Student Opportunity Act, Fair Share produce for our schools
Student Opportunity Act, Fair Share produce for our schools
Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy released the following statement regarding the state Legislature’s FY26 budget:
Because of the fierce advocacy by union educators and their allies to secure passage of the Student Opportunity Act in 2019 and Fair Share Amendment in 2022, Massachusetts public schools continue to benefit from funding increases in the FY26 budget released June 29 by the Legislature’s conference committee. The SOA continues to help lower-income districts, and Fair Share allowed for a large minimum-aid increase that will benefit middle-income districts. The budget contains better funding for special education services. And we still have free school lunches for all students.
In public higher education, Massachusetts is able to continue free access to community colleges and tuition-free access to state universities and UMass for many families. And public colleges and universities will see more than $100 million in new funds for campus repairs, hopefully the first of a major annual infusion of funds for campus capital needs.
But serious fiscal problems persist in public education from preK to higher ed, and the Legislature must be willing to commit the funding raised by Fair Share for its intended use: a level of investment for public schools and colleges that reflects the high value our residents place on education. Voters clearly stated that the very wealthy should pay slightly higher taxes to support the common good – specifically public education and transportation.
Too many of our preK-12 school districts are in the grips of a fiscal crisis that can be traced back to harmful flaws in the state’s school-funding formula which must be repaired immediately. And aid to rural schools needs to increase, not decrease as it does in this budget. There is no reason why teachers across the state are facing pink slips while the state has access to $3 billion in Fair Share funds and $8 billion in rainy day funds.
Likewise, the Legislature has the opportunity and obligation to take bold action to protect students, staff and faculty at our public colleges and universities who are experiencing incredible turmoil caused by the Trump administration’s policies and budget proposals. The MTA urges the Legislature to set aside at least $200 million in Fair Share funds to begin to offset federal cuts in research funding and student grants affecting public colleges and universities.
While the Legislature’s FY 26 state budget contains many positive investments, it is deeply disappointing that the budget contains only the usual and insufficient 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment for retired public employees and does not include a fair fix for RetirementPlus, denying too many educators of a benefit they have earned and deserve. The members of the MTA will continue to fight for legislation that secures a dignified retirement for hardworking public school employees.