Press

AFT Massachusetts Holds ‘Protect Our Kids’ Day of Action to Fight Trump and Musk’s Cuts to America’s Public Schools (March 3, 2025)

The American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts will join thousands of other educators, students, and activists across the state and country to fight back against Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s cruel cuts to public schools as part of a national day of action tomorrow, Tuesday, March 4. 

Nationwide, the AFT’s “Protect our Kids” Day of Action seeks to raise awareness about the Trump Administration’s plans to dismantle the Department of Education and slash federal

AFT Massachusetts Stands with Senator Markey’s Calls to Safeguard Federal Education Funding (February 27, 2025)

American Federation of Teachers President Jessica Tang released the following statement in response to the No Cuts to Public Schools Act, legislation filed by Massachusetts Senator Edward J. Markey that would safeguard funds for public schools during the length of the Trump Administration, specifically those that allow public schools to serve low-income students, English learners, students with disabilities, homeless students, and students attending rural schools:

“Public schools are

AFT Massachusetts Stands with Healey Administration and Attorney General Campbell in Commitment to Providing an Equal and Inclusive Public Education for All Students (February 27, 2025)

American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President Jessica Tang released the following statement in response to the announcement that Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell have released updated guidance to support Massachusetts’ public schools in their work to further equal access and representation in education in response to recent Executive Orders by President Trump and a U.S

Diverse Coalition Urges Gov. Healey, Lawmakers to Address Public School Funding Crisis (February 24, 2025)

LINK TO COALITION LETTER/ASSETS

United for Our Future – a broad coalition of education organizations, educators’ unions, parent-teacher associations, advocacy groups, and civil rights leaders – has come together to call for immediate and decisive action from Governor Maura Healey and the Legislature to address the pressing funding crisis in Massachusetts public schools.

“Massachusetts is facing a ‘perfect storm’ of factors that make it nearly impossible to balance budgets without reductions

Lynn Leaders and Educators Urge State Education Board to Follow the Law  (February 24, 2025)

KIPP Academy Lynn’s expansion proposal would circumvent long-standing regulations

In advance of tomorrow’s meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education(BESE), Lynn elected officials, teachers, and education leaders are urging BESE members to reject the expansion proposal from KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School, which does not meet the standards required by state law to even be considered.

From the very beginning, Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson, Lynn Public Schools Superintendent Evonne Alvarez, Ed

Lynn Leaders and Educators Urge State Board to Vote Down Charter School Expansion (February 19, 2025)

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Circumventing Laws Governing Expansion to Push KIPP Academy Lynn Proposal Forward 

The next meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) will include a vote on a controversial request to expand from KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School. 

Below is a joint statement from Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson, Lynn Public Schools Superintendent Evonne S. Alvarez, Ed.D., and Lynn Teachers Union President Sheila O’Neil in response to learning the

Teachers Advocate for Stronger, More Equitable Retirement for Some of the Commonwealth’s Longest-Serving Educators (February 18, 2025)

Urge legislators to support bills to address flawed roll-out of teacher retirement plan

Teachers from public school districts across Massachusetts hosted an advocacy day on Beacon Hill in support of two pieces of legislation that seek to give some of the state’s longest serving educators a more equitable and stronger retirement by addressing the issues caused by the state’s incredibly flawed roll-out of the Massachusetts Teachers Alternative Retirement Plan (TARP

Markey Leads Members of Massachusetts Delegation, Unions in Disavowing Trump’s Attempt to Dismantle Education Department (February 6, 2025)

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Health Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation -- Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representatives Richard Neal (MA-01), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), and Bill Keating (MA-09) -- along with the Massachusetts Teachers Association

AFT Massachusetts Responds to Trump Threats to Freeze All Federal Funding (January 28, 2025)

American Federation of Teachers President Jessica Tang released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s decision to pause all federal funding and grants: 

“This thoughtless and, frankly, reckless decision to halt all federal funding will cause unprecedented harm to our students, families, and educators of the Commonwealth. In one week, President Trump has created an environment of chaos, fear and division throughout the nation and this latest announcement only cements his complete