vocational education

Admissions policies for the state’s vocational high schools create disparities in access for students of color, low-income students, students with disabilities and English-language learners, a collection of community, union, and civil rights groups allege.

A group charging discrimination within the state’s regional vocational school admissions process, which uses a ranking system to admit student bodies that are mostly white, English-language speakers, is calling on Gov. Charlie Baker, Education Commissioner Jeff Riley and the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to implement a lottery system instead.