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Trump transition team ethics pledge appears to exclude president-elect; AZ grandmother, a climate activist for decades, isn't slowing down; Georgia Match program hailed as college enrollment rises; and PA environmental, free speech advocates worry over 'anti-terror' law.

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Vice President Harris sends her supporters a Thanksgiving Day message to 'keep fighting,' Democrats flip a US House seat in Southern California, and Elon Musk posts names and titles of federal employees he hopes to fire.

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Residents in Colorado's rural communities face challenges to recycling, climate change and Oregon's megadrought are worrying firefighters, and a farm advocacy group says corporate greed is behind high food prices in Montana.

Higher Ed Advocates: Cherish Act Could Help Counter Supreme Court Decisions

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Monday, July 3, 2023   

Education advocates in Massachusetts say state lawmakers could help counter the Supreme Court's recent decisions to end affirmative action and student-loan forgiveness.

Supporters of the Cherish Act say it provides a blueprint for high-quality, debt-free education to every resident of the Commonwealth.

Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page said eliminating student debt is an essential investment and a step toward achieving racial and economic justice.

"That will help solve one important part of the inequity," said Page, "which is that students of color - because of long-standing racism in this country - have much less wealth."

Massachusetts has the fastest-growing public college costs in the nation, while the average student borrower within Massachusetts public colleges has nearly $32,000 in student loans.

Student debt in the Commonwealth was a driving force behind last year's passage of the Fair Share Amendment, allocating revenue from a new "millionaire's tax" toward public education and transportation.

Page said the funding could make college more accessible and help ensure more diverse student bodies.

"To study together, to learn together, to argue with one another over important issues," said Page, "this is the way we build young people who will be citizens in an active democracy."

Page said the student-debt crisis is also linked to the shortage of educators.

He said the state will soon implement the Tomorrow's Teachers Scholarship Program, offering free education to eligible students pursuing a teaching degree to work in Massachusetts public schools.

Disclosure: Massachusetts Teachers Association contributes to our fund for reporting on Budget Policy & Priorities, Children's Issues, Civic Engagement, Education. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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The U.S. Supreme Court hears on average 80 cases per session, out of the thousands of requests it receives. (Adobe Stock)

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