The METCO Program

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The METCO Program
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What is METCO?

• METCO is a voluntary, state funded program
  designed to expand educational opportunities,
  increase cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity,
  and reduce racial isolation in participating
  urban and suburban communities by busing urban
  students to 33 suburban communities outside the
  Boston area.

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• Another purpose of the METCO program is to
  facilitate partnership between urban and
  suburban families, educators, and other stake
  holders in the sending and receiving communities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• How long has METCO been in existence?
•   METCO has been in existence since 1966.
• How is METCO funded?
• The program is funded by a grant from the
  Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Funding must be
  approved annually by the legislature.  There is
  no guarantee of annual funding.
• Is there a residency requirement for METCO
  students?
• METCO students must reside in the Greater Boston
  or metropolitan ?area (Allston, Brighton,
  Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park,
  Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale, Roxbury,
  South Boston and West Roxbury).

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• How many METCO students are there in the
  districts?
• Each district has determined a maximum seat
  allocation number.  METCO students may be
  admitted at this maximum number, but METCO
  enrollment may also be decreased at the
  discretion of the districts to compensate for
  increases in resident student enrollment. The
  maximum METCO enrollment in Sharon is 67
  students.
• Are resident students denied space due to the
  placement of a METCO student?
• No.  Placement of METCO students is based on
  available seating in each school.

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• Isnt METCO for students of low-income families?
• Family income is not a determining factor in
  applying for or participation in the METCO
  Program.  METCO families encompass a broad range
  of income levels.

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• How many students are there in METCO?
• At any given time, there are approximately 3,300
  students participating in district METCO
  programs.
• Is there a waiting list for METCO?
• Yes.  The number of students varies, but as of
  April 2004, the METCO waiting list was at 16,500
  students.

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• In which grades are METCO students placed?
• METCO generally places students in grades K-12
  however, decisions regarding grade level
  acceptance and placement are generally left to
  the discretion of the districts, and can vary
  annually based on various factors including, but
  not limited to, individual class enrollment
  sizes. Sharon has students in grades K-12.

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• Is there a support system in place for METCO
  students in the receiving districts?
• Yes. METCO districts usually employ a
  Director/Coordinator to act as a liaison for the
  district. There may also be other support staff
  including bus monitors, academic aides/tutors,
  and social workers.

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Sharon METCO

• Sharons participation began in 1967.
• Presently, 67 students are enrolled in Sharon in
  grades K-12.
• Students are referred to the community from a
  central database in Boston on a first come, first
  served based.
• Sharon prefers to accept students in the lower
  grades, if space is available.

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Additional Information

• Afrika Afeni Mills
• METCO Director
• a_mills_at_sharon.k12.ma.us
• 781-784-1554, ext. 8046
• Office located in the Sharon High School Library
• www.doe.mass.edu/METCO