AFT Massachusetts Responds to 2026 State of the Commonwealth (January 23, 2026)
AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang released the following statement in response to Governor Maura Healey’s State of the Commonwealth address:
“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.
“At the federal level, public education is under assault. Districts have been stripped of millions of federal dollars overnight. Millions more are on the chopping block, including funding that supports the education of over 170,000 students with disabilities. School districts are struggling to meet rising costs while facing additional shortfalls due to drops in enrollment as our immigrant families live in fear.
“Public education is the backbone of our communities and our economy. Failing to address these crises will have long-term consequences for students, educators, and our collective future.
“The fiscal crisis has reached kitchen tables across the state. We applaud the Governor for not only acknowledging the grave affordability crisis we are facing, but that she has a multi-faceted plan to bring down costs for working families and our most vulnerable residents.
“During these unprecedented times, the Commonwealth has the opportunity to be the leader we know it can be. In tonight’s address, Governor Healey made a strong commitment to protecting our students and families from a federal government that thinks it is above the law and we look forward to supporting her in that work while fighting to ensure that all children of Massachusetts have access to the quality public education they deserve.”