Press | AFT Massachusetts

AFT Massachusetts Responds to Selection of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner

“While we would have preferred a candidate with more statewide experience and have concerns about how this search process was conducted, we hope that Pedro Martinez will live up to the ideals of the Commonwealth and be the type of Commissioner our educators and students deserve.

“If we are going to truly meet the needs of our students and communities during this tumultuous time in public education, it’s imperative that the incoming Commissioner builds consensus and elevates the voices of educators, students, and families most impacted. Our next Commissioner – especially one unfamiliar with the Massachusetts education landscape – must put in the work to do this and earn the trust of the union educators who dedicate their lives to providing for our students and advocating for the services they need and the exceptional education they deserve.”

"There is no question that the challenges facing our schools and public education in general will disproportionately impact the most vulnerable students and those with the highest needs -- and those are the students we serve,” said NECEF President and Recovery High School teacher Jake Zeigler. “Across all six schools, our educators work to ensure these students have access to the services and support they need to achieve social and educational success. We are all dedicated to safeguarding the rights and needs of our students and remain steadfast in our commitment to making sure the voices and concerns of our students, their families, and our educators are heard and prioritized in the decision making process."

"Each and every day, our paraprofessionals go above and beyond for their students, but most of us don't make a living wage. We're forced to choose between a job we love where we can support students in need and making ends meet. Paras shouldn't be forced to work multiple jobs just to put food on the table,” said Ketty Thebaud, Vice President of the NEC Paraprofessionals and an Instructional Assistant at the Kevin O’Grady School. “We truly care for these kids and are invested in providing them the support to reach their full potential. We wouldn't want it any other way. We hope that, moving forward, we will be seen and recognized for our value and provided with a living wage and benefits that accurately reflect the role we play in the success of our students."

AFT Massachusetts Stands with Healey Administration Response to Latest Attacks on Public Education from the White House, Federal government issues threats to rescind hundreds of millions in funding used to support low-income students (April 9, 2025).

AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang released the following statement in support of the letter sent by Massachusetts Secretary of Education and Interim Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Patrick Tutwiler today in response to the U.S. Department of Education’s recent memo threatening to withdraw billions of dollars in Title I

AFT Massachusetts Slams White House for Holding the Neediest Students Hostage in Attempt to Take Over Local School Oversight

AFT Massachusetts Slams White House for Holding the Neediest Students Hostage in Attempt to Take Over Local School Oversight (April 3, 2025).

AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang released the following statement in response to a memo from the U.S. Department of Education threatening to withdraw billions of dollars in Title I support for low-income students if school districts fail to enact the White House’s divisive policy agenda:

“Holding hostage funding that supports our poorest, neediest children to coerce schools into letting the federal government supersede local authority on curriculum

Trump Administration Terminates $106 Million in K-12 Education Funding for Massachusetts

Trump Administration Terminates $106 Million in K-12 Education Funding for Massachusetts, Funding supported student mental health supports, tutoring, school security and building upgrades (April 1, 2025).

AFT Massachusetts is joining the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Legislative leaders in condemning the Trump Administration’s move to eliminate $106 million in K-12 education grant funding for projects at Massachusetts currently underway.

The U.S. Department of Education notified all states at 5:03 pm Friday evening that they had decided to end the federal Education Stabilization Fund

AFT Massachusetts Sues to Stop Dismantling of Public Education, Lawsuit is first challenge to Trump’s Executive Order (March 24, 2025)

The American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts along with a broad coalition of educators, school districts, nonprofits, and labor unions took legal action to stop the Trump Administration’s attempts to decimate the Department of Education and the critical services it provides to students, teachers, parents, and communities across the country.

The lawsuit – filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts by Democracy Forward – is the first

Massachusetts Educators Denounce Trump’s Latest Executive Order Targeting American Children

“President Trump and Linda McMahon have no problem using children as collateral in their efforts to fund massive tax credits for the wealthiest Americans,” said American Federation of Teachers President Jessica Tang. “At the end of the day, the White House is not just illegally dismantling a department - they're dismantling the futures of millions of children across the country.”

Public schools are governed by their respective state and local education authority. Federal law protects state and local control over public schools - from approving a school’s curriculum to setting graduation requirements.

“Unfortunately, the Trump Administration is, once again, using fear tactics and sowing confusion to try and implement an agenda based on misinformation and threats because the law is not on his side,” continued Tang. “State and local governments already have authority over public schools and that is simply not what this executive order is actually going to do.”

AFT Massachusetts Stands with Attorney General Campbell Against Latest Efforts To Dismantle Department of Education

AFT Massachusetts Stands with Attorney General Campbell Against Latest Efforts To Dismantle Department of Education (March 13, 2025)

AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang released the following statement in response to the announcement that Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell is co-leading a lawsuit against U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the U.S. Department of Education, and President Trump over their unlawful attempt to dismantle the Department by eliminating programming and a majority of its workforce:

“We applaud Attorney General Campbell for, once again, standing up

AFT Massachusetts Stands with AG Campbell Against Trump Administration’s Termination of K-12 Teacher Preparation Pipeline Grants

AFT Massachusetts Stands with AG Campbell Against Trump Administration’s Termination of K-12 Teacher Preparation Pipeline Grants (March 6, 2025)

American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President Jessica Tang released the following statement in response to today’s announcement that Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell is co-leading a coalition of attorneys general in a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s unlawful termination of grant funding for nationwide K-12 teacher preparation programs (including $6 million in funding for Massachusetts-based programs to address

AFT Massachusetts Brings National ‘Protect Our Kids’ Day of Action to Districts Throughout the Commonwealth

AFT Massachusetts Brings National ‘Protect Our Kids’ Day of Action to Districts Throughout the Commonwealth (March 4, 2025)

Closed out with virtual town hall on what is at stake for students, schools, and educators under Trump agenda

Education leaders, parents, teachers, activists, and students around the country participated in over 2,000 events across the country as part of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)'s nationwide day of action yesterday, calling out the Trump Administration’s dangerous education agenda for what it is – widespread cuts impacting every district in the nation