Membership Meeting TOMORROW;

Immigrant Pride Week of Action April 13-17th

Our monthly membership meeting will be happening Wednesday, April 8th, starting at 4:30pm at the BTU Hall. We’d like to wish a Happy Orthodox Easter to our members who plan to celebrate this upcoming Sunday.

Next week, April 13-17, is a Week of Action sponsored by Unafraid Educators, which is the BTU’s immigrant rights committee. Please be on the lookout for events and activities at your school to support your immigrant students and their families.

We’re asking all members to wear a BTU or an Unafraid Educators shirt on Tuesday, support the Unafraid Educators scholarship fund, and join your colleagues for a school-based walk-in or other action this Friday. You can find more details about what is planned for the week by clicking the flyer above, checking out this calendar, or reading the events section below.

Boston’s Financial Future: A “challenging fiscal environment”

Mayor Michelle Wu released her administration’s full City budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 on Monday morning alongside a statement that the document reflected “tough choices.” But it appears that the Boston Public Schools is the only City department to face layoffs.

It is true that Boston, and cities across the state and the country, are confronting financial challenges caused by a myriad of factors. It is not true that the budget proposal that will be released in full tomorrow is the city’s only path forward.

Our collective advocacy has already proven that a proposal is just that. Since its release on February 5th, the district has agreed to reverse proposed staffing cuts for ABAs, COSE, School Psychologists, and School Librarians at more than 15 schools across the city. We can do more.

Last week, the BTU released a comprehensive assessment of how our city government allocates funds to students and provided concrete proposals on how to improve this process so our tax dollars lead to measurable improvements in student experience. Boston has the capacity to invest more in our students, which would be a collective investment in our future.

The City Council isn’t scheduled to vote on the Mayor’s budget proposal until June. We will be sharing more details on our budget advocacy strategy during our membership meeting TOMORROW, April 8th.

State-Level Advocacy

Last week, BTU President Erik Berg joined educators from across the state to testify before the state legislature’s Joint Committee on Ways and Means about the state’s FY’ 27 budget proposal. For more than 5 hours, educators and students from Amherst to Groton delivered a near identical warning: school districts are facing a financial crisis.

In coordination with our coalition partners at the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance, the BTU is highlighting the ways the state’s support of local districts is falling far short and advocating for additional funding that will meet more of our students’ needs. This includes an increase in minimum per pupil aid, full funding of the special education circuit breaker and charter school tuition reimbursement, and more. Check out testimony from last Tuesday on our social media accounts.

Mark your calendar for April 22nd, the BTU will be joining AFT MA for a Lobby Day at the state house, where educators, students and families will have a chance to tell their personal stories to lawmakers to effectuate policy change!

Another date to remember is May Day, otherwise known as May 1st! May Day is a global holiday that celebrates workers’ rights and labor solidarity. In recent years, the event in Boston has also become a day to support our fellow immigrant workers and their communities. Join the BTU and thousands of fellow union workers on May 1st on Boston Common. You can find more details about the event as well as the RSVP form here.

Legal Update

Towards the end of March, BPS management informed the BTU that they have received what they are calling a suspicious number of transcripts supporting educators’ requests for advancement on the salary grid due to additional graduate credits from Idaho State University. They stated that they are investigating the issue and have temporarily paused accepting these credits. They have not made a final decision to our knowledge yet, but nonetheless we filed a grievance and asked for the list of impacted educators. We will keep members posted as we engage in these conversations with the district.

BTU Events and Announcements

DEADLINE TOMORROW! Serve on the BTU Election Committee: Letters of Interest due April 8th

BTU internal elections will be held next May/June 2027. These elections are conducted by an Election Committee made up of BTU/RTC members in good standing. If you are interested in serving on this committee. please submit a statement of interest to bcanelo@btu.org by April 8, 2026. The BTU President will submit up to 15 names to the Executive Board at their April meeting and then names are brought before the membership for approval. Meetings are generally once a month starting in June, 2026. Candidates running for office, including Executive Board, are not eligible to serve on the Election Committee.

