Education is one of the high priorities of the LWVB. Positions that were first approved over 40 years ago were reevaluated in 2012 and 2013. Many have become an integral part of the Brookline (and Massachusetts) Public School Systems, such as:
The School Committee should have an up-to-date written policy manual to include an overall educational philosophy for the Town.
Current positions reflect current policies and issues:
a. Equalization of educational opportunities in Brookline.
b. Concept of voluntary cooperation among educational systems within the Boston Metropolitan areas and the Brookline School Committee and administration in its efforts to join in planning for metropolitan cooperation.
a. The equalization of educational opportunity position of the LWVB mirrors the position of the LWVUS supporting "Equality of Opportunity... in Education, Employment and Housing". With eight individual K-8 schools in the Public School System of Brookline, compliance with this position requires regular monitoring of facilities, student-teacher ratios, administration/teacher/staff diversity and curriculum.
b. This position was first adopted in 1973 and reflects the variety of challenges that have been faced by large metropolitan school districts and the responsibilities of nearby relatively small school districts. For example, from the position of LWVMA: "The League supported METCO, a voluntary busing program (legislated in 1966) to alleviate the problems of unequal opportunity and racial segregation. Local League members serve on METCO advisory boards and in host family programs. During the spring and summer of 1974, the League worked for the peaceful implementation of desegregation in the Boston public schools. Members joined the Boston Vigil for Peace and Education and served as monitors in schools and on buses. The League was an organizing member of the Massachusetts Coalition for Civil Rights." The Public Schools of Brookline were one of the original school districts to join the METCO program and, in 2014-2015, had the second highest number of METCO students in the state. In 1969, in coordination with the Boston Public Schools, the Brookline Public Schools were one of eight surrounding school districts that founded the EDCO Collaborative, "...focusing on the power of inter-district and inter-agency collaboration to meet the needs of underserved and at risk students and adults." It now has 18 member districts and emphasizes student programs and educator training.