Protecting Our Vulnerable Students

Protecting Our Vulnerable Students

By Katrina Eberly
Senior Attorney

The current administration is intent on demolishing our federal system. Their focus on federalism and states’ rights has led to the dismantling of our federal Department of Education. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts government is taking active steps to protect our vulnerable K-12 students.

In August 2025, Massachusetts enacted the Protect Education Equity bill, which enshrines certain federal student rights into state law. Now, state law:

• Explicitly says that students of all immigration and citizenship statuses and students with disabilities have the right to a public education in Massachusetts (M.G.L. c. 76 § 5)
• Requires schools to provide trained interpreters to families who speak another language, so they can understand and participate in their child’s education (M.G.L. c. 69 § 1B)
• Protects the right of English learner students with disabilities to get the special education services they need (M.G.L. c. 71A §§ 4-5; M.G.L. c. 71B § 3)
• Prevents students with disabilities from being unfairly punished for behavior that is related to their disability (M.G.L. c. 71B § 3)

To be clear, the federal laws that protect student’s rights have not been rescinded or amended. However, the current administration has abdicated its responsibility to enforce certain federal laws that protect vulnerable K-12 students.  Thankfully, students’ rights for immigrant students and students with disabilities are now safe in Massachusetts.

But I worry about vulnerable K-12 students in other states. Our federal system was meant to protect minorities against the “tyranny of the majority.”

If you care about vulnerable K-12 students in your state, reach out to your state legislators and advocate for laws like the Protect Education Equity bill. Other states can use the Protect Education Equity bill as a blueprint for protecting their own vulnerable K-12 students. I hope other states are lucky enough to have strong minority coalitions and brave state legislatures and governors.

And if you care about vulnerable K-12 students, reach out to your Congressional representatives. Share your concerns about the federal government’s abdication of their duty to protect our most vulnerable children.

As always, our children are our future. All our children.

A special thanks to Massachusetts Advocates for Children and their many coalition partners, and to the Massachusetts legislators, Speaker Ronald Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, Chair Aaron Michlewitz, Chair Michael Rodrigues, House Leader Alice Peisch, House Leader Frank Moran, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Senator Pavel Payano, for all their work in ensuring the passage of the Protect Education Equity bill.

Katrina Eberly (she/her) is a Senior Attorney at Victim Rights Law Center. She provides direct representation to sexual assault victims in Western Massachusetts with a focus on education, safety, and privacy matters, as well as working with minor victims.