AFT MA Convention: April 11th at the IBEW Local 103 Union Hall

On April 11, convention delegates from across the state will RISE UP and come together at 256 Freeport Street in Dorchester for the 2026 AFT Massachusetts Convention. Breakfast begins at 8am, followed by a day of workshops, student performances and trainings until 4pm.

Unafraid Educators Week of Action Social & Fundraiser: April 16th

Join the Unafraid Educators Committee at The Haven in Jamaica Plain on Thursday, April 16, from 3-6pm for our Week of Action Social and Fundraiser. Come celebrate the Week of Action, strengthen our community, and support the Unafraid Scholarship Fund with a suggested donation of $10–$50. RSVP Here! If you cannot attend and wish to donate to the Unafraid Scholarship Fund, please use this link. 

BTU Negotiating Team Application: DEADLINE April 15th

As we gear up for the next round of contract negotiations, we are seeking applications from members interested in serving on the BTU Negotiating Team. If you are interested in this role, please send a resume and statement of interest to eberg@btu.org by no later than April 15.

BTU Black Caucus Meeting (Caucus Officer Nominations): April 14th

The next Black Caucus meeting will be Tuesday, April 14, at 5:30 pm, via ZOOM. At this meeting, we will nominate members for the following Officer Positions: Chairperson, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership. All offices are open to members whose dues are current. You can nominate a fellow member or yourself for any position. We will vote on the nominations in person at the BTU Hall on Tuesday, May 19 at 5:30. We will also discuss participation at Boston’s Juneteenth celebration , scheduled for June 20th at Franklin Park.

Student-led Professional Development: Bettering the Future of BPS Youth, April 14th

The Boston Student Advisory Council (BSAC) presents student led, student focused workshops in its Professional Development Series. The next workshop, titled “Bettering the Future of BPS Youth, will take place April 14 from 4:00-5:30pm at the Bolling Building. Sign up here!

AFT MA Lobby Day 2026: April 22nd

Join fellow AFT Massachusetts members from across the Commonwealth for our second annual Lobby Day! It’s a great way to come together and speak directly with elected officials and staff about our priorities for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget and key legislation we’re advocating for. We’ll connect with legislators and their staff to share our experience and expertise—you’ll be trained and supported throughout the day! Breakfast and lunch will be provided. This event is family friendly! Bring your kids along to visit legislators, or utilize the provided childcare. RSVP today to make your voice heard!

40th Paraprofessional/PSRP Statewide Conference: May 2nd (Register by April 17th)

Join your fellow BTU and AFT MA PSRPS on Saturday, May 2nd, from 8:30am-3pm for a day of informative workshops, networking and to celebrate “40 years of Para/PSRP Solidarity.” The BTU must receive your REFUNDABLE check/money orders by April 17th. If you would like a Paypal option please call Valerie Tobin at the union office 617-288-2000. You can find more details on the conference, and the fundraiser for a fellow paraprofessional scheduled for the night before on May 1st, here.

Action Toolkit: Fight BPS Staffing Cuts
Over half our schools are expecting budget cuts next school year. We are fighting back for the fully-funded schools Boston students deserve! Use this toolkit to help you educate and organize at the school-level so students, parents/families, and educators understand the proposed BPS budget for next school year, how the budget impacts your school, and how we fight back. Toolkit can be found at tinyurl.com/BTU26Toolkit

Dual Language & Inclusion: BTU Member Meeting

Do you work in a dual language school or classroom? How is the inclusion rollout going in your program? The BTU is hosting two opportunities to join in a conversation about best practices and challenges with the rollout of inclusion in dual language settings. We hope you can join to connect with colleagues and share your experience at one of the meetings!

Date: April 9th, 3:30pm, Registration link

Date: April 14th, 4:15pm, Registration link

Inclusion Planning Teams Survey
BTU Educators! Are you on your school-based Inclusion Planning Team (IPT)? Please fill out this 1-minute survey to let us know if families are on your team and if you have received your first stipend. Please share the link with others on your IPTs. SURVEY LINK

StudySync Curriculum Survey for BTU Members
A group of BTU members is organizing to gather input from BTU members who teach with the StudySync secondary ELA curriculum. Your feedback will help us understand your experience with the curriculum and determine the next steps in our organizing. The information in this survey will only be shared among BTU members, but the themes and aggregated data may be shared more widely. Fill out the survey here!

