Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #studentopportunityact
Most recents (15)
I love me some Walt Whitman, @MassGovernor. Here are things I’m curious about:
1) Are there any other big aspirations you have for MA’s future aside from figuring out what work will look like in the yrs ahead & “getting there 1st”? Like ending childhood hunger, or
#mapoli #MASOTC
1) Are there any other big aspirations you have for MA’s future aside from figuring out what work will look like in the yrs ahead & “getting there 1st”? Like ending childhood hunger, or
#mapoli #MASOTC
...closing opportunity & achievement gaps in education, or building the greenest economy in the nation, or halving the racial wealth divide in 10 yrs? How do you square being the most popular Gov in America with not using that capital to do something more ambitious for humanity?
2) At 305K vaccine doses deployed a week, how long will it take us to get MA to herd immunity?
Oh it does not. 
Look, the #StudentOpportunityAct has FOUR funding implications for FY21:
1. 1/7th move towards goal in health care.
Does that happen in Governor Baker's proposed budget?
Does that happen in Governor Baker's proposed budget?
Today, the Mass. House and @MA_Senate announced with @MassGovernor that municipalities & school districts will NOT face a budget cut for unrestricted local aid or Chapter 70 school funding in Fiscal Year 2021. #mapoli
Due to the severe economic recession brought about by the pandemic, most cities and towns have been bracing for state budget cuts so this should be very welcome news. #mapoli
Unrestricted local aid will be funded at a level no less than last fiscal year. Chapter 70 will be funded at a level no less than last fiscal year for each school district (plus the impact of inflation and any enrollment changes on foundation budgets). #mapoli
Like so many in our community, I am horrified and dismayed by police brutality against Black Americans and other people of color, and the lack of accountability for such egregious actions. (1/6)
The murders of George Floyd & Breonna Taylor have reignited a critical movement to demand police accountability, racial justice, & and end to pervasive, systemic racism in our country. I know the important responsibility & opportunity I have to help advance this work in MA. (2/6)
We've made important progress in recent years in Mass. to address racial justice, including a sweeping criminal justice reform bill and the #StudentOpportunityAct that makes a historic investment in public schools, targeted mostly for students in communities of color. (3/6)
In a few minutes, I’ll be speaking on the @MA_Senate floor on the #StudentOpportunityAct, our historic proposal to reform the Mass. school funding formula and invest $1.5 billion in our public schools and students.
Tune into the livestream at this link:
malegislature.gov/Events/Session…
Tune into the livestream at this link:
malegislature.gov/Events/Session…
The #StudentOpportunityAct reflects our state’s core value that dictates that every child, regardless of ethnicity, background or ability, deserves a great public education. Education is the golden door to opportunity.
I’m grateful to my fellow Senate conferees, @SenRodrigues and @PatrickMOConnor
I must thank @SoniaChangDiaz, a tireless champion who stayed in this fight over the years to ensure educational opportunity for every single child, from her work on the #FBRC to the present
I must thank @SoniaChangDiaz, a tireless champion who stayed in this fight over the years to ensure educational opportunity for every single child, from her work on the #FBRC to the present
.@RepAlicePeisch and I are pleased to announce that the #StudentOpportunityAct conference committee filed its report this morning, with an expected vote by the full House and Senate tomorrow.
This historic $1.5 billion investment in our public schools ensures that all students across the Commonwealth will receive the resources necessary to succeed.
The majority of the new funding will go to districts that serve the largest populations of English learners and students from low-income backgrounds, recognizing that additional resources will help level the playing field in the Commonwealth’s public schools.
This powerful Globe article shines a light on the very troubling disparities in college persistence and graduation rates for low-income students and students of color.
#mapoli #MAedu #StudentOpportunityAct
#mapoli #MAedu #StudentOpportunityAct
One of the important goals of the #StudentOpportunityAct is to better prepare students from disadvantaged backgrounds for success in college and the workforce. The bill does this by:
Since the conference committee will not, it appears, release an agreed-upon version of the #StudentOpportunityAct this week, here’s an #FBRC thread from yesterday’s #70on70 presentation, #MAEdu
(This isn’t all the slides, just the SOA ones):
(This isn’t all the slides, just the SOA ones):
I do think that it is crucial to note that the main source of disagreement LAST session—which was both most of the money and most of the equity—was simply agreed to this session (and if you are not writing about that, you in my opinion are missing the story):
I can’t emphasize enough that all the goal numbers are PRE-INFLATIONARY, so these are not going to be the actual FY27 dollar amounts.
Congratulations to the Town of Stoneham which has officially advanced to the next stage in the @Mass_SBA program for the construction of a new Stoneham High School!
