Lawyers’ Committee, Civil Rights Groups Call for Change to Boston Latin Admissions

In the wake of student-led actions to address racial harassment at Boston Latin School, the Lawyers’ Committee and a host of civil rights groups have called for Boston Public Schools (BPS) to change its admissions policies for Latin and the other BPS exam schools.  In a letter, the Lawyers’ Committee outlines several constitutional ways that BPS can revise its current admissions policies to make Latin more reflective of the district’s students.    While Black and Latino students comprise 74% of BPS enrollment, they account for only 20% of Latin’s student body.  The letter also examines potential legal liability for maintaining the current system.

Joining the letter are the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts (ACLU); Black Educators’ Alliance of Massachusetts (BEAM); Boston Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Boston Branch of the NAACP; Ella J. Baker House; George Cox; Kevin Peterson, founder, New Democracy Coalition; Dr. Jacqueline C. Rivers, Ph.D.; and Rev. Mark Scott.

Read more in the Boston Globe:

“When we take deliberate efforts as a community to reduce racial isolation, I think, we see a more positive environment for all of our students.”

Matt Cregor, education project director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice