Black students in Melrose have no teachers who look like them. This is harmful for our Black students, because research shows that when Black students have Black teachers they are more likely to thrive academically, graduate from high school, and aspire to college, and less likely to miss school and be suspended.

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Melrose has a history of suspending Black students at higher rates than white students. In fact, Melrose has one of the highest rates of racial disparity in school discipline compared with 12 neighboring communities. Melrose continues to suspend students for nonviolent offenses against the advice of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MA DESE).