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Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)

Racial Imbalance Advisory Council

The Racial Imbalance Advisory Council (RIAC) advises the Commissioner of Education and the Board of Education on matters pertinent to the development and maintenance of school desegregation/integration in public schools within the Commonwealth. The Council assesses statewide trends and needs in desegregation and integration patterns, seeks wide public and professional input, and disseminates information regarding racial balance, and access to effective educational programs for all the Commonwealth's children regardless of race or class. RIAC also advises and makes recommendations regarding legislation, regulations and program guidelines, and provides other programmatic recommendations, as it deems necessary, to fulfill the goals established by the Board of Education. Membership on the Council is representative of a broad base of individuals experienced in equity theory — its application and implementation at the district and school levels.

The primary goal of the Racial Imbalance Advisory Council (RIAC) is to: review the *Racial Imbalance Law in order to respond to significant changing demographic needs, changing student needs, changing district needs, changing desegregation plans, and to ensure that districts adhere to the tenets of the Racial Imbalance Law. The Racial Imbalance Law was passed with the knowledge and understanding that the legacy of racial discrimination in our society carries long-term consequences.

Of primary concerns to the RIAC are the integration of students in our public schools and improved student achievement for all. Both are still lacking in many urban Massachusetts schools and districts. There continues to be pronounced racial and cultural differences in student achievement, participation in special education, suspensions and expulsions. The Council believes that school districts need to focus their efforts on adequate and appropriate staff development that prepares teachers to meet the needs of all students regardless of their racial heritage or socio-economic status. Of equal importance is the belief that districts should develop appropriate evaluation tools that will ensure timely identification of systemic strengths and weaknesses and if necessary develop and implement plans for appropriate improvement.

Meeting Schedule

Meeting Date & TimeMeeting LocationMinutes
Thursday, 10/27/2022
9:30–11:30am
This meeting is being held remotely. If you would like to attend, please email Sylvia Lam for the Zoom information. 10/27/2022 Minutes
Thursday, 12/8/2022
9:30–11:30am
This meeting is being held remotely. If you would like to attend, please email Sylvia Lam for the Zoom information. 12/8/2022 Minutes
Monday, 12/12/2022
10:00–11:00am
The meeting location is at 75 Pleasant Street in the first-floor conference room. If you would like to attend, please email Sylvia Lam for the Zoom information. 12/12/2022 Minutes
Thursday, 2/9/2023
9:30–12pm
This meeting is being held remotely. If you would like to attend, please email Sylvia Lam for the Zoom information.
Wednesday, 3/15/2023
from 12–2pm
This meeting is being held remotely. If you would like to attend, please email Sylvia Lam for the Zoom information.
Monday, 5/1/2023
from 9–11am
This meeting is being held remotely. If you would like to attend, please email Sylvia Lam for the Zoom information.
Thursday, 6/8/2023
9:30–11:30am
This meeting is being held remotely. If you would like to attend, please email Sylvia Lam for the Zoom information.

Council Statement

The Racial Imbalance Advisory Council (RIAC) advocates for the importance of diversity in the education of the children of the Commonwealth. It believes that all children should be held to the highest standards and afforded access to the highest quality of education. To this end the Council will:

  • Support the mission, and proposed goals and objectives of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for all students who attend public schools
  • Establish links with proposed activities of RIAC and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Strategic Plan.
  • Review racial integration patterns in MA public schools including charter schools, and also court case findings and the impact on school assignments in MA
  • Examine and research recent documents relevant to advantages/disadvantages of diverse educational settings and race relations

2022-2023 RIAC Council Members

NameTitleOrganization(s)
Gloria BuffongeUnion OrganizerHarvard Business School
Charlotte ClarkeEarly Childhood EducatorConsult with Childcare Programs
Dr. Raul A. FernandezAssociate Dean for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion & Lecturer, Higher Education AdministrationBoston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development
Barbara FieldsOrganizational RepresentativeBlack Educators Alliance of MA
Christina HornerSenior AssociateGreat Schools Partnership
Cleonie MainvielleFounder, Owner & Co-presidentInspired Outcome & DICE (Diversity and Inclusion for Community Empowerment)
Kahris McLaughlinCollege RepresentativeBoston University Wheelock College for Education and Human Development at Boston University
Michael MorrisSuperintendentAmherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools
Christine MurrayFinancial and Grants AdministratorBoston University Medical School
William B. NewellFormer High School Administrator, METCO Board Member
LaTonia NaylorSchool Committee MemberSpringfield Public Schools
Jessica SamuelPhD, American & New England Studies ProgramBoston University

Contact Information

Co-Chairpersons:
Dr. Kahris McLaughlin and Mr. William Newell

Secretary: Dr. Michael Morris

For Further Information Contact

DESE Liaison
Sylvia Lam
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148
Telephone: 781-338-3567

Resources

Annual Reports to the Board of Education

Related Resources

  • Chapter 15: Section 1I
  • Chapter 15: Section 1J
  • Chapter 76: Section 12A
  • Chapter 71: Section 37C
  • Chapter 71: Section 37D
  • Chapter 71: Section 37I & 37J

  • Charles V. Willie, Ph.D., & Michael Alves, Ed.M. (1996); Controlled Choice: A New Approach To Desegregated Education and School Improvement. Education Alliance Press.

  • Carl A. Grant (1995); Educating for Diversity: An Anthology of Multicultural Voices. Allyn & Bacon

  • Schott Foundation for Public Education (2008). Given half a chance: The Schott 50 state report on pulbic education and black males. Executive Summary. Cambridge, MA: Author. Retrieved October 20, 2008

  • Singleton, G. E. & Linton, C. (2006). Courageous conversations about race: A field guide for achieving equity in schools. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

  • Uriarte, M., Chen, J., & Kala, M. (2007). Where we go to school… Latino students and the public schools of Boston. Boston, MA: The Mauricio Gaston Institute for Latino community Development and Public Policy. Retrieved on October 20, 2008

  • Noguera, P. & Wing, J. Y. (eds.) (2006). Unfinished business: Closing the racial achievement gap in our schools. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Last Updated: March 13, 2023

 
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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906

Voice: (781) 338-3000
TTY: (800) 439-2370

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