Mass. voters back debt-free college, fair educator pay and closing tax loopholes
Mass. voters back debt-free college, fair educator pay and closing tax loopholes
MTA-commissioned poll finds strong bipartisan support for pro-public education policies
A new statewide poll of Massachusetts voters reveals overwhelming, bipartisan support for major public education investments, including making public higher education debt-free, raising educator pay to a livable wage, and closing corporate tax loopholes.
Conducted in April 2025 by D.C.-based pollster Lake Research Partners, the survey paints a clear picture: Voters across the Commonwealth want bold, progressive action to support schools, educators and working families. And, they see the Trump administration as a serious threat to that progress.
“This poll isn’t just about public education – it’s about the kind of future Massachusetts families are demanding,” MTA President Max Page said. “Massachusetts residents from every region and party are calling for big, systemic change that puts students, educators and working people ahead of corporate loopholes and austerity politics. From the classroom to the State House, this is a clear mandate: Invest in people, not just profits.”
This survey of 600 likely Massachusetts voters was conducted April 21-27, 2025, by Lake Research Partners on behalf of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. The poll has a sampling error of ±4.0%.
Key Findings from the Poll
- 79% support making public higher education affordable and debt-free.
- 78% support closing corporate tax loopholes for large, profitable, multinational corporations so they pay their fair share in state taxes.
- 76% support raising teacher and paraprofessional wages to a livable wage.
- 67% support providing paid family and medical leave for public school educators.
These numbers reflect broad consensus across demographics and party lines, with support strongest among Democrats and unaffiliated voters, and notable support even among Republican voters on key issues like educator pay and debt-free college.
A Mandate for Bold Action
Massachusetts voters are not just rejecting the status quo; they’re calling for forward-looking policies that tackle inequality, protect worker rights and safeguard public education against political attacks.
- 56% of likely voters feel Massachusetts needs transformative change, compared to just 38% who say the state should scale back government intervention.
- 62% of voters say the Trump administration is a threat to Massachusetts.
- Nearly 50% of voters cite economic instability (cost of living, housing and inflation) as a top concern.
- 63% of voters believe people of different races and backgrounds can come together to bring about positive change.
“These findings confirm that MTA-backed legislation currently under discussion at the State House – such as debt-free college, paid family leave for public school employees, livable wages for public school educators – are not fringe issues,” said Page. “They are mainstream, majority-backed solutions to the everyday crises Massachusetts families are navigating. The polling also shows that a majority of Massachusetts voters view the Trump administration as a threat to our way of life and they want bold, state-level action to protect public education and working families.”