Press

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

Massachusetts Educators Prepared to Protect Rights and Safety of All Students (January 24, 2025)

Education leaders condemn Trump’s hateful, divisive agenda

As families, leaders, and educators across the country try to address the Trump Administration's threats of raids and mass deportations and the environment of fear he's created in our communities, American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President Jessica Tang and Boston Teachers Union President Erik Berg released the following statement reaffirming their commitment to protecting all students and families of the Commonwealth:

“We

Educators, Students, Elected Officials, and Business Leaders Agree: Vote Yes for South Shore Tech (January 23, 2025)

Nine communities to vote on new facility for South Shore Technical School to support future workforce, increase access, and expand programming

This Saturday, January 25, voters in nine South Shore communities have the opportunity to support a new facility and expansion of South Shore Technical School (SST), which has been providing students and adults throughout the area with the skills to be successful members of the local workforce and regional economy for over six decades. 

Firs

AFT Massachusetts: Governor’s Budget First Step in Supporting Students, Working Families, And Communities (January 22, 2025)

American Federation of Teachers President Jessica Tang released the following statement in response to Governor Maura Healey’s budget for Fiscal Year 2026:

“Governor Healey’s budget reinforces her Administration’s commitment to making a more equitable Commonwealth – one where all residents can access affordable housing, reliable transportation, healthcare, and high-quality public schools.

“States are facing unprecedented cuts to federal investment and critical programming

AFT Massachusetts Applauds Governor Healey’s Commitment to Supporting the Needs of Massachusetts Students and Families (January 16, 2025)

After attending the Governor Maura Healey’s second State of the Commonwealth address this evening, the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President Jessica Tang released the following statement: 

“The Commonwealth’s ability to lead and thrive relies on a fully-funded, equitable, and high-quality public education system - from early childhood to post-secondary. 

“We share Governor Healey’s vision of a Commonwealth where we continue to lead in quality