BTU Reading Committee: Survey on Dyslexia in BPS

The BTU Reading Committee is investigating what happens in the BPS special education process when a student is suspected of having dyslexia. Help us better understand current trends and practice across BPS about one of the most common learning disabilities! Please share your insights in our (anonymous) survey here

Each year the Retired Teachers’ Chapter of the Boston Teachers’

Union awards three scholarships to deserving high school seniors who

are the children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grandnieces or

grandnephews of RTC members. One of these scholarships is

earmarked for a student who chooses to attend a vocational school or

equivalent institution. Applications for these scholarships can be downloaded from the BTU website or picked up at the BTU office.

BTU Dependent Scholarships: Application Deadline April 10

The BTU will be offering 16 scholarships in the amount of $2,000 to high school seniors who are dependents of dues-paying BTU members. If you’re interested in applying for the scholarship, please contact Michelle Frank (mfrank@btu.org) or download this form.

Black Educators’ Alliance of MA: Celebrating 60 Years on April 18th

On April 18th, we’re honoring the 60th anniversary of the founding of BEAM with a themed celebration: “Education for Liberation” This is more than an anniversary. It’s a call to action. A call to connection. A moment when organizations, educators, and communities come together and say: we’re all in this fight together. Register at: https://bit.ly/BEAMis60

May Day! International Workers and Immigrant Solidarity: May 1st

May Day is a global holiday that celebrates international worker solidarity, and in Boston, it has been a powerful day to celebrate our immigrant communities. Join the BTU and others to stand in solidarity with our immigrant neighbors and school communities on the Boston Common Friday afternoon. The event is still in its planning phase so please share any thoughts on what you would like to see this year! RSVP to stay up to date.

Professional Learning & Development Updates

Each week, we have many new and exciting Professional Learning & Development opportunities to share with you. You can find a full description of each listing on our Professional Learning & Development Updates Page.

• 4/9: Secondary History Telescope Network Learning Site (10-3:30pm)
• World Languages Spring Professional Development
• Exploring Sense of Belonging: Connect and Share April 28, 2026 4-6pm and Learning Site April 29, 2026 11:00am-3:30pm

Community Events

Friends of the Boston Schoolyard March Newsletter

The Friends of the Boston Schoolyard is an organization that supports outdoor learning in Boston Public Schools. The organization publishes a newsletter which highlights the ongoing outdoor learning programs within the district as well as related programs and initiatives led by partner organizations. They just published their March edition: Read the full newsletter here!

Immigrant Family Engagement Webinar: April 28, 4:00-5:30PM

“Family Engagement in Uncertain Times” is a webinar hosted by The Immigrant Learning Center to provide K-12 teachers with actionable ideas to foster trust, communication and meaningful collaboration with immigrant families. Experts in the field will provide insight into culturally responsive strategies for engaging immigrant families, along with practical approaches such as home visits and family literacy supports. This webinar is free, find more details here!

BEJA is hiring! Part-Time Youth Organizer and Part-Time Parent Organizer

The Boston Education Justice Alliance is hiring:

✨ Part-Time Youth Organizer

✨ Part-Time Parent Organizer

We’re looking for passionate community leaders who believe in student voice, family power, and fully funded, equitable public schools. If you’re ready to organize, advocate, and build collective power in Boston, we want to hear from you. Email Keo with questions: Keo@bostoneja.org. Click here to learn more.

BTU in the News

Check out our In the News section on btu.org to see local coverage of Boston Public Schools and quotes from BTU members on:

• Boston School Committee’s approval of BPS budget proposal and the impact on student services and staffing
• BPS release of new guidelines for how employees should respond to federal immigration enforcement
• BPS acceptance of grant for student-facing Artificial Intelligence programs

Thank You for Reading

Please send your comments and questions to us at bulletin@btu.org, or call the BTU at 617-288-2000.