U.S. Attorney's Investigation Finds Civil Rights Act Violation at Boston Latin School

BOSTON, MA – Months of investigation found one violation of the Civil Rights Act at Boston Latin School, after officials there reportedly mishandled an incident in which a classmate threatened a black student, allegedly swearing at her, calling her a racial slur and threatening to lynch her with an electrical cord.

The U.S. District Attorney's office also identified other "concerning" cases, additional challenges in the school's climate and inconsistency in its handling of such incidents. The investigation has closed, as of Monday, with a resolution instructing the Boston Public School District to implement measures to better manage complaints of racial discrimination.

Complaints of mishandled incidents at Boston Latin spurred the sudden resignation of Boston the top two leaders from the historic institution this June.

According to a press release from U.S. District Attorney Carmen Ortiz on Monday, her office determined one of the allegations reached the level of a violation of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination against students based on race, and other factors, by public schools.

The violation involved BLS’s mishandling of its review of allegations that a male student addressed a female black student during class using profanity and a racial slur and threatened to lynch her with an electrical cord, the USAO's office said.

Two other racially charged incidents "raised concerns" about BLS's response, the USAO's office said, as well as "the overall effectiveness of its efforts to create an inclusive school climate for all of its students." The investigation also determined that BLS "did not consistently apply policies and procedures relating to student discipline."

The investigation was launched in a response to a letter sent to the USAO's office this February by a number of civil rights advocacy groups and community members, which described a "racially hostile learning environment at BLS, racially disparate discipline, and an inadequate response to these concerns by BLS administrators," as summarized by USAO.

Under the agreement, Boston Public Schools will adopt a comprehensive strategy to address and prevent racial harassment at, or affecting students at, BLS. Among other things, the District will:

• Develop mandatory annual trainings for students, faculty and staff at BLS covering racial harassment, retaliatory conduct, reporting procedures and policies, and cultural competence;
• Institute a system of restorative justice at BLS;
• Establish a Diversity/Non-Discrimination Officer at BLS responsible for monitoring complaints of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation; and
• Conduct an annual school-wide survey of the racial climate at BLS.

A separate, internal review by BPS released last month combed through 115 reported allegations, finding that 17 of those cases violated of school policy. In six cases, administrators were found to have incorrectly handled reports of bias.

Read More:

115 Student Reports of Bias at Boston Latin School: BPS Investigation

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BPS Names Interim Boston Latin Head Master

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