U.S. Attorney Finds Boston Latin School Violated Federal Civil Rights: Civil Rights Groups’ Issue Statement

Civil Rights Groups Issue Statement: Law Groups Behind Federal Complaint Urge City to Use Agreement to Improve the Racial Climate of Every Boston School

MAC's Boston School Reform Project was one of the original groups that urged the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate reports of racism and discrimination at prestigious Boston Latin School. U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz found the Boston Latin School did, in fact, violate Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We are hopeful that Boston Public Schools will use the resolution agreement to not only address issues of racism and discrimination at Latin, but throughout the entire district. Read the full joint statement from civil rights and advocacy organizations here: (A joint statement by the civil rights groups follows...)

Boston, MA: Today, U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz found that Boston Latin School (BLS) violated federal

civil rights law in responding to school-based racial harassment and announced a resolution agreement

with Boston Public Schools (BPS) to improve the racial climate of the school. The U.S. Department of Justice found BLS violated Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the same law it has used to litigate scores of school desegregation cases.

It is not often that Title IV is violated so far from the South. That the Department of Justice brought it to bear here validates the concerns first raised by students and families at Latin. This violation reminds us t hat we, as a city and nation, still have

work to do to ensure that all students are safe and welcome to pursue their equal right to education.... Read more...