Education Reform Update

January 7, 2010

Early this morning, the state House of Representatives passed education reform legislation including key MTA-supported amendments by a vote of 119 to 35.

In a significant victory for educators and students, the House bill includes language that promotes collaboration in underperforming schools by protecting our collective bargaining rights, ensuring a fair dismissal process for teachers and providing for a balanced dispute-resolution process.

State Representative Katherine Clark (D-Melrose) deserves special credit and appreciation for her strong and persistent leadership on the MTA-supported amendments.

The MTA’s Division of Governmental Services, which lobbied legislators late into the night, is currently analyzing the final language in the House bill.

The education bill that passed the Senate in December also includes key provisions supported by the MTA.

The next stop for the bill is likely to be a House-Senate conference committee. The conference committee is expected to begin meeting Monday and have a bill on the governor’s desk by the end of next week.

You calls, visits, postcards and e-mails to the legislators made a big difference.

Please visit the MTA Web site, www.massteacher.org, for updates and action alerts. This bill is on a fast track, so we cannot let up now.


Thank you.