CC: @StonehamSuper
CC: @StonehamSuper
The start of the “feasibility period” allows the School Building Cmte. can start work to develop concepts for the new SHS. This wouldn't be possible without the years of advocacy by Stoneham Public Schools, the community, & a recognition that a new high school is badly needed.
I'll keep advocating for state $$$ for other much-needed school projects across our district (like Wakefield HS & Winchester's Lynch & Muraco Schools) to ensure that all our students can access safe, modern, accessible & fully-equipped facilities for a top-notch public education
I'm excited to be appointed today as the lead @MA_Senate negotiator on the conference committee named to finalize the #StudentOpportunityAct!
I look forward to working with fellow conferees @RepAlicePeisch, @PaulTuckerSalem, @KimFergusonMA, @SenRodrigues and @PatrickMOConnor.
I look forward to working with fellow conferees @RepAlicePeisch, @PaulTuckerSalem, @KimFergusonMA, @SenRodrigues and @PatrickMOConnor.
The #StudentOpportunityAct is a landmark school funding bill which would invest $1.5B in MA schools, ensuring adequate & equitable funding for all districts.
The bill passed the House & Senate unanimously, but there are some modest differences between the two versions.
The bill passed the House & Senate unanimously, but there are some modest differences between the two versions.
I was in my first months as an aide when this vote went down. The pressure from the Speaker, a Democrat, to NOT support more significant investment in transportation was intense. It was a glaring example of lack of courage and lack of vision from the leadership team. #mapoli
This #mapoli history is worth unpacking a bit. It was the most important political debate of it's mini era and helped define the political consciousness of a set of staff and legislators. Here's a thread:
Typically the kind pressure Kaufman describes is implicit. More "we'll exclude you socially" than clear quid pro quos. It's only explicit for the Speaker's top priorities. So in this case, a smaller tax package and smaller transportation investments were a top priority.
Starting the @MA_Senate formal session on the #StudentOpportunityAct.
Tune in here: malegislature.gov/Events/Session…
And follow this thread for live updates from me and my team!
#mapoli #FBRC #MAEdu
Tune in here: malegislature.gov/Events/Session…
And follow this thread for live updates from me and my team!
#mapoli #FBRC #MAEdu
@MA_Senate I'm speaking now in support of the #StudentOpportunityAct, a piece of legislation which recognizes the fact that access to an excellent public education is not a luxury—it is a fundamental right, in every community and for every child in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. #MAEdu
@MA_Senate In the 18th century, President John Adams, the author of our state constitution, wrote that “Laws for liberal education of youth … are so extremely wise and useful, that, to a humane and generous mind, no expense for that purpose would be thought extravagant.” #MAEdu
The #StudentOpportunityAct liveblog will be going up over here: who-cester.blogspot.com/2019/10/livebl…
#FBRC #MAEdu
#FBRC #MAEdu
I'll thread livetweeting the #StudentOpportunityAct off of this post, so the two stay together. I'm only promising the use of #FBRC, though.
We have a few more Senators coming in, including Sen. @SoniaChangDiaz.
Believe it or not, there's also still seats in the gallery.
We have a few more Senators coming in, including Sen. @SoniaChangDiaz.
Believe it or not, there's also still seats in the gallery.
the Senate has been called to order and they're passing resolutions honoring people
#FBRC
#FBRC
Kicking off our roundtable with #5thMiddlesex educators, parents, school committee members, superintendents and others to discuss the #StudentOpportunityAct! #mapoli #FBRC #maedu
So excited that representatives, officials and community members are here from ALL the communities in the #5thMiddlesex: #MaldenMA #MelroseMA #ReadingMA #StonehamMA #WakefieldMA #StonehamMA!
Thank you @StonehamSuper and #StonehamCentralMiddleSchool for hosting us at the middle school library tonight and thank you @StonehamTV for recording, airing and sharing the event! #mapoli #maedu
Earlier today, the Education Cmte. released the #StudentOpportunityAct, an unprecedented $1.5B investment in MA public schools, will expand opportunities for all students, esp. those facing educational disadvantages, and provide more resources to all of our communities. #mapoli
One of the first issues that motivated me to run for office was the need for adequate and equitable funding in MA public education. Education is a right: it should be provided equitably to all children, regardless of their zip code or income level. #mapoli #StudentOpportunityAct
The Education Cmte. has worked closely with #MAedu stakeholders from across the Commonwealth to develop the #StudentOpportunityAct. I'm grateful to all of the educators, school administrators, state and local officials & other stakeholders who helped us develop this bill #mapoli
