Nearly 200 Years ago in Boston, 5-year-old Sarah Roberts was turned away from her neighborhood school because of her race. Her father, Benjamin Roberts, sued the city in 1847, long before Brown v. Board.
Brown's Promise
@brownspromise.bsky.social
Fighting to advance educational equity through integration. We collaborate with partners to use research, litigation, and advocacy to create diverse, well-resourced schools for all children. www.brownspromise.org
How did we actually measure school segregation? In our States of Segregation webinar, Dr. Ann Owens broke down the index behind the report.
On CBS LA, @stephenjowens.bsky.social speaks to our education system’s two-pronged challenge—if we can build diverse-by-design, excellent schools, we can address concentrated poverty and shift housing patterns instead of just responding to them. Full segment here: www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/v...
Our director of policy and advocacy, @stephenjowens.bsky.social, joined CBS News LA to break down the data on economic segregation in California schools. Check out the full segment here: www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/v...
California schools divided by income
Dr. Stephen Owens, from the Brown’s Promise Project, talks about a new report that says California schools are economically segregated.
cbsnews.com
We surveyed 600 of the Commonwealth’s registered voters, and the polling shows the people of the Commonwealth overwhelmingly support ending school segregation—not just in rhetoric, but with policy solutions. Explore the polling at brownspromise.org/mapollingmemo
We just released a policy agenda to address school segregation in Massachusetts. It outlines the root causes of school segregation and details proven solutions to dismantle it. Get the 5-part policy agenda 5-part policy agenda at brownspromise.org/mapolicyagenda
Massachusetts public school students! Want to share your thoughts on the school system and enter to win $300? Take our quick survey on school perceptions before the end of June! tinyurl.com/bpyouthsurve...
“This lawsuit challenges a form of segregation that is far more widespread today: the racial and economic differences between districts in the same metropolitan area.” Read @The Washington Post’s coverage here: www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
Massachusetts accused of segregating schools by race and class
A lawsuit filed on behalf of nine children argues that boundary lines trap many low-income students of color in low-performing public school districts.
washingtonpost.com
Yesterday, we joined MA families to announce our lawsuit against the Commonwealth at the Massachusetts State House. Together, we believe Massachusetts can lead the way for public education. Follow the case at EndMassSegregation.org.
“This lawsuit challenges a form of segregation that is far more widespread today: the racial and economic differences between districts in the same metropolitan area.” Read @washingtonpost.com's coverage here: www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
Massachusetts accused of segregating schools by race and class
A lawsuit filed on behalf of nine children argues that boundary lines trap many low-income students of color in low-performing public school districts.
washingtonpost.com
"School integration is important for the same reasons it has been important for decades: Separate is not equal….evidence shows that integration programs like Metco improve academic performance." Read @bostonglobe.com's editorial on Batchelor v. Commonwealth: www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/21/o...
A new lawsuit forces the state to confront racial segregation in schools - The Boston Globe
Because school assignments are largely based on ZIP code, the state’s schools reflect the state’s racial segregation. But separate is not equal.
bostonglobe.com
“Massachusetts has long grappled with a troubling paradox: Although the state has among the best performing schools in the nation, it also has among the worse achievement gaps among students of different backgrounds.” Read the full @bostonglobe.com article here: www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/20/m...
Legal battle launched to integrate Massachusetts public schools - The Boston Globe
A lawsuit filed Wednesday in Suffolk Superior Court by a group of students seeks to force state educational leaders to adopt a comprehensive plan to racially integrate the state’s public schools.
bostonglobe.com
We’re honored to be selected to host a 2026 Equal Justice Works fellow at Brown’s Promise and SO excited to work with Adoris! www.equaljusticeworks.org/news/introdu...
