Share your story
Name one resource/support that state officials need to provide so that learning is more effective for our students during the pandemic.
Speak out
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.
FIND YOUR SCHOOL OR COLLEGE
Call on the governor to delay the full-time reopening of our schools
Scheduling the return to school for April 26 will give educators time to get at least one dose of the vaccine and give communities more time to plan for the transition.
Take ActionVaccine decision ‘a tremendous victory’ for students and educators
The federal government’s decision to grant school employees priority access to COVID-19 vaccines is a tremendous victory for students, educators and our communities.
Educators working through their unions and with our allies, including many parents, have been tireless in their advocacy to have Governor Charlie Baker acknowledge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s classification of school employees as essential workers and begin the vaccination program now. President Biden heeded the call that our own governor, until today, did not or would not listen to.
When we fight, we win – and we just won vaccination
COVID-19 & Schools
COVID-19 and Schools: The Latest News and What's Next
A 'Joyful Day" for Educators
Can Children Get COVID?
COVID-19 Variants
New federal aid to benefit state and local public education
On March 11, President Joe Biden signed The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The measure provides substantial resources for Massachusetts schools, colleges and universities. It also provides funding for individuals, for other targeted priorities, and for state and local governments.
Preliminary information is now emerging on the education funding itself and on the aid to state and local governments that can also be used to support public education. The following are some important points:
- This funding for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund – known as ESSER III – will provide an estimated $1,647,115,000 for elementary and secondary schools in Massachusetts. The funds will be received in the next few months and can be used into FY2024. Rough estimates of the amounts likely to be available for each school district, along with amounts from previous federal legislation, are available here.
- This funding for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund – known as HEERF III -- will provide an estimated $438,512,747 for community colleges, state universities and the University of Massachusetts system. About half of the funding is required to be used for grants to students. The funds will be received in the next few months and can be used into FY2024. Estimated campus-by-campus allocations and amounts from previous federal legislation can be found here.
- In addition to the funding specifically targeted for education, our state government will receive about $4.5 billion, and local governments will receive about $3.4 billion. Those funds can also be used to support the education of students in elementary and secondary schools and our institutions of public higher education. The local funds will be divided between 2021 and 2022 and be available for use through 2024. Go here for a description of the allowable uses for these funds. The Massachusetts Municipal Association has estimated city and town allocations, including amounts that flow through counties.
K-12 Funds Higher Ed Funds MMA Estimates for Cities and Towns
Coronavirus-Related Posts
Annual Meeting delegates focus on promoting inclusion, fairness and the common good
Making language inclusive, advancing a bill of rights for Education Support Professionals and focusing on the common good were among...
It’s time for all educators to take a bow
Perhaps more than ever, all public school educators should take a bow before a grateful nation.
MTA: Educators welcome high school students, but health and safety must be observed
Our top priority for the precious little time left until the end of the school year is to support our...
MTA continues to advocate for increased resources to help students
The federal aid given to Massachusetts makes it possible to properly invest in public schools and colleges and to fairly...
For MTA Members
Legal Help
Get answers to frequently asked questions related to COVID-19 from the MTA's Legal Division.
Are you safe at work? New tool helps educators track, report COVID-19 cases
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.
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.
Read MoreBuilding Safety Checklist
A list of preparations to incorporate with your local association's building safety plan.
Read MoreBargaining and Online Resources for MTA Members
Resources and tools for bargaining health and safety conditions.
Read MoreInformation Request/Demand to Bargain
Request form based on MGL ch. 150E.
Read More