Massachusetts Student Advisory Council Releases PSA on Anti-Discrimination

Malden - High school students from the Massachusetts Student Advisory Council to the State Board of Education have produced a thirty second public service announcement for television broadcast highlighting attention on Education Reform and student rights.

The council is a group of 400 students elected by their peers from schools all over Massachusetts who are helping make decisions about state educational policy. The council was established by state law in 1971, and the chair of the council is a voting member of the State Board of Education.

The PSA, filmed at Gloucester High School, begins with the message, "Good things are happening because of Education Reform," followed by a visual of a group of students walking through the school's halls. It then states the full text of the state's anti-discrimination law, with a 1993 amendment on sexual orientation added after students lobbied for its passage:

"No person shall be discriminated against in admission to a public school of any town or in obtaining the advantages, privileges and courses of study of such public school on account of race, color, sex, religion, national origin or sexual orientation."

"It is our responsibility to ensure that all students can attend school in a safe, supportive environment for learning," said Commissioner of Education Robert V. Antonucci. "This Student Advisory Council PSA will help raise public awareness of the critical need for safe schools," he added.

Beginning this month, the Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications (MCET) will air the anti-discrimination public service announcement during its regular daily broadcasts between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

MCET provides telecommunications services to students and educators in Massachusetts and 27 states nationwide, and includes daily satellite broadcasts directly into classrooms via the Mass Learnpike to students, teachers, and administrators.

In addition, the PSA is being sent to all, major Massachusetts commercial television stations as well as dozens of local cable stations.