Protect Education Equity Bill Officially the Law in Massachusetts

 
 

We're thrilled to share breaking news: the Protect Education Equity Bill is officially the law in Massachusetts! This is a major victory for immigrant children and students with disabilities across the Commonwealth, and a powerful stand against recent federal attacks on their rights.

For the first time, Massachusetts state law explicitly affirms the right to a public education in Massachusetts for students of all immigration statuses and students with disabilities.

This law comes at a time of rising federal threats to civil rights. While federal protections for immigrant students and students with disabilities are in jeopardy, Massachusetts has taken a bold stand to ensure that those rights remain protected here at home.

The law:

  • Explicitly establishes in state law that education anti-discrimination law protects children of all immigration statuses and children with disabilities

  • Requires schools to provide trained interpreters so families who speak a language other than English can understand and participate in their child's education

  • Protects the right of English learners with disabilities to get the special education services they need

  • Prevents students with disabilities from being unfairly punished for behavior that is related to their disability, while still keeping schools safe

We are deeply grateful to Speaker Ronald Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, Chair Aaron Michlewitz, Chair Michael Rodrigues, House Leader Alice Peisch, House Leader Frank Moran, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Senator Pavel Payano, Conference Committee Members, and the many legislative staffers who worked tirelessly to get this bill across the finish line with incredible speed.

This victory was also made possible by the powerful advocacy of our statewide coalition – families, educators, legal advocates, and community partners – who came together to demand that Massachusetts stand firm in protecting the rights of all students. And, together, we are.

Now that the law is signed by Governor Healey, our work continues. We’ll be focused on ensuring strong, statewide implementation so that the promises of this law translate into real, lasting change for students and families across the Commonwealth.

Thank you to our amazing coalition partners!

ACLU of Massachusetts

American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts (AFT-MA)

Arc of Massachusetts

Association of Massachusetts School Equity Leaders (AMSEL)

Autistic People of Color Fund

Black Autism Coalition

Boston's Higher Ground

Brazilian Women's Group

Center for Law and Education

Center for New Americans

Center for Public Representation

Children's Law Center of MA, Inc.

Citizens for Juvenile Justice

Citizens for Public Schools

Coalition for a Better Acre

Cognitive Holistic Healing

CPLAN (Collaborative Parent Leadership Action Network)

Edlaw Project of the Committee for Public Counsel Services

EdTrust in Massachusetts

English for New Bostonians

Enroot Education

Federation for Children with Special Needs

Fortaleza, Inc

Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development & Public Policy

International Institute of New England (IINE)

Justice Center of Southeast MA

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)

La Colaborativa

Lawrence Community Works

Latinx Center

Lawyers for Civil Rights

Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice

Massachusetts Association of Haitian Parents

Massachusetts Association of Teachers of Speakers of Other Languages (MATSOL)

Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance (MEJA)

Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

Massachusetts Teachers Association

Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee

MIRA Coalition

Multistate Association for Bilingual Education, Northeast, Inc (MABE)

Refugee & Immigrant Assistance Center (RIAC)

Re-Imagining Migration

Padres Latinos de Somerville Public Schools

PPAL (Parent/Professional Advocacy League, Inc.)

ROCA

Saint Stephens Youth Programs

Sociedad Latina

Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative

United Communities Corp.

Youth Advocacy and Policy Lab