Judge rules in favor of new Boston exam schools admissions policy, saying it is ‘race-neutral’

A federal judge has upheld a new, temporary admissions policy at Boston’s elite exam schools, calling it “race-neutral,” despite the parent group that brought the lawsuit claiming it was discriminatory.

“This Court finds and rules that the Plan is race-neutral, and that neither the factors used nor the goal of greater diversity qualify as a racial classification,” Judge William Young wrote in the ruling released Thursday night.

The new policy, created due to the pandemic, will use student performance, ZIP code and GPA or MCAS results for admission into the exam schools instead of an entrance test, a change that was considered a historic win for underserved communities when it was approved.

But the Boston Parent Coalition for Academic Excellence had argued it was “wholly irrational” and took seats away from deserving kids.

Under the plan, some ZIP codes, such as Chinatown, Beacon Hill and West Roxbury, will have fewer exam school seats while other neighborhoods that are typically disadvantaged, such as Dorchester and Mattapan, will get more.

The coalition had asked the court to prevent admissions decisions from being made under the new system and to prohibit the district from using a ZIP code system as a factor in future admissions decisions.

A Boston Public Schools spokesman said exam school invitations are being finalized and should be sent out by the end of the month. That’s about a month later than usual due to the legal proceedings.

BPCAE did not immediately respond to request for comment.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/32pQbSt