BREAKING: Amendments to Criminal Justice Reform Bill Would Eliminate Provisions Decriminalizing Non-Violent Student Behavior and Providing Guidance on the Proper Role of SROs!

Action Alert GOOD NEWS! The Senate Ways and Means Committee has released its version of the omnibus criminal justice reform bill (S.2185)! This version of the bill includes key provisions we support from H.328/S.876, An Act decriminalizing non-violent and verbal student misconduct. Section 174 of S2185 would decriminalize non-violent misconduct in schools by eliminating the crime of disturbing school assembly. […]

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MA Senate Criminal Justice Reform Bill Includes School Arrest Reforms!

Action Alert Great news! The criminal justice reform bill that was recently released by the Senate (S2170) includes key provisions we support from H.328/S.876, An Act decriminalizing non-violent and verbal student misconduct. These important provisions eliminate the practice of arresting students for minor behavioral infractions and establish standards and accountability for police in schools. This is an issue […]

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Budget Victory! MA Senate Pushes Through Funding for Homeless Youth!

Thank you for standing up and speaking out in defense of homeless youth.  You did it! Thanks to your tireless efforts, the Senate has overridden Governor Baker’s veto of funding for homeless youth! With an overwhelming vote of 35-2, the Senate restored $675,000 for housing and services for unaccompanied youth and young adults.  Months ago, when Governor […]

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MA Appleseed Joins New Mexico Appleseed to Fight Lunch Shaming

Action Alert What is “lunch shaming?” “Lunch shaming” is a harsh disciplinary practice in which students who cannot pay their school lunch bill or have outstanding debt on their account are punished. Examples of lunch shaming include: Stamping children on the arm with the phrase “I Need Lunch Money” Forcing children to complete chores in […]

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Fall Harvest Friendraiser

2017 Fall Harvest Friendraiser Join us on October 11th to learn about our recent projects to expand Access to Justice and the status of our Keep Kids in Class project.

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We have one last chance to save funding for homeless youth in the FY18 state budget!

Action Alert Months ago, Governor Baker ELIMINATED line item 4000-0007 in the 2018 state budget – which allocated $675,000 in funding for homeless youth.The Governor’s reasoning? That this amount was “too small to be effective.” While $675,000 may seem “too small” for Governor Baker, these are necessary funds that could prove life-saving for homeless youth. It could mean the difference between […]

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