SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - A sweeping new lawsuit says Massachusetts is running two separate and unequal school systems, and it’s asking a judge to force the state to change that.

More than a dozen plaintiffs, made up of students and community groups, filed the suit in state superior court last week.

They’re arguing that students of color in the public school system are often stuck in racially segregated districts with higher poverty rates and weaker outcomes.

The lawsuit says that this isn’t accidental and that district lines and school-assignment rules prioritize municipal boundaries in a way that locks in segregation and unequal access to neighboring higher-performing schools.

They claim that isn’t just an issue in a few districts. They’re citing statewide numbers to argue that the segregation is widespread.

The lawsuit says that more than 225,000 students, about one in four, attend segregated non-white schools and that nearly two-thirds of schools state-wide are considered racially segregated.

They also argue that most segregation is happening between the districts, not just within them, so students who live close to higher-performing districts often can’t cross those lines to attend different schools.

They’re asking the court to declare the system as unconstitutional, then require the state to stop the alleged violations through a detailed plan.

The submitted plan would need benchmarks, timelines, progress reporting, and court oversight.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education responded to the lawsuit, saying that it “believes that all students, no matter their income level, race/ethnicity, language, or disability, deserve schools where they are known, valued, and have the support they need to succeed.”

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