlights include...
Interested in receiving email notifications about meetings? Join the School Committee listserv.
Proposed 2025-2026 Budget
Chief Financial Officer Ivy Washington and Interim Superintendent David Murphy presented the Proposed 2025-2026 Budget to the School
Committee on March 12. You can view the presentation here.
The proposed budget includes an increase of $12 million (4.5%) compared to last year’s budget.
The 2025-2026 budget proposal aims to align resources to objectives and initiatives outlined in the CPS District Plan, which has been extended into 2026. Areas of focus for
2025-2026 reflect our district’s long term strategic planning, with the goal of putting as many students as possible in better position for academic success.
| District Plan: Major Focus Area |
|
Educator Effectiveness:
Continued alignment of curriculum, improved supervision, and coordinated professional learning
|
Facilities Planning:
Clear articulation of capital planning priorities tied to overarching objective of positioning more students for success
- Spring Street
- Fletcher Maynard Academy*
- Longfellow Broadway
- Cambridgeport Roof (MSBA submission)
|
Family Engagement:
Emphasis on sound and deepened family engagement practices across all schools, and Standard 3 professional development
- Expanded training program in summer 2025 and train-the-trainer model.
- Time budgeting analysis within CBAs.
- Emphasis on Standard 3 practices.
- Caregiver Academy programming.
|
Early Childhood Planning:
Phase 1 of consolidating early childhood programming in early learning center model
- Utilization of Longfellow Broadway facility.
- Intentional and directed professional learning within the early childhood realm.
- Development of better common planning practices.
- Exploration of extended day options.
- Examination of matriculation policies.
|
Budget Insights:
- Like most budgets for public school districts, staffing and employee benefits make up the majority of operating costs, totalling 83.5% of the total CPS budget and accounting for a $8.4 million increase for existing employee positions
for next year.
- Discretionary funding is the amount of money schools have that allows for individual communities to choose how dollars are spent. Some of this funding is outlined in each School Improvement Plan.
- Federal funding accounts for 2.4% of the CPS total budget. The proposed budget assumes full availability of federal funding, however, CPS leadership continues to plan and prepare for strategic shifts if necessary.
A budget workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, March 26. Read more about the
budget process and community meeting schedule here.
In the District
Opening Reception: Young Artists Exhibit
Thursday, April 3 | 5 - 7PM
Multicultural Arts Center (41 Second Street)
Explore
the artistic works of students in Preschool - Grade 8 in the upcoming
Young Artists Exhibition from April 1
- 18 at the Multicultural Arts Center. Join the open reception at the Multicultural Arts Center Thursday, April 3. The gallery is closed Monday and open Tuesday - Friday from 10AM - 6PM.
Multicultural Night
Thursday, April 16 | 6 - 8:30PM
CRLS Main Cafe (459 Broadway Court)
CRLS’s student-led
Cultural Visibility Team presents the second annual
Multicultural Night for the whole Cambridge Public Schools community!
Join us for a night of cultural performances, food, and a whole lot more!
Registration for Multicultural Night is helpful but not required.
District Calendar
Visit our
digital calendar for upcoming events here.
In the Community
Virtual: College Preparedness Workshop
Thursday, March 27 | 6 - 7PM
Zoom (link to be provided through registration)
Understand
the cost of college and how to minimize debt. Learn more about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), scholarships, student loans, budgeting, and saving for college.
Register for the College Preparedness Workshop here.
Amazing Archaeology Fair at Harvard
Saturday, April 6 | 1 - 4PM
Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology Location (11 Divinity Avenue)
Explore
Archaeology with real archaeologists! Try ancient cuneiform writing, discover cave art made by Neanderthals and other early humans, and learn how mummies' names reveal secrets of Egyptian "tomb recycling". Regular
museum admission rates apply. All ages welcome.
Visit the Amazing Archaeology Fair event page here.
District & Community Resources
Early College Day at the State House
Early College Program Manager Michael O’Shea and Interim Superintendent Murphy joined Early College students at the State House last week for Early College Day. Hosted by the Massachusetts Alliance for Early College, the day brought
together legislators, school districts with early college programs, and participating universities to celebrate and discuss the impact of Early College. Senator Sal DiDomenico welcomed our Early College students and spoke with
them about their experiences in the program.