Victory for Students: Lynn Reverses Age-Based Exclusion Policy

We are pleased to share an important update in the fight for educational equity.

Earlier this year, the Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts (CLCM) and partner organizations urged Lynn Public Schools to repeal a May 2024 policy that excluded youth as young as 17 from enrolling in school. This policy appeared to disproportionately harm newcomer and immigrant students, including several of our clients.

In response, the Lynn School Committee has voted to adopt a revised version that honors students’ right to attend school until age 22, ensuring that Lynn’s public schools are open to the young people who need them most, including newcomer and immigrant youth who may have had their education interrupted.

“We are thrilled that the Lynn School Committee has revised its policy to recognize that students have the right to enroll in school up until their 22nd birthdays. Our clients who were once excluded are now in school where they belong.”

— Lauren Russell, Co-Director of Strategic Advocacy
Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts

We are grateful to our partners — Center for Law and Education, Citizens for Juvenile Justice, the EdLaw Project, and Massachusetts Advocates for Children — for standing with us. Many students lost valuable school time before this change, and we remain committed to ensuring all young people in Massachusetts can access the education they are entitled to —no matter their age, background, or point of entry into our school system.