The Weekly Recap
News and Updates from Across BU Wheelock SPACE This Week
Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we provide details on faculty engagement, highlight news mentions, and share recently published research and upcoming events.
Out and About
Mary Churchill (Assoc. Dean, BU Wheelock) and Anthony Abraham Jack (Assoc. Professor, BU Wheelock) are in Paris this week, and they connected with Renée Pontbriand, Director of BU’s Paris Programs at Global Programs.
In The News
The Education Exchange: Public School Enrollments Down 2 Percent Since 2020, Education Next: The Education Exchange with Paul Peterson (conversation with Assoc. Professor Josh Goodman), June 30, 2025.
College Closure: Through the Eyes of Dr. Mary Churchill, College Closure: Through The Eyes of…(conversation with Assoc. Dean Mary Churchill), June 24, 2025.
What happens if you can’t repay your student loans?, GBH News Rooted, (featuring Assoc. Professor Anthony Abraham Jack), June 23, 2025.
Research That Matters
Self-Contained Classroom Supports: Calling on District-Leaders: Supporting Self-Contained Programs for Students With Significant Behavior Support Needs (co-authored by Assoc. Professor Elizabeth Bettini)
Nearly 31% of school-aged students labeled with emotional disturbance spend most of their school day in self-contained classrooms. Thus, it is critical for district leaders to understand how to support educators’ capacity to provide effective services for students with significant behavior-support needs. In this article, researchers overview how district leaders can establish the conditions educators need to run these programs effectively. The recommendations focus on establishing strong placement criteria and procedures and providing appropriate resources to the program.
Changes in Public School Enrollment: School Enrollment Shifts Five Years After the Pandemic (working paper and policy brief co-authored by Assoc. Professor Joshua Goodman and doctoral student Abigail Francis)
When school doors closed in March 2020, many anticipated this disruption would have long-term effects on students. Nonetheless, a common assumption throughout this period was that students would eventually return to school. Five years post-pandemic, researchers find that we are witnessing a more dramatic shift in the composition and enrollment of public schools than expected. This research documents the changes in public school enrollment in one state and highlights the demographic and grade-level shifts that may have broader implications for the health and vibrancy of American schools. Key findings include:
Relative to pre-pandemic trends, Massachusetts local public school enrollment has decreased while private school and home school enrollment has increased.
The declines in local public school enrollment are most notable in high income districts and middle grades.
Important Updates in US Higher Education
PK-12 Update: Trump administration withholds over $6 billion for after-school, summer programs and more
Upcoming Events
Summer 2025 Soccer Unity Cup – The Soccer Unity Project is seeking volunteers for this summer’s tournament, July 19–August 9 at Carter Playground. Support community, sport, and connection—sign up today and learn more here.
📅 Date: July 19th- August 9th, 2025
📍Carter Playground, Northeastern University