Press | AFT Massachusetts

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

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

AFT Massachusetts Holds ‘Protect Our Kids’ Day of Action to Fight Trump and Musk’s Cuts to America’s Public Schools

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

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

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

Lynn Families, Elected Officials, and Union Leaders Celebrate State Board’s Vote Against Dangerous Charter School Expansion Proposal

Lynn Families, Elected Officials, and Union Leaders Celebrate State Board’s Vote Against Dangerous Charter School Expansion Proposal (February 25, 2025)

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Board members today voted 6-to-4 against a recommended expansion application from KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School, which had been recommended by the Acting Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education even though it did not meet the regulatory requirement threshold of being a “proven provider” according to the department’s own data.

“Today, the Board upheld the regulations in place to ensure