News

At the November 19, 2024 meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), city and education leaders from Lynn testified in opposition to KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School’s latest attempt to expand in the city – which would siphon off another $24 million each year from Lynn Public Schools (LPS). 

“If this expansion effort is allowed, it would cause irrevocable damage to Lynn’s public schools, which educate all children. At the end of the day, Lynn Public School students and KIPP students are both students of Lynn and should not be pitted against one another,” said President O’Neil, who has been a teacher in the Lynn Public Schools for 32 years. “Unfortunately, we’ve been put in a position where we have to combat false and divisive narratives from those supporting this effort at a time when we should all be focused on supporting our students and getting back to pre-pandemic learning levels.”

The economic development bill passed by the Massachusetts Legislature includes important steps to promote educator diversity throughout the Commonwealth, something the AFT Massachusetts has been working on for years. Many of these proposals stem from the Educator Diversity Act, important legislation championed by the AFT Massachusetts and other education and community advocates since it was first introduced in 2021. 

“Research has shown time and time again that all students benefit from a diverse educator workforce – one that accurately reflects the wonderful diversity of our communities. We’ve spent years advocating for ways to increase diversity among our educators and we look forward to seeing our students benefit from the provisions included in this bill,” said AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “Today, the Legislature made an important commitment to increasing the number of diverse teachers in every district of the Commonwealth while also providing the workplace conditions to ensure their success, job satisfaction, and retention.”

“Last night’s vote (Tuesday, November 12, 2024) is a critical step forward to correct two injustices millions of retired public sector workers across the country currently face, including public school retirees throughout the Commonwealth.

“Both of these provisions disproportionately impact low-income retirees - including tens of thousands in Massachusetts alone. It's set up so public school teachers and paraprofessionals end up being penalized for working a second or third job in the private sector, which many have to do to get by.  

"Not only do these penalties hurt the economic security of those who have dedicated their lives to serving their communities,  but they disenfranchise many from becoming educators as a second career –  at a time when we’re facing a national teacher shortage."

“The AFT Massachusetts stands in solidarity with the teachers of Beverly, Gloucester and Marblehead in achieving fair contracts and calls on school administrators to immediately negotiate contracts that are good for students and fair to the teachers and paraprofessionals serving these schools.

"The families in these communities have a right to expect the education and learning needs of their children will be addressed in the public schools. The committed educators in Beverly, Gloucester and Marblehead are fighting for their students by demanding progress at the bargaining table on essential classroom issues." 

“Voters in Massachusetts gave students across the Commonwealth a brighter and stronger future. Massachusetts residents know that true learning is about much more than can be measured by a single standardized test and have now given teachers the ability to create safer and stronger learning environments where setting and meeting high standards is embedded in every aspect of a school’s curriculum.

“This is an important step toward addressing the systemic opportunity gaps that are exacerbated by decades of over reliance on a one-size-fits-all standardized test.”

“It is hard to think of a stronger advocate for educators, public schools, and the lives of students across the Commonwealth than Senator Warren.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Senator on her agenda for public education, racial and social justice, and in building an economy that works for all by making it easier for people to join a union and by tackling our nation’s crippling student debt crisis.

“Senator Warren has stood with us every step of the way in our ongoing efforts to strengthen public education for all, particularly for the students and communities with the greatest needs. We are excited to see what she will accomplish over her next term.”

“It’s concerning that the state continues to use an accountability system that is obviously not working - one that is punitive toward the students with the highest levels of need, one that only exacerbates the achievement gaps we’re seeing between students in our cities and their peers in wealthier suburbs.

Unfortunately, under the current punitive and narrow test-based system, the schools that are in the most need of resources and are teaching the students with the highest levels of need stand to lose the most in the wake of these test results. Instead of using these scores to highlight what schools need, they are used to allow unproven top-down interventions and privately-run charter schools that strip away additional funding at a time when school budgets are already facing cuts.”  

AFT Massachusetts members are taking action to get out the vote for Kamala Harris for President in battleground states and in support of Yes on Ballot Question 2 in Massachusetts.

This November’s election will be critical to preserving our hard fought rights and victories, like ensuring all workers benefit from the strong labor protections we’ve won over the past century, and giving people in every industry a voice on the job through the ability to join a union.  

A YES vote on Question 2, would end the misuse of the MCAS test as a graduation requirement. Students would still take the MCAS and the test would be used as an assessment tool, but passage would no longer be a requirement to receive a high school diploma. This change would align Massachusetts with 42 other states that don’t require a standardized test for graduation.

Join our virtual Town Hall to hear more about AFT MA & BTU's electoral priorities for 2024, rally around our endorsed candidates & ballot questions, and learn about how to get involved to elect Kamala Harris and candidates/issues down the ballot who will champion labor rights!

On Monday, August 26th at 5pm, we'll gather on Zoom to hear from AFT MA President Jessica Tang, BTU President Erik Berg, and more. Sign up to receive an email with a Zoom link closer to the day of.

Massachusetts is one of only eight states that require students to pass a high school graduation test in order to receive a diploma. As a result, educators are forced to narrow our curriculum to the passing of a single test, and hundreds of students each year are denied a diploma despite meeting all other academic requirements. But a ballot initiative on this November’s statewide ballot could change that.

“Passing Question 2 will allow educators to spend less time teaching to the test, and instead focus on teaching real-world skills including hands-on learning, creativity, critical thinking and working well in a group, which are essential to success in college and the workforce,” said AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “That’s important for all students, and especially for students of color, low-income students, students with disabilities and students for whom English is their second language, who are especially harmed by the MCAS graduation requirement. Too often, our highest-need students miss out on deeper, more meaningful learning because they’re forced to spend extra hours on repetitive test prep. Question 2 will allow educators to prioritize students’ unique learning needs to ensure they meet state standards, rather than denying them diplomas at a critical juncture in their life.”