In view of controversial reaction to reports of school desegregation in Massachusetts, this paper compiles several documents regarding the overall educational needs of linguistic minority students in Massachusetts. They include the following: (1) Report on Linguistic Minorities and Transitional Bilingual Education (April 1986) by acting commissioner Rhoda E. Schneider, which was approved by the state board of education; (2) an essay, "Educational Equity for Linguistic Minority Students: A Comprehensive Approach to Our Leading Civil Rights Challenge" (April 1986), prepared by Charles L. Glenn, Director of equal educational opportunity for the bureau's annual desegregation report; (3) an essay, "Bilingual Education: An Equity Perspective," by Charles Glenn, for the National Council on Bilingual Education (November 1985); and (4) an article, "Two-Way Bilingual Education," by Charles Glenn, written for "The Commonwealth" (April 1985). Topics covered include demography, responses to immigration, "new" linguistic minority students, indications of failure (e.g., basic skills assessment, the Boston Monitoring Report), and elements of a comprehensive program. The documents were compiled in hopes that Chapter 636 funds could be granted in 1986-87 to projects that help meet the educational needs and reduce the isolation of linguistic minority students. (LB)