Charter Group Pans Malden School's Cultural Criteria Lawsuit

MALDEN, MA — A state charter school organization slammed Mystic Valley Regional Charter School over its lawsuit against new cultural performance criteria.

"This lawsuit does not reflect the values or beliefs of charter public schools, which were founded in large part to address issues of educational inequity and systemic racism in public education," a statement from Tim Nicolette, executive director of the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association (MCPSA), read in part.

Mystic Valley sued the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Suffolk Superior Court last week. The complaint argues the cultural criteria, which takes into account practices that promote inclusivity and diversity, is "censoring" its mission of fostering a "melting pot" school environment, the Boston Herald reported.

The complaint further alleges the criteria, which it calls "unlawful" and "vague," was used to label Mystic Valley in need of reform before DESE conducted an evaluation. This puts the school at risk of losing its charter, according to the suit.

But the MCPSA is urging the school to withdraw its lawsuit and work on creating a "culturally proficient and responsive environment."

"While Mystic Valley Regional Charter School is not a member of the MCPSA, it should abide by the basic principles of equity and inclusion that all public schools should strive to achieve," Nicolette said.

Alex Dan, executive director of the Mystic Valley Charter School, said it appears "MCPSA has not read Mystic Valley's complaint."

"Mystic Valley is a highly successful minority majority school. Our curriculum approaches issues of racism by embracing equality and commonality, not divisiveness," Dan wrote in an email. "Due to the popularity of its approach to education, the school has amassed an enormous waiting list of families of all races, ethnicities, and cultural identities who are eager to access the school’s programs."

Dan said the lawsuit pertains to academic freedom, rather than inclusivity, and the state trying to change his school's already approved curriculum. He added that the charter school law is designed to "cultivate innovative and varied approaches to complex educational issues."

"We note Mystic Valley is not a member of MCPSA and that Mystic Valley students perform at an academic achievement rate superior to nearly all of the schools in that organization," Dan wrote.