June 4, 2018
- In response to an investigation by the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”), Boston Public Schools (“BPS”) has agreed to recognize sickle cell disease (“SCD”) as a disability that interferes with a student’s education, and to implement policy changes to ensure that students with SCD receive the quality education they have long been denied due to health problems.
- This agreement resolves a complaint CLE and the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute filed with OCR on behalf of a group of BPS parents and students over three years ago. The complaint stated that students with SCD — nearly all of whom are African American or Hispanic — were penalized when manifestations of their illness, including physical pain, difficulty concentrating, and absence, interfered with their ability to participate fully in class.
- “This agreement sends the clear message that students and their families are not to blame for sickle cell disease-related absences, and that public schools must provide these children with supportive services and accommodations necessary to attain the educational benefits provided to other students” said Kathleen B. Boundy, co-director of CLE. All qualified BPS students with SCD will have a 504 plan, which requires a comprehensive evaluation of the ways a student’s disability interferes with learning, and identifies supportive services and accommodations to address the student’s needs.
