High-quality and equitable education opportunities, ranging across early childhood, K-12, technical education, higher education and apprenticeships, are pivotal for the economic prospects of working people and their children. Disparities in education funding and the resulting inequities in the programs and services provided to children and adults of different incomes and races can determine the earning potential for someone’s entire life. EARN groups analyze how state and local school taxes are raised and how education funding is parceled out, showing the impact of current education policies and suggesting reforms that can improve educational outcomes and economic conditions for working families.
Towards the Other Side: Past the Pandemic and Beyond to an Equitable Recovery
- June 21, 2021
- Nancy Wagman
Key Takeaways
- Massachusetts ranked #1 nationally in measures of child well-being, but the state’s successes have been uneven.
- Even before the pandemic, poverty rates for children of color and for children in Gateway Cities were double or more than the statewide average.
- The pandemic hit communities unevenly and made disparities more stark.
- Federal funds will help repair the damage caused by the pandemic.
- The state budget will be a critical tool for building beyond recovery towards true equity.