METCO In Jeopardy?

Published Jun 28 2007, 03:13 PM by David S. Bernstein

A Supreme Court decision just handed down severely limits the use of race as a factor in how children get assigned to schools. The exact line on what's allowed and what's not will probably need to be challenged on a case-by-case basis, and you can be sure that the Boston-area METCO program will get one of those challenges.

This is likely to be a very heated and uncomfortable battle, and a tough political landmine for many of our area politicians. Watch and listen closely for their early reactions.

Blue Hampshire Indeed

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4 Comments

Ryan said:

I would say yes, METCO probably wouldn't survive a court case now. However, from what I've read, the decision is certainly murky and who knows how enduring and truly widespread it'll be to keep that opinion together. In any event, it's a sad, sad day..

June 28, 2007 11:46 PM
Patrick said:

I never understood why a black kid from Roxbury should have publicly funded opportunities to attend posh suburban schools that poor white kids from Brighton or South Boston don't have. Can any one explain that? How about an Asian kid from Chinatown or a Brazilian kid from East Boston? Allowing kids into these programs based on race is an antiquated notion hopefully laid to rest by this decision.

June 29, 2007 1:57 AM
Jim said:

METCO unafirly benefits one group of economically challenged kids over others. It should be stopped. It forces the state to pick up the tab, and all the "compassionate" towns want is the money not the diversity.

July 6, 2007 12:46 PM
Joyce said:

Many people do not seem to realize that METCO is a desegration program. They also don't realize that it's not a program based on income. All of the children participating in the program are not Black and many are far from poor. In fact, there are Asian children from Chinatown, as well as from other parts of the city. There are Latino children from many parts of the city as well. Children come from all socio-economic backgrounds participate. In fact, there are doctors, lawyers, teachers and principals and police officers (many of whom work in Boston) who voluntarily choose to particiapte. The suburbs who voluntarily participate aren't all "posh" either.

August 7, 2007 1:36 AM