Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 71, § 37C (2026)

Promotion of racial balance

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 37C. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the commonwealth to encourage all school committees to adopt as educational objectives the promotion of racial balance and the correction of existing racial imbalance in the public schools. The prevention or elimination of racial imbalance shall be an objective in all decisions involving the drawing or altering of school attendance lines, establishing of grade levels, and the selection of new school sites.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 10 cases, 1972–2003 · leading case: Morgan v. Hennigan, 379 F. Supp. 410 (D. Mass. 1974).

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Morgan v. Hennigan, 379 F. Supp. 410 (D. Mass. 1974). · cites it 6× “G. L. c. 71, §§ 37C and 37D, and they allege that they have been found to be in compliance with that Act.”

Comfort Ex Rel. Neumyer v. Lynn Sch. Comm., 283 F. Supp. 2d 328 (D. Mass. 2003). · cites it 4× “(codified at Mass. Gen. Laws c. 71 §§ 37C, 37D, and c.”

Sch. Comm. of Springfield v. Bd. of Educ., 287 N.E.2d 438 (Mass. 1972). · cites it 3× “By virtue of the racial imbalance law, it is the policy of this State “to encourage all school committees to adopt as educational objectives the promotion of racial balance and the correction of existing racial imbalance in the public schools.”

Sch. Comm. of Springfield v. Bd. of Educ., 319 N.E.2d 427 (Mass. 1974). · cites it 2× “" G.L.c. 71, § 37C. In broad outline, the statute required local school committees to adopt plans for the elimination of any racial imbalance existing in their schools.”

Boston's Child. First v. Boston Sch. Comm., 260 F. Supp. 2d 318 (D. Mass. 2003). “§ 2000c, Massachusetts adopted the Racial Imbalance Law (RIL), M.G.L. c. 71, § 37C et seq. See also M.G.”

Morgan v. Kerrigan, 401 F. Supp. 216 (D. Mass. 1975). “G.L. c. 71, §§ 37C and 37D, and c. 15, §§ II, 1J and IK.”

Sch. Comm. of Boston v. Bd. of Educ., 292 N.E.2d 338 (Mass. 1973). “There is, however, no reason to conclude that this mechanism was intended to be the exclusive means of encouraging the achievement of racial balance in the public schools, and implementing the basic policy expressed in G. L. c. 71, § 37C. Chapter 71, § 37D, requires that…”

Sch. Comm. of Springfield v. Bd. of Educ., 311 N.E.2d 69 (Mass. 1974). “With this end in view (see G. L. c. 71, § 37C), we remand the counterclaim to the Superior Court with directions that, after hearing the parties, the court establish a schedule for the submission of specific recommendations by the board, for the filing of a short-term program by…”

Comfort Ex Rel. Neumyer v. Lynn Sch. Comm., 263 F. Supp. 2d 209 (D. Mass. 2003). · cites it 4× “641, § 1 (codified with amendments at Mass. Gen. Laws c. 71 § 37C). Toward this end, the RIA encour ages — but does not require — all schools to devise “plans” to promote racial balance.”

O'Dea v. Massachusetts Bd. of Educ., 393 F. Supp. 202 (D. Mass. 1975). “They seek a declaration of unconstitutionality of the Racial Imbalance Law, Mass.Gen.Laws ch. 71, §§ 37C, 37D, 371, 37J; ch.”

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