Introducing Our 2026 Class of Fellows - Equal Justice Works
equaljusticeworks.org
We’re beyond proud to stand with the ACLU of New Jersey and the Racial Equity in Education Law & Policy Clinic (REEL Policy Clinic) at Georgetown Law in filing an amicus brief in Latino Action Network v. State of New Jersey. Read the brief here: lnkd.in/eDxFKy_G
Truly integrated schools require solutions that address segregation between districts AND within them. Our new community guide for advocating for integrated schools outlines proven solutions + how to advocate for them effectively. Check out the resource at brownspromise.org/communityguide
How about “Imagine the scores though if we had schools that were truly integrated and well-resourced” instead? Contrary to what Rep. Kristin Noble seems to believe, segregation is actually bad for the students of New Hampshire and bad for democracy. granitepostnews.com/2026/01/14/l...
Leaked Signal chat shows NH House education chair advocating whites-only schools
The group chat allegedly shows NH House Education Committee Chair Kristin Noble suggesting test scores would rise if students were split into white and
granitepostnews.com
Good news for integration! Mayor Mamdani has appointed Kamar Samuels, a champion of school integration, as the next NYCPS Chancellor. It's encouraging to see electeds take action on campaign promises to prioritize desegregating schools. Check out this piece: www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2026...
Kamar Samuels cites integration and culturally responsive teaching in letter to staff
NYC schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels said every student deserves an integrated school in his opening letter to Education Department staff.
chalkbeat.org
“Sometimes we can’t find the fire, and the smoke is enough.” @GeDa Jones Herbert speaks to @the74.bsky.social about the core issue of the Justice Department’s elimination of disparate impact liability. Read the full article here: www.the74million.org/article/just...
Justice Dept. Action Leaves Feds Without Key Tool to Prove Bias in Schools
It doesn’t ‘serve the public interest,’ Attorney General Pam Bondi said about a policy that had long been a source of conservative frustration.
the74million.org
🎉We are officially headed to Austin for SXSW EDU 2026! We couldn’t be more excited to host such a timely and important conversation on how to successfully integrate schools when the topic of diversity is taboo — even perceived as illegal under this administration.
Classrooms are the little-recognized front line in the battle to preserve democracy. Our ED, @aryamerikaner.bsky.social, argues that if we are to reverse our trajectory, diversifying schools is more important than ever. Read the piece in Democracy Docket: www.democracydocket.com/opinion/to-s...
To Save Democracy, Integrate Our Schools
Read more here.
democracydocket.com
Washington's voucher plan is draining state budgets, especially in places that have already said no to the privatization of their education system. This is federal overreach, and it is threatening kids' right to an equitable, well-funded public education.
We are excited to have our Chief Legal Counsel, GeDá Jones Herbert, joining the Congressional Black Caucus' 2025 Annual Legislative Conference!
🧵 Poverty doesn’t have to doom kids to fail. A University of Maryland study of MD schools illustrates this 👇
🧵 Misconception: Family wealth is the primary driver of opportunity gaps. Reality: Concentrated school poverty matters MORE than individual poverty.
🧵 Calling all education leaders and advocates! Join us, along with our friends at @tcfdotorg.bsky.social, for a webinar introducing our new resource, “When Enrollment Drops: A Magnet School Strategy for Districts Committed to Excellence, Equity, and Diversity”.
As this country grows more diverse, we can’t afford to allow progress to be rolled back, especially not in education! Southern Education Foundation president Raymond Pierce will join us in Austin at SXSW EDU to talk about ways to address school segregation — but we need your help to get there! 👇
"Students see what adults ignore." On our listening tour through Massachusetts, we sat down with Pa'Lante students over ice cream and listened to their concerns about their school experience. What they called out 👇
Districts are facing declining enrollment & tighter budgets—but there are proactive solutions. A new resource from @brownspromise.bsky.social & @tcfdotorg.bsky.social explores how magnet schools can be a powerful strategy that advances integration & equity. 📉Read more: tinyurl.com/WhenEnrollme...
School diversity is: ✅Important for all children; ✅A stepping stone to a healthier democracy; ✅A research-based approach to closing gaps in educational opportunity and achievement participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx...
We are bringing a timely conversation on integrating schools amidst significant racial equity regressions to SXSW EDU, but we need your help! participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx...
