The METCO Program

Much of the available material on METCO is anecdotal in nature.    Here is the only example of a rigorous quantitative analysis of METCO effectiveness we have found.

Here are a couple of links:

METCO program home: http://www.metcoinc.org/

DOE METCO site: http://www.doe.mass.edu/metco/

Copy of METCO annual report as filed with the Secretary of State.

The Following is from the Lexington Public Schools' web site:

METCO Program

The Metropolitan Council for Education Opportunity (METCO) Program is a voluntary urban/ suburban educational desegregation program. It provides opportunities for urban students of color to attend school in suburban public school systems. It also provides suburban students and staff opportunities to interact with many minority students and to benefit from a culturally diverse learning environment. METCO provides additional resources to the schools and to our students throughout the year in order to facilitate learning and cultural experiences for everyone in the school system.

The METCO Program is funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under the Racial Imbalance Act. Annually, each METCO community receives money from the State which pays for METCO staff, transportation of, and special education services for, our Boston resident students. METCO funding also pays a portion of the salaries for class- room teachers in Lexington. The Program budget has enabled us to afford multicultural programs for our schools, workshops and seminars for students and parents, and professional development opportunities for school staff.

METCO exists in 37 suburban communities across the State. Lexington was one of the first communities to enter into the METCO urban/ suburban partnership when it first began in 1966. Lexington is the third largest METCO community, enrolling 288 students in the school system. Boston resident students are usually placed into our METCO Program at the elementary school level. Occasionally, placements are made at the middle school level when space exists. Our students are members of their school community at all schools in Lexington.

The METCO Family Friends Program is another supportive aspect of the METCO partnership wherein Lexington families volunteer to become "partners " with Boston families. . When a child enters one of our schools via the METCO Program, she/ he is paired with a volunteer Lexington family ( preferably a family with a child in the same classroom or grade level as the Boston child) . The Family Friends Program provides opportunities for Lexington and Boston children and their parents to broaden relationships through the sharing of family, cultural and social experiences in their respective communities. At the elementary level Family Friend students participate in METCO Friends Visiting Days which are scheduled in advance on specified Thursday afternoons. Overnight visitations may occur (individually arranged, if desired) both in Lexington and in Boston. Open and regular communication between families in Lexington and Boston is encouraged throughout the year to help nurture the mutual development of relationships.

The METCO Program is committed to educational excellence for all children. METCO provides support services to students, staff and parents around educational, cultural and social issues. In addition, the program strives to provide opportunities for Lexington and Boston families (as well as staff) to learn together, to break down stereotypes, and to open lines of communication.

If you have any questions about the METCO Program, please feel free to call the building Principal or the Lexington METCO Director.

Director: Ms. Cheryl Prescott-Walden 861-2320, ext. 1450
Asst. Director: Mrs. Margaret Credle-Thomas 861-2320, ext. 1455

So how much does the METCO program cost Lexington?  This question is not easily answered, as the program is not run as a distinct entity with its own budget, but as part of the school system.  Two analyses were done in 2004 to try to answer this question.  One by the school system, and one by Lexington resident Mark Andersen.  The school system analysis, below, calculated approximately $1.8M.  Mark calculated approximately $2.8M.  Mark's analysis can be found here.  Adjusting for inflation, which has been higher for school systems than the general rate of inflation, would bring us to roughly $2M to $3M.  That's the best guess we have right now.

The following is an estimate of the town's METCO spending prepared by the school department in 2004.  It is now out of date, but has not been updated.  The staff member who prepared this report has since left the school department.  For the time being, it can be found at http://lps.lexingtonma.org/Budget/metco.html.