Executive Summary

Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC) is a leading legal advocacy organization that has reshaped the education landscape since its founding. In 1969, MAC exposed the rampant exclusion of Black and Brown children with disabilities from Boston schools. This led to the passage of the country’s first bilingual education and special education laws in Massachusetts. As a result, thousands upon thousands of children, previously deemed unteachable, were able to go to school and learn, grow, and succeed with dignity. MAC has built on this legacy and continues to work in partnership with historically excluded communities to remove barriers to education for children in Massachusetts—including children with disabilities, immigrants, English learners, and youth of color. As members of these communities, MAC’s leadership, staff, and Board bring substantial lived experience to the work and commitment to using innovative community engagement strategies so that youth leaders and parent advocates can co-create their vision of education equity. MAC advocates for youth one-by-one, and also uses law, policy, and community organizing to bridge the growing divides within the education system as a whole. MAC has successfully led efforts to pass over sixteen landmark laws and has secured millions of dollars in government funding to support . For example, in 2022 MAC secured passage of the first inclusive higher education law in the country and a law to develop a school interpreter training curriculum to address poor interpretation. MAC also zealously monitors compliance with the law, and holds school districts and institutions accountable.

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