Educating in the COVID Era

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Name one resource/support that state officials need to provide so that learning is more effective for our students during the pandemic.

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Tracker
Are you safe at school?

Use our new tracking tool to document and/or report on cases of COVID-19 at your school or college.

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Let communities decide what is safe!

Send your thoughts about how to keep our schools and students safe to Governor Charlie Baker, Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley and Education Secretary James Peyser.

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Are you safe at work? New tool helps educators track, report COVID-19 cases

Help Stop the Spread

A new tracking tool is now available to help educators document cases of COVID-19 at work.

The tracker, available at stopthespread.massteacher.org, allows educators to:

  • Search for known and suspected cases of COVID-19 at their public school, college or workplace
  • Report on safety conditions at their school, college or worksite
  • Share the experience of working in public education during the coronavirus pandemic

The tracker, developed by the MTA and AFT Massachusetts, is designed to give local associations, members and their families useful information as well as hold our elected officials accountable.

Find Your Workplace

News

MTA Rejects DESE Guidance on Requiring Remote Teaching from Schools

"We are 100 percent behind any of our locals that choose to reject this recommendation"

MTA President Merrie Najimy

MTA President Merrie Najimy on DESE-issued guidance on educators working in school buildings during remote learning:

We reject the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s recommendation that teachers be required to conduct remote instruction from their school buildings regardless of safety. It is paternalistic and punitive and has no bearing on the quality of education that the real experts — the educators — provide so masterfully.

This new guidance is clearly designed to force local educators’ unions to agree to in-person learning regardless of the condition of the school buildings in their districts, indoor air quality, testing capabilities or area COVID-19 transmission rates.

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Educators rally for safe learning conditions

Several hundred educators gathered outside the State House today chanting and cheering for a safe return to learning. “Stand up! Fight Back!” was one of the rallying cries as members of the MTA, AFT Massachusetts and the Boston Teachers Union — along with supporters from other unions and community allies — demanded that the governor require all school districts to open remotely until health and safety measures are met.

“Our members are longing to get back to in-person teaching and learning, and students are longing to see their educators and friends in person,” said MTA President Merrie Najimy. “But our greatest obligation as educators is to protect the health and safety of our students as we educate them."

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ONly when it's safe

Higher education rallies target layoffs, cuts

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Students, staff and faculty members who are fighting back against budget cuts at public colleges and universities rallied on campuses across the state, drawing attention to the devastating loss of personnel and programs.

“When they talk about cutting staff, like student life counselors and librarians, and call them nonessential, I need to speak up,” public higher education graduate Melody Rondeau told the crowd during a rally at Bristol Community College in Fall River.

Rondeau said she dropped out of high school and after six years decided that she needed to resume her education. She enrolled at Massasoit Community College, where she received the kind of support necessary to help a nontraditional student such as herself succeed. 

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For MTA Members

Legal Help

Get answers to frequently asked questions related to COVID-19 from the MTA's Legal Division. 

Health and Safety Resources 
A Guide for Bargaining the Safe Return to Schools and Campuses

Policies and practices for a safe return to our schools and campuses.

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Building Safety Checklist

A list of preparations to incorporate with your local association's building safety plan.

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Bargaining and Online Resources for MTA Members

Resources and tools for bargaining health and safety conditions.

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Information Request/Demand to Bargain

Request form based on MGL ch. 150E.

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Coronavirus-Related Posts
Are you safe at work?

A new tracking tool is now available to help educators document cases of COVID-19 at work.