Committee Debates WISP, Takes No Vote

School Committee · Meeting of October 28, 2026

BROOKLINE — The Brookline School Committee heard but did not vote on the future of WISP, the ninth-grade social studies course, after the department recommended keeping it unchanged. Social Studies Department Coordinator Jen Martin presented 10 years of data covering nearly 20,000 enrollments, showing honors enrollment for 10th graders rose to 72 percent from 66 percent after WISP's 2018 launch, though Black students' rising grades have not translated into comparable honors enrollment gains. Chair Bob Weintraub voiced lingering concerns about de-leveling, while Brookline Educators Union President Justin Brown warned against committee "meddling." Seven of eight public speakers addressed WISP, including parent Shira Fisher, who said curriculum materials still contain uncorrected anti-Jewish bias flagged over a year ago.

No motion was made; the course continues unchanged.

In the full story:

• Call to Order and Announcements
• Moment of Inspiration and Consent Agenda
• Public Comment: WISP and Calendar Concerns
• Driscoll School Improvement Plan
• Florida Ruffin Ridley School Improvement Plan
• Ninth Grade Social Studies: The WISP Recommendation
• Enrollment and Demographics Report
• New Business
• Executive Session
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,366 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of October 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.