Press

On May 7, 2026, the Massachusetts Senate passed An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment (PROTECT Act) to safeguard all residents, especially the state’s immigrant families, from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers operating with unchecked authority as they implement the White House’s immigration agenda. The Senate version of this critical legislation incorporates many priorities the AFT Massachusetts advocated for, including a ban on ICE agents from entering schools and childcare facilities. 

“No one should be afraid to drop their child off at school or go to the hospital for care or get essentials at the grocery store because they’re worried about being targeted simply by the color of their skin,” said AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “We remain committed to working with the legislature, the Healey Administration, and critical allies to build upon today’s steps and ensure we’re doing everything we can at the state and local level to protect our students and ensure our schools remain safe spaces for them to learn and grow.” 

For more than thirty years, schools, hospitals, and places of worship were considered “sensitive locations” – places protected from immigration enforcement. Under the Trump Administration, those places have been stripped of these protections, allowing ICE agents to target residents and families at their most vulnerable. 

Just like working families, our schools are facing a dire affordability crisis and many of our communities are at a fiscal breaking point. The needs of our students are increasingly unmet as costs are skyrocketing and federal funding is being haphazardly slashed. Schools are having to reduce services, increase classroom sizes, cut critical positions, and make other difficult decisions that undermine long-term educational outcomes.

The bill passed by the Senate today provides some much-needed, immediate relief through increases to the special education circuit breaker, rural school aid, school-based mental health services, and millions of dollars to fund local one-time education projects—many of which cover basic necessities like new lunch tables and adaptive technologies students with special needs rely on. 

Hundreds of delegates representing nearly two dozen locals of the AFT Massachusetts came together this past weekend for the statewide federation’s annual convention, re-electing proven leaders and approving a strong foundation of priorities to lead the organization through the year and into 2027.

The AFT Massachusetts represents over 25,000 educators, support staff, librarians, and nurses working in public schools, libraries, health offices, and universities across the Commonwealth. Delegates at this year’s convention unanimously re-elected Jessica Tang to serve as President, a position she has held since being elected in 2024.

“I am deeply grateful to be a part of our union family and honored to have the opportunity to continue to serve as AFT Massachusetts President,” said Tang. “Thank you to all of our amazing unionists, staff and community for coming together as we celebrated our wins and planned for the challenges to come. In the labor movement, we must remember that every successful campaign is greater than one person—our power is in our solidarity and collective action. Over the next two years, I look forward to building upon our strength and safeguarding our students, schools, and communities from these dangerous assaults on public education and working families.”

AFT Massachusetts, which represents educators and staff in Gateway Cities across the Commonwealth, is leading the effort to support immigrant students and their families through critical investments and protections.

The House Ways and Means Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 released today includes a reserve fund to support districts facing unexpected disruptions in enrollment of non-native English speaking students, which the AFT Massachusetts leaders and members have been advocating on behalf of for months.

“Too many of our immigrant families continue to be gripped by fear. Children worry that when they walk out the door, their family might not be there when they return. Many have resorted to sheltering in place—afraid that just going to school puts their family at risk. For parents, every day they send their child to school is a day they may have just put their own livelihoods and lives at risk,” said AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “These students haven’t disappeared or left and we must do everything in our power to protect our immigrant families and ensure their schools have the tools and resources they need to support them.”

“Over the last four years, Dr. Tutwiler has led the Executive Office of Education with infectious joy and energy, underscoring what we can accomplish when we have leaders focused on ensuring each student, each school, and each educator has the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. We deeply appreciate both his commitment to our public schools as well as collaborative and inclusive approach to leadership.

“Like Dr. Tutwiler, Dr. Stephen Zrike has spent decades working in public schools across the Commonwealth. We appreciate that Governor Healey is focused on filling this important position with leaders who have worked in our public schools and have a deep understanding of the public education system in Massachusetts.

