Our latest accomplishments

Public School Students, NAACP Present Argument to Supreme Judicial Court in Charter Cap Case →

Monday, October 2nd - When the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held oral argument on the appeal of Doe v. Peyser, a lawsuit that sought to declare Massachusetts’ cap on charter schools unconstitutional, it heard from public school students and civil rights and education justice organizations who successfully argued for the...

Mystic Valley Charter School Drops Ban on Hair Extensions →

The Lawyers' Committee, together with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the ACLU of Massachusetts, and pro bono partners at Latham & Watkins, represent Mya and Deanna Cook, Black twin girls who had been subjected to detentions and suspensions at Mystic Valley Charter School for wearing hair extensions. As a step in the...

Response to Racial Discrimination at Mystic Valley Charter School →

On May 12, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice learned that Mystic Valley Charter School is disciplining of African-American schoolgirls for wearing braids. Today, we sent a letter in response to the school's discriminatory policy. We do so for three reasons: First, the parents in today’s article...

AERA Centennial Lecture Focuses on Racial Disparities in School Discipline, Solutions →

On April 12th, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) dedicated one of its Centennial Lectures to addressing racial disparities in school discipline.  Dr. Russ Skiba, whose research on this subject has significantly shaped efforts to counter the School-to-Prison Pipeline, delivered the lecture.  Matt Cregor, LCCR's Education Project Director, served as commentator....

As School Discipline Disparities Rise, LCCR Releases Toolkit for Families and Educators to Improve Discipline →

According to new data released by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, one-year after implementing Massachusetts' new school discipline law, out-of-school suspension rates are climbing slightly, but especially for students of color, English Language Learners, and Students with Disabilities. The Enterprise: "Racial Disparity Remains in School Suspension Rates" ...

Court to Hear Argument in Charter Cap Lawsuit →

  COURT TO HEAR ARGUMENT IN CHARTER CAP LAWSUIT    NAACP, Students of Color, Students with Disabilities, and English Language Learners Seek to Intervene Boston, MA – On Friday, April 8th, traditional public school students and the New England Area Conference of the NAACP will argue for their right to...

The Case Against Lifting the Charter Cap →

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_LjICpsxa4[/embed]

Lawyers’ Committee Moves to Intervene in Charter Cap Case on Behalf of Students of Color, Students with Disabilities, and English Language Learners →

Boston, MA – Students of color, students with disabilities, and English language learners, together with the New England Area Conference of the NAACP, moved today to intervene in the pending litigation over the cap on charter schools, arguing that the cap is necessary to preserve educational opportunities for students in...

Combating Racial Harassment through Restorative Justice in Schools →

Throughout the last school year, our client, a bi-racial student in a coastal Massachusetts school district, experienced significant racial harassment and alienation at the hands of his white high school peers, and felt little support from school leaders in addressing it.  The Lawyers' Committee represented the student and his family...

The Lawyers’ Committee has concerns about pending charter litigation →

The Lawyers' Committee has expressed some concerns about the pending litigation on lifting the cap on charter schools. Rahsaan Hall quoted in the Bay State Banner on the issue.