PoliticaL Information

Can you help the Massachusetts School Library Association draw new attention to S.2865 (Senate) and H5177 (House), An Act Relative to School Library Standards, important bills that would strengthen school library programs and support students’ access to reading, research, and information literacy across Massachusetts?

The legislation is now before both the Senate and House Ways and Means Committees and is attracting positive attention from legislators. That’s good news. But this is also the moment when constituent voices matter most.

Take an important step for the future of school libraries in Massachusetts: Please contact your State Senator and State Representative and to ask them to endorse, support, and consider co-sponsoring S.2865 and H5177.

Hearing from MTA constituents helps legislators understand that strong school libraries matter to families, educators, and communities across the Commonwealth.

Currently, 60% of Massachusetts students do not have access to a licensed school library teacher (DESE 2025). This bill would establish clear and consistent standards for school library programs so that every student in Massachusetts has access to:

- Professionally supported school library services

- Strong collections that support reading and learning

- Instruction in research, critical thinking & information, digital and media literacies

- Equitable access to library resources across districts

School libraries are one of the few places in a school where reading culture, research skills, and student curiosity come together. Establishing statewide standards helps ensure that these opportunities are available to all students, not just those in well-resourced districts. What you can do today?

Please take a moment to reach out to your State Representative and ask them to support S.2865 and H5177 – An Act Relative to School Library Standards. A short message from a constituent can make a real difference as the bill moves through committee this session.

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Literacy: The Massachusetts House of Representatives and state Senate have each passed bills, H.4683 and S.2940 respectively, that mandate the use of certain literacy curricula in our public schools. Now, a legislative conference committee has been convened to reconcile the differences between the two versions and develop a final, compromise bill. Please let our legislators know that educator input is essential in this process by completing this Action Network .

Graduation Council: We eliminated the MCAS graduation requirement, now we need to be involved in what comes next. Please provide your input here Council Input Form.

Tell DESE: Protect Our School Communities: Currently, many districts lack meaningful safety protocols or policies against the threats of federal immigration enforcement in our school communities. We are urging the Secretary of Education, the Commissioner of Education, and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to ensure that all districts have clear and comprehensive protocols, so every school is prepared to keep students, families, and staff safe! We are collecting both individual and organizational sign-ons to be included at the bottom of the petition letter. You can add your voice here:  Action Network page.  If you are authorized to sign on behalf of your local, please indicate this when completing the form.

RetirementPlus: The Massachusetts House of Representative voted to add language to its version of the fiscal year 2027 budget that is nearly identical to S.1884/ H.4361 (formerly H.2932), which would provide teachers who did not provide a written election to participate in RetirementPlus to have a second opportunity to do so. The budget now heads to the Senate where it will be debated and passed by the end of May.  After that, the two versions of the budget will go to a conference committee consisting of House and Senate members who will be charged with developing a final version of the budget that will be voted on and sent to the Governor.Today we are asking members to contact their Senator and ask that they support the inclusion of the House’s RetirementPlus language in the Senate’s version of the budget.  Please use the link below to send your senator an email requesting their support in addressing this issue. Complete our R+ Action Network

Tax Cut Ballot Initiatives: Over the past few years, Massachusetts has made tremendous investments, made possible with the revenue raised by the Fair Share Amendment, in free school lunches, free community college, improved public infrastructure and transportation and other initiatives that actually make our state great and competitive. It is clear, however, that the MHTC intends to use the threat of these ballot initiatives not to provide relief for working families, but to undo these investments in public services and prioritize cutting taxes for the ultra-rich and large corporations.
Urge MA State Legislators to Oppose Any Deal with the Proponents of Tax Cut Ballot Initiatives — Action Network

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The Freedom to Read and eBook bills will have an impact on students and staff's ability to access information.

- Freedom to Read - These bills would further protect libraries and librarians from censorship and abuse.  There are several bills, but we are asking for legislators to sponsor SD.141 and HD.625.  You can share this Freedom to Read handout with your legislators.

- eBook Bill - These bills would work towards increasing access to digital resources, while also creating a fairer pricing model for libraries.  The bills include SD.2329 and HD.1221. You can share this eBook handout with your legislators.