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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Governor Baker's Hate Crimes Task Force announced a new plan Monday in an effort to help reduce hate crimes in schools in the commonwealth.
The plan includes a School Resource Guide that outlines the best practices to assist schools in developing hate crime policies. The policies are meant to serve as models for schools and other educational institutions to use in order to create a more inclusive learning environment for the school community.
“This school resource guide is a valuable addition to the previous work of the Task Force," Baker said in a statement. "We look forward to working with them and our local school districts to further promote safe and welcoming learning environments for the Commonwealth’s students.”
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The guide was developed by a group of researchers from Northeastern University, American University, and the Anti-Defamation League of New England. During their research, the group interviewed and engaged with a large number of individuals including teachers, activists, school administrators, and police.
In addition to the guide, Governor Baker announced a grant program with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that will provide $400,000 to support the creation and application of anti-hate crime programming and policies. Districts can apply for up to $50,000 to help with their programs.
Former Governor Bill Weld created the Hate Crimes Task Force back in 1991 but it was revitalized by Governor Baker back in 2017. National hate crime data from the FBI in 2019 found that schools were the third most common location for hate crimes in the state, according to the statement.
WBZ's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) reports.
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