Every student deserves equal access to Massachusetts' top-ranked education system
Massachusetts’ Constitution guarantees every child an adequate education and equal protection under the law.
Yet, due to state policies, tens of thousands of Latino and Black students across the commonwealth attend racially segregated schools defined by concentrated poverty and limited opportunity. Just minutes away, students in wealthier, predominantly white districts often enjoy access to the well-resourced schools conjured by Massachusetts’ place atop national public education rankings.
At a time when the bedrock American values of diversity and equality are under attack, it’s time for Massachusetts to lead the nation once again.
Landmark Lawsuit in Massachusetts
Batchelor, et al. v. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, et al.
On May 20, 2026, students and organizations from segregated Black, Latino, and low-income school districts across Massachusetts—represented by Lawyers for Civil Rights, Brown’s Promise, and pro bono counsel from WilmerHale—filed a lawsuit charging the state with breaking a fundamental promise in its constitution by maintaining racially segregated districts characterized by concentrations of poverty. These segregated school districts deny Black and Latino students an adequate and equal education, while threatening the entire state’s civic and economic future.
The lawsuit argues that today’s education laws and policies —combined with long-segregated housing patterns—systemically restrict Black and Latino students to high-poverty, low-opportunity districts.
Get updates on this case and the fight for integrated schools.
Massachusetts public schools are among the nation’s most segregated by race and class. State leaders have been ignoring the problem for decades.
The majority of K-12 students in Massachusetts attend schools where Black and Latino students are either vastly overrepresented or almost entirely absent.
The stakes are high: Students in these segregated majority Black and Latino districts are less likely to be on track in math and reading, graduate at lower rates, and enroll in college less often. Their schools have fewer experienced teachers and less access to advanced coursework. And the research is clear that segregated schools do a worse job of preparing students from all backgrounds to work and lead in our increasingly diverse world.
63%
63% of all Massachusetts schools are considered “segregated” or “intensely segregated” by race.
Source: Racial Imbalance Advisory Council Report, 2024
#2
Massachusetts ranks #2 in the country for worst between-district income segregation, making it one of the worst offenders when it comes to “poverty packing” some school districts.
Source: The Segregation Tracking Project
“It’s time to End Mass Segregation. The system isn’t preparing any of our kids for the real world if it’s not preparing them to learn, play, live, and work together. Especially not if Latino and Black communities like ours get the short end of the stick year after year, generation after generation, while wealthy white school districts right next to us get access to a great education and plenty of resources. Separate is not equal.”
— Juanita Batchelor, Plaintiff
Massachusetts once led the nation in recognizing education and equality as a constitutional duty. It’s time to recommit to that promise.
Massachusetts was the first state to make public education compulsory in 1852. Then, in 1855—in response to organizing by Black families—it led the nation as the first state to legally ban racial segregation in public schools. Yet Massachusetts has never fully realized the promise of integrated public schools.
The lawsuit challenges Massachusetts to lead with modern solutions to create integrated, well-resourced schools for all students, such as:
Creating more Vocational Technical schools that serve regional populations across district lines
Dramatically expanding regional magnet school programs that attract students across district lines
Prioritizing and supporting voluntary interdistrict transfer programs (including by offering free transportation)
Investing in infrastructure for under-performing school districts to draw students and families to these districts
Growing and continuing to improve the METCO program
Get updates on this case and the fight for integrated schools.
