Civil rights protections in education and schools

Learn about civil rights protections in education and schools

State and federal laws protect the rights of people in Massachusetts to attend schools without being the victim of violence, threats, intimidation, or harassment. The Attorney General’s Office works with schools in Massachusetts to foster a safe educational environment.

The Massachusetts School Attendance Law provides that "no person shall be excluded from or discriminated against in admission to a public school of any town, or in obtaining the advantages, privileges and courses of study of such public school on account of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, gender identity or sexual orientation."

File a civil rights complaint

Victims of discrimination in education or schools can file a civil rights complaint with the Attorney General’s Office.