“AFT Massachusetts educators and staff worked alongside Dr. Zrike during his years as a principal in the Boston Public Schools and then in Salem, where he has served as superintendent for nearly six years. Dr. Zrike has earned a strong reputation as a professional educator of the highest caliber who stays laser focused on the needs of students and families, while also respecting dedicated educators in the classroom."

“As educators, we fully support evidence-based literacy curriculum. We also know that it will take more than just curriculum for our students to fully thrive as they progress from learning to read to reading to learn.

“Teaching students to read is one of the most important things we do. Literacy skills are foundational skills - ones that are crucial to supporting student development and long-term success.  It is important that our school districts also have the support, resources, and staffing they need to successfully implement curriculum and instruction. 

“The needs of our students vary from district to district, from school to school, even from desk to desk. Strong literacy instruction is responsive to the unique learning needs of individual students, which can be complex. The bill the Senate passed today underscores components of high quality curriculum while allowing educators to use the tools currently being utilized in the classroom that are proven to be impactful, particularly with our English language learners and students with special needs.

AFT Massachusetts joined Governor Maura Healey today as she unveiled an Executive Order to protect Massachusetts residents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who continue to operate with unchecked authority fulfilling the immigration agenda of the White House.

“Masked ICE agents have been raiding communities across the Commonwealth for months, ignoring the Constitution and our basic human rights. Immigrant families are gripped by fear,” said American Federation of Teachers President Jessica Tang. “Children cannot learn if they don't feel safe. These threats take an emotional, psychological, and physical toll on our children and their families.”

“Educators are going above and beyond to try to reassure students and families that schools and their surroundings are the safe spaces they are supposed to be,” continued Tang, who was present at today’s announcement. “But that message rings hollow when parents are detained on the way to dropping their child off at school or when students who are here legally are detained and sent out of state. Children fear when they walk out the door, their family might not be there when they return.”

“Rising costs coupled with drastic cuts to services have made the state’s already high cost of living untenable for most working families across the state. We are living in an economy that does not work for working families.

“The cost for many local school districts to ensure every child has a free and equal public education outpaces state investment. Districts are now teetering at the edge of a fiscal cliff.

“We know this is just the first step in the budget process and see hopeful signs in this budget to address the significant fiscal challenges our communities are facing. But we also know that this must be the baseline to build on because failing to safeguard our communities now allows temporary cuts to become permanent damage, which would be catastrophic for some of our largest, poorest, and neediest communities.

“If Massachusetts wants to remain first in the nation for education and is truly dedicated to protecting our students and the knowledge-based economy our state relies on, we must see a larger level of investment, one that takes into account the true fiscal realities our districts, public libraries, and universities are facing.” 

“We appreciate Governor Healey’s continued commitment to supporting the students, schools, and educators of the Commonwealth - especially as communities across the state attempt to navigate these times of great uncertainty.

“The Healey-Driscoll Administration has prioritized investing in the futures of the next generation from day one - from creating new pathways to apprenticeships to expanding access to early college in over 50 districts across the Commonwealth.

“They’ve stepped up to ease some of the devastating cuts to federal support our schools are grappling with, including making sure that our neediest students have access to healthy meals and providing the funding to ensure the doors at our local Head Start centers can remain open. Their commitment to education extends to our world-class universities and colleges through their push to support not only increasing access to a degree, but through strong investment in the vital research and development programs and infrastructure at our institutions of higher education."

“Exiting receivership, planning for a sustainable transition, and improving working conditions for staff are steps in the right direction to ensure these students have the school and educators they deserve. Allowing more local input and collaboration is a step in the right direction to ensure the voices of parents and the community are heard as well. 

“Nearly two years ago, educators at UP Academy Holland requested the ability to collaborate with the state as it looked to begin the transition process to exit receivership. This resulted in an active transition process that included educator, parent, and administration voices. 

“We congratulate the entire school community, as well as the Dearborn Academy, on its achievements and progress to date, and believe this is a model for how all of our districts and schools in receivership can return to local control. The educators and staff at both schools are dedicated to the success of their students, and we look forward to seeing their continued achievements.”