Hi Friends,
Over the past week, Boston has been shaken by the sudden announcement of school closures and mergers across multiple BPS communities. These proposals rolled out without genuine collaboration or respect for student and family voices targeting schools that serve our highest need populations: Black and Latino students, students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and young people who already navigate the deepest inequities in our district.
At BEJA, we refuse to let these communities stand alone.
We are launching our #SaveOurSchools Campaign, rooted in solidarity with ACC, CASH, Henderson, and every school community impacted by these harmful proposals. This Community Update includes all the ways to plug in, take action, and help us build a community-led strategy to protect our students, our families, and the future of public education in Boston.
Upcoming Actions & Community Meetings
Sunday, November 30, 5:00 PM (on Zoom) - Anti-Closure Community Strategy Meeting
Join in solidarity with members of CASH, ACC, and the Henderson School community as we:
Draft collective community demands
Build a community-led organizing strategy
Prepare coordinated actions to push back on closures
This is a space led by community for community.
Zoom link: Here
Wednesday, December 3, 5:00 PM - Save Our Schools Rally (Nubian Square)
Immediately following the rally, we will move together to:
Wednesday, December 3, 6:00 PM - Boston School Committee Meeting (Bolling Building, 2300 Washington St, Roxbury, MA 02119
We are showing up in force to ensure our voices are heard.
Want to testify?
Sign up: (Here) or email be...@bostoneja.org for direct support.
We can assist with:
Testimony writing
Speaking preparation
Language access support
BPS-Led Community Forums on School Closures & Mergers
While BEJA is not facilitating these meetings, we strongly believe it is important for families, students, and educators to show up and hold BPS accountable.
ACC Community Meetings
CASH Community Meetings
- Thursday 12/4 5:00PM (Zoom)
- Thursday 12/11 5:30PM (In-Person @CASH)
Lee Academy Community Meetings
(BEJA can provide support with prep, translation, and coordinated messaging for any community attending.)
What We’re Hearing From the Community
Students, parents, and educators across the city are asking:
What will happen to students with IEPs?
Why are high needs schools being targeted (again)?
How will closures impact transportation, safety, and student stability?
Where is transparency in the decision-making process?
These questions deserve real answers, and BEJA is committed to uplifting them in every space.
How You Can Take Action
Attend the Sunday strategy meeting
Mobilize for Wednesday’s rally
Testify at the School Committee
Share BEJA’s organizing tools with your school community
Contact us at be...@bostoneja.org
We have resources ready: bullhorns, outreach materials, testimony templates, communications support, and on-the-ground organizing capacity.
We must continue to fight for the voices of students and parents to be heard.
BEJA will continue to stand with every school community affected and we will keep organizing until Boston becomes a national example of what happens when communities fight together.
In solidarity and action,
Keo McClay
Executive Director, Boston Education Justice Alliance (BEJA)
