IN HIS FIRST few days back in office, staying true to campaign promises, President Trump has unleashed a wave of executive orders targeting undocumented, mixed-status, and immigrant communities, dismantling diversity and equity initiatives, attacking LGBTQ+ students, and more. These actions have spread fear and uncertainty throughout our communities, and even more alarming threats loom on the horizon.
Make no mistake: This is not a random flurry of policy changes. It is a calculated, coordinated agenda to undermine civil rights, reverse hard-won social progress, and distort the principles of equity—values that are rooted in fairness, justice, and equal opportunity.
As representatives of a diverse coalition committed to fostering excellence and expanding access to education across the Commonwealth, we refuse to yield to fear campaigns. Instead, we are renewing our steadfast commitment to organizing, advocating, and resisting the injustices that hinder access to opportunity for everyone.
While we start by addressing the horror gripping our communities, we are determined to confront the deeply rooted racial inequalities in our education system—inequities that perpetuate disparities in access, resources, and outcomes. We will push harder than ever to break down these barriers and ensure every child receives the education and support they need to succeed.
To borrow a line from John Lewis, when you see something that is not right, fair, or just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.
These issues affect us all. What happens in Brockton, Holyoke, and communities across the state shapes our collective future, and investing in all students is an investment in the shared well-being of our communities and the progress of the Commonwealth.
Yet, families we serve are terrified—many hesitate to send their children to school, fearing that immigration enforcement will rip parents and children apart. Our students—some as young as 4 years old—return home after school burdened by the fear that their parents will not be there. And can we blame them? When the reality around them is filled with jarring examples of oppression under this new administration, their fear is justified.
Our LGBTQ+ students, already fighting for their lives and futures in the face of censorship and discrimination, now face escalating hostility and bans. Imagine how overwhelming this must feel for young people just trying to live authentically and maintain their mental health.
How can we expect our students to focus on learning when their classrooms are overshadowed by fear and shaped by dangerous culture wars? How can students enjoy the innocence of childhood while worrying about their security and their families? This fear doesn’t just harm emotional well-being—it fuels chronic absenteeism, which is already a challenge in our state and undermines academic success.
While much of the fear stems from federal policies outside the control of state and local leaders, families are counting on Massachusetts to mitigate the harm. Schools and districts must commit to supporting and communicating with families and adopting policies that reaffirm their commitment to keeping all students and families safe. This includes:
- Clearly communicating to families: While we commend district leaders—particularly those serving underserved communities—who have courageously assured families they will protect every student’s rights, we need more districts to take this stance. Silence breeds fear, and families cannot be left uncertain about their children’s safety in school. We urge the state to provide clear, actionable guidance and support to districts on how to ensure transparent communication with families, provide accessible information and resources that reaffirm every student’s right to an education, and establish clear policies regarding student privacy and immigration enforcement. Furthermore, the guidance should outline alternative learning options for families who feel unsafe sending their children to school.
- Preventing “school hardening” and addressing students’ mental health challenges: As students returned to classrooms after the pandemic, many faced—and continue to struggle with—the lingering mental health challenges of this transition. Rates of anxiety, depression, and even suicide surged among our youth. Yet, instead of being met with support, the response from many lawmakers and school leaders nationwide has been to “harden” schools by adopting harsh disciplinary policies that disproportionately impact Black and Latino students and students with disabilities. Our students don’t need punitive measures—they need empathy, support, and access to comprehensive mental health resources. At a time when feelings of distress and vulnerability are at an all-time high, we urge state legislators to prioritize bills that invest in mental health services, restorative discipline practices, and the creation of safe, nurturing learning environments. Policies that suspend, criminalize, or alienate struggling students will only make matters worse. That is why proposed legislation such as the Young Student Exclusion Ban Act (HD1267 & SD1354), An Act Relative to Safer Schools (HD4297 & SD1699), and The RAISE Act (HD1982 & SD2506) is especially critical in this new context.
- Upholding safe, supportive, and inclusive environments for all students: Moreover, school districts must develop actionable plans to provide mental health support for students whose parents face deportation, who witness ICE raids in their schools or communities, or who endure the fear and trauma deliberately cultivated by policies targeting immigrant families. Similarly, our LGBTQ+ students, who recently celebrated hard-won victories—such as using restrooms aligned with their identities or seeing themselves reflected in books—are now grappling with fear and devastation as these rights are systematically stripped away. Our students of color face the chilling reality of their histories and identities being erased from school curricula as the new administration intensifies its unprecedented assault on local control over education. Our schools must remain environments where all students—especially those directly targeted by these harmful policies—feel safe, valued, and empowered to thrive. We urge state and local lawmakers to take decisive action by passing policies that uphold the fundamental promise of a safe, inclusive, and identity-affirming education for every student. Pending legislation, such as bills to promote comprehensive and inclusive curriculum in schools (SD.1289 & SD.1355), represents a critical step toward ensuring that every school is a welcoming space where all students can reach their full potential.
As a partnership, we are emphasizing the urgency of these challenges and offering our full support to schools, districts, and policymakers. We urge local and state leaders to join us in meeting this moment with the courage it demands—amplifying the voices of our school leaders, students, parents and community organizations and enacting meaningful policies that foster environments where all students can thrive. This is not a time for silence or hesitation—this is a time for all of us to show up, take action, and lead with conviction. In this defining moment in history, let’s stand together in unity and justice.
Massachusetts has the opportunity to lead the nation by ensuring that every child—regardless of income, race, disability status, gender identity, immigration status, or zip code—has the chance to succeed in a safe and welcoming environment. The question remains: will our state and local leaders step up and heed the call?
The Massachusetts Education Equity Partnership is a collective effort of social justice, civil rights, and education advocacy organizations from across the Commonwealth and beyond working together to promote educational equity in our state’s schools. Members include: Association for Massachusetts School Equity Leaders (AMSEL), Black Advocates for Educational Excellence, Citizens for Juvenile Justice (CFJJ), EdTrust in Massachusetts, Educators for Excellence – Massachusetts, EFEC, Fortaleza, Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFIS), Journey into Education and Teaching (JET), Latinos for Education (L4E), Lawrence Community Works, Multistate Association for Bilingual Education (MABE), Parent Villages Inc., SchoolFacts Boston, Teach Western Mass, The Teachers Lounge (TTL), Urban League of Springfield, Worcester Education Collaborative (WEC), and more.
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