Issue Position: Pre-K to Grade 12

Issue Position

First and foremost, we must overhaul the public school foundation budget to address the actual costs school systems face with regard to health insurance, an influx of English language learners and families living in poverty, and rising special education costs. We also need to fight for a greater investment in the arts, music, languages, and sciences.

We cannot effectively correct our school budget shortfalls without addressing the fact that charter schools drain much-needed resources from our public schools. I will fight to keep the cap on the number of charter schools in the Commonwealth and I oppose expanding enrollment in existing charter schools.

I support full funding of initiative to mitigate the cost of charter schools on city and town budgets.

And, since charter schools receive public funds, they need to be run transparently and with full accountability.

But here's what's also true: Everyone has a stake in excellent public education. Parents, guardians, and advocates for education of all backgrounds must unite in fixing the current funding formula.

I will fight for universal, affordable pre-Kindergarten education. Since 2001, funding for pre-K education in the Commonwealth has been cut back by 20 percent, even as study after study reveals the profound benefits of early childhood education. According to the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, "there are 51,000 three and four year olds who are living at 200 percent of poverty. One third of them get no public support for early childhood education." We must do better.

I oppose high stakes testing and will fight for smaller class sizes, which are optimal for all our children, but especially for those in the lower grades. Smaller class sizes coupled with individualized opportunities for learning can help close achievement gaps, particularly for students with special needs and students of color.

I will fight for dedicated funding for transportation which, coupled with access to high-speed internet, are particular challenges for rural school districts.

I will support teachers' unions and the dedicated educators and staff who are the foundation of our schools.

I will also prioritize connecting community resources to families in need. Children cannot learn if they are uncertain about where their next meal will come from or whether they have a safe place to live. They cannot learn as effectively if they are struggling with anxiety or have unattended medical needs. Our schools are embracing the complex and pressing realities facing our communities today. Let's stand with the teachers, staff, and families on the frontlines of this work.

I will also support safe schools and initiatives to prevent gun violence in our schools. This issue is very dear to me, and was one of my top priorities while I was at MoveOn, where I helped to lead a campaign on gun safety by mobilizing many thousands of people, including thousands of gun owners, which culminated in President Obama signing an Executive Order on gun safety. As a mom, this issue struck too close to home when I received a call that my kids' school was locked down due to a perceived threat. We should not have to live with these fears. As your State Senator, I will fight tirelessly to protect our children from the threat of gun violence.

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