AFT President Jessica Tang joined legislative leaders, policymakers, students, and Governor Maura Healey for a ceremonial signing of new legislation designed to improve student literacy across Massachusetts and provide schools and educators with additional tools to support early reading success.

“Teaching children to read is one of the most important things we do as educators. Ensuring educators have the tools and resources they need to improve reading instruction will always be a priority for us,” said President Tang. “Having educators involved early and often as regulations—especially those around professional development—are crafted and implemented will ensure these new guidelines and support are provided in an equitable, realistic, and timely manner.” 

“The AFT Massachusetts fully supports evidence-based literacy curriculum and will continue to work with our partners in the State House to realize the full potential of our students,” continued Tang.  

Haitian residents, like so many other immigrants in the United States, are an integral part of communities across Massachusetts and have been for decades. 

They live here. They’ve raised their families here. They’ve sent their kids to our public schools. They’ve given back to our neighborhoods in immeasurable ways. They’re vital members of our local economy, especially in our state’s numerous healthcare settings.

Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court to strip protections from our Haitian neighbors and others living here legally through a program that has been in place for nearly 40 years is devastating and inhumane.

Sending Haitians, Syrians, and others back to countries they fled because of violence is irresponsible and cruel. 

“We stand with our Haitian neighbors who make our Commonwealth stronger and brighter today and every day. We urge all elected leaders in power to use all available resources to protect the Haitian community, our immigrants, and all others impacted by this reckless and depraved ruling.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued a decision on June 18, 2026 barring the proposed income tax cut ballot initiative from appearing on the November ballot.

The ballot initiative would have cut the state’s income tax rate on long-term capital gains, but the constitutionally required summary of the initiative omitted this key element, and in fact erroneously stated that long-term capital gains taxes would not be impacted, hiding a massive tax break for the state’s richest taxpayers from petition signers and voters. The court ruled that “[b]ecause this summary materially misstates the true scope of the proposal, it is unfair” and that “allowing a new summary at this stage would…call into question the validity of the more than 85,000 signatures already gathered on forms bearing the unfair summary.“ 

“This reckless ballot question would have pushed many families and communities over the edge. Now, it’s time to shift the discussion to what would really support our working families and communities, including strategic investments to support our schools, increase workforce training opportunities, and lift up the things that make Massachusetts a place people want to live and work and raise their families. Our state and our communities need more resources and support right now, not less. Children need more educators in their classrooms and more students are needing greater services. Residents need more opportunities toward homeownership. Working families are having to choose between paying their health insurance bills or their energy bills," said Jessica Tang, President of AFT Massachusetts