Political Action
Democracy is an important part of our union. We take action in union, local and federal elections and encourage our members to get involved.
We are excited to announce that the BTU has created an Electoral Action Team (BEAT) to organize and take action in the upcoming elections. You can register to volunteer using this form. Volunteers will receive training and support from our Political and Organizing teams as well as our community partners.
Boston Teachers Union Endorsed Candidates
Endorsements
Legislative Priorities
1. Retirement Plus: An Act Relative to Benefits for Teachers
H:3452| Representatives Alice Peisch & Rob Consalvo
An Act Relative to Teacher Retirement Election SD 2208
S: 2208| Senator Liz Miranda
Allow teachers hired before July 1, 2001, who did not provide a written election to participate in Retirement Plus, to have an opportunity to do so.
2. MSBA (School Building Funding): An Act Modernizing School Construction
H 3809| Sponsor: Dan Cahill
S 1070| Sponsor: Brendan Crighton
Overhauls the funding formula for the Massachusetts School Building Authority to provide more opportunities for investment in projects that would benefit low-income communities. Sales tax revenue automatically earmarked for the MSBA would be doubled while lifting the cap on reimbursement.
3. Increases in Education Funding: An Act honoring the Commonwealth’s commitment to public school districts
H: 2825/S389: Representative Brandy Fluker-Reid/Se. Robyn Kennedy
Any district whose total charter school tuition amount is greater than its total charter school tuition amount for the previous year shall be reimbursed more fully by the commonwealth, which would increase funds to gateway cities and Boston.
4. Thrive Act 2.0:Bringing an End to Harmful Receivership
Planning Commission for the next phase of post MCAS and schools to thrive
An Act empowering students to thrive
H.4328| Rep. Samantha Montaño
S.374| Sen. Adam Gomez
The Thrive Act would transform education in the Commonwealth, empowering communities with the tools and resources that students and schools need to thrive, dramatically reducing the harm caused by state takeovers, establishing a commission that would shape the future of student assessments and school accountability, and eliminating the need to expand charter schools as a result of harmful accountability practices.
5. An Act requiring equitable funding for non-regional school districts with high transportation costs.
H.513 Rep. Michelle Badger
Establish a fund to reimburse non-regional school districts with high transportation costs for a portion of their transportation funding.
6. An Act implementing elementary and secondary interdisciplinary climate literacy education
H560/S.391 Rep. Mindy Domb/Jason Lewis
Requires climate literacy education in our schools to provide students with the knowledge and skills to fully understand and address climate change in their communities.
7. An Act to establish a community schools special legislative commission
H.726/S409 Rep. Chynah Tyler/Sen. Paul Mark
Establishes a legislative commission dedicated to examining the implementation and effectiveness of community schools in Massachusetts.
8. An Act to provide fair and affordable public retiree benefits
H.2812/S.1817 Rep. Daniel Donohue/Sen. Julian Cyr
Calls for immediately increasing the COLA base to $18,000, and then gradually increasing the base until it reaches the maximum social security benefit for an individual worker retiring at full retirement age. Also mandates that the maximum out-of-pocket health care coverage costs for retirees over the age of 65 who are not eligible for Medicare would be $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families.
9. An Act relative to educator pay
H.733/S370 Reps Representatives Erika Uyterhoeven and Tara T. Hong/Senator Adam Gomez
Increases salary minimums to $70K for teachers and $55K for paraprofessionals and adjusts for inflation.
10. HD.4439 An Act to amend charter school tuition reimbursement provisions
Lead Sponsor: Homar Gomez (D-Hampshire)
The purpose of this Act is to ensure equitable charter school tuition reimbursement for municipalities based on their financial capacity. This Act seeks to amend Section 89 of Chapter 71 of the Massachusetts General Laws by adding provisions that adjust reimbursement levels based on a municipality’s combined effort yield relative to its foundation budget.
11. HD.3759/SD.2149| An Act relative to the long-term fiscal health and sustainability of special education in the Commonwealth Lead Sponsors: Rep. Adam Scanlon (D-North Attleborough) & Rep. Mike Kushmerek (D-Fitchburg) | Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow)
Increases the reimbursement rate for the Special Education Circuit Breaker program from 75% to 90% of eligible special education costs, lowers the cost threshold for expenses to become eligible for reimbursement under the program and creates a commission to study and make recommendations on special education funding in the Commonwealth.
12. HD.2223/SD.1018 An Act to establish the Whole Child Grant Program Lead Sponsors: Rep. Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge) | Sen. Adam Gomez (D-Springfield) Creates a formula grant to provide per-pupil funding to public school districts to hire more school counselors, Education Support Professionals and other educators, and allow for other critical investments that support the well-being of students and educators.
13. HD.2470/SD.1113 An Act to provide paid family and medical leave to all educators Lead Sponsors: Rep. Vanna Howard (D-Lowell) | Sen. Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville) • Public school educators would be covered by the State paid family and medical leave law. It also requires the state to pay the employer’s share of the cost using funds from the Fair Share Amendment.
14. H.3476/S.2275 Rep. Marjorie Decker/Sen. Paul Feeney An Act relative to healthy and sustainable schools
Establishes a statewide goal to decarbonize public schools, public universities, and community colleges by mandating and facilitating energy audits, efficiency upgrades, and solar power. Schools located in environmental justice communities would receive priority for energy audits and energy efficiency improvements. In addition to creating union jobs, it calls for projects to prioritize hiring from pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, creating opportunities for students.
15. H.2078/S.1311 Reps. Erica Uyterhoeven and Mike Connolly/Sen. James Eldridge An Act uplifting families and securing the right to strike for certain public employees
Repeals the ban on certain public employees or their union from engaging in a strike.
16. H.650/S.436 Reps. Frank Moran & Alice Piesch/Sen. Pavel Payano & Sen. Sal DiDomenico An Act Relative to Affirming and Maintaining Equal Access to Public Education for all Children
Would preserve key federal protections in education and affirm the Commonwealth’s commitment to educational equity. Without this bill, any rollback of federal law or guidance could negatively impact students’ rights in Massachusetts.
17. H.520/S.320 Rep. Antonio Cabral/Sen. Brendan Crighton An Act Relative to the Training, Assessment, and Assignment of Qualified School Interpreters in Educational Settings
Directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to increase access to qualified school interpreters by developing a system for training and assessing the qualifications of interpreters in educational settings. Use of the system across the state would be phased in, subject to appropriation.
Coalitions
- Boston Elected School Committee
- Citizens for Juvenile Justice (CFJJ)
- Common Start Coalition
- Driving Families Forward Coalition
- Lift Our Kids Out of Deep Poverty
- Mass Alliance
COPE (Committee on Political Education)
The BTU COPE Committee on Political Education is the program that supports the Union’s political action. The COPE committee members are appointed by the BTU President for a two year term. The BTU uses COPE to endorse candidates in local elections.
We are looking for members who are politically active to advocate for our union. Are you interested in door knocking, phone banking and getting out the vote for our endorsed candidates? Interested in testifying for or against legislation for our schools? Interested in writing an op-ed about an educational issue? Contact BTU Political Director Johnny McInnis to get involved in BTU political action!
Political Action Events
