BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A coalition of educators, parents, and union representatives from communities of color rallied outside the State House on Saturday.
As the state plans to reopen schools fully, people at this rally said this decision was made without their input.
The Baker administration has pushed for in-person learning for months now.
Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley was given authorization to fully reopen classrooms for students K-5 starting on April 5.
"Many school districts have been safely educating students in person since September, and we are thrilled that the remainder of all elementary students will be back in classrooms soon,” Riley said. “Bringing all our kids back to school is crucial for their educational progress and emotional and social well-being, and we will continue to work with districts to bring students back ahead of their waiver-approved return dates.”
While some in-person learning has been delayed across the state, many schools will have to return fully next week.
The Black Indigenous People of Color Parent Coalition organized the rally, because they believe this decision will impact them the most.
“We were all settling into the idea that the option of hybrid and remote would stay on the table for the remainder of the school year,” said Latoya Gayle, a Dorchester mother of three children. “But our governor and education commissioner unilaterally decided our kids were going back to school.”
The coalition hopes that this year’s MCAS exams is canceled for students.
“Our children are not ready,” Semexant said. “They have not received enough instruction to be ready.”
No Department of Education spokesperson has commented on the rally at this time.
WBZ NewsRadio's Suzanne Sausville (@WBZSausaville) reports:
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(Photo: Suzanne Sausville/WBZ NewsRadio)