Boston - Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued updated joint guidance?today to support Massachusetts’ higher education and K-12 institutions in their work to further equal access and representation in education in response to recent Executive Orders by President Trump and a U.S. Department of Education “Dear Colleague” letter dated February 14, 2025. 

Under the joint guidance, Massachusetts educational institutions should continue their work to foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility among their student bodies. Longstanding legal precedent has established that educational institutions may take steps to build student bodies that are meaningfully diverse across numerous dimensions, like geography, socioeconomic status, race, and sexual orientation and gender identity, among others. 

Governor Healey and AG Campbell want to affirm that the federal government cannot change this longstanding legal precedent by executive order or a Dear Colleague letter. These efforts cannot erase the truth that educational access has not been free from the impact of historical and systemic racism.?

“Attorney General Campbell and I are issuing this guidance to send a clear message that Massachusetts is going to stay true to who we are,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We believe that bringing people of different backgrounds and perspectives to the table – including women, People of Color and the LGBTQ+ community – is a strength, especially in education. We are committed to working closely with our incredible schools, colleges and universities to support all of our students.”

“I'm proud to partner with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Secretary Tutwiler and in updating guidance to affirm that Massachusetts schools can continue efforts to ensure diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility,” said Attorney General Campbell. “Despite the Trump Administration’s continued attempts to create confusion and anxiety, the law has not changed, and schools must continue their work to make sure that every student, regardless of background, can access educational opportunities in the Commonwealth.”

“I am grateful for our administration’s partnership with Attorney General Campbell and her team. Today’s guidelines strengthen our commitment to ensuring that everyone has equal access to our K-12 schools and institutions of higher education,”?said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll.?“In our state, we will continue to collaborate with education leaders to break down barriers to education so that all students can succeed today and into the future.”? 

This joint guidance reaffirms that these recent federal actions do not prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in admissions and access to higher education or other educational settings. It also includes steps that K-12 schools can take to set their students up for success.?Schools and higher education institutions should continue to take affirmative steps, within the law, to create and maintain a positive school climate where all students feel safe, supported, respected and ready to learn. This includes reviewing current practices to ensure they comply with all applicable anti-discrimination, anti-bullying and civil rights laws.?

“This country has long fought for all students to have equal access to a public education. The federal government is attempting to?take us back decades, exacerbating real inequities that still exist today.?Today’s joint guidance reaffirms that Massachusetts will continue to acknowledge and address historical and persistent gaps in student access and achievement,?including Black and Brown students, students with disabilities, low-income students, LGBTQ+ students and other marginalized student populations. We remain committed to supporting schools and higher education institutions, within the law, to build more equitable education systems for all students,” said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler.

Practices and programming that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility provide important educational and social benefits for students. They foster learning environments that provide all students an equal opportunity to learn and better prepare students to work in our diverse country and participate in our multiracial democracy. They are essential to promoting fair treatment and eliminating stigmatization. 

In September 2024, the Attorney General’s Office?and Governor Healey released joint?guidance on affirmative steps school districts can take to create school environments that are safe and inclusive for all students and prevent hate and bias incidents from occurring. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education also recently?issued a special advisory on Supporting All Students, Including LGBTQ Students.

“At DESE, our Educational Vision calls for all students to be known and supported and for families to be known, respected, and valued for who they are,” said Russell D. Johnston, Acting Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. “Our vision also calls for us to develop and sustain an educator workforce - from paraprofessionals to superintendents - that is diverse, culturally responsive, and well-prepared, because we know it will benefit students. We remain committed to this work and to the principle, reflected in our History and Social Science Curriculum Framework, that effective instruction celebrates the progress our country has made in embracing diversity, while at the same time encouraging honest and informed discussions about both racism and resistance in the past and present.”  

“All students in Massachusetts, regardless of their background or circumstances, should have access to postsecondary education, the support to succeed, and a welcoming campus environment,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “I’m proud that today’s guidance will help continue to support the exceptional work being done on our campuses to improve diversity, equity, access, and inclusion.” 

A copy of today’s guidance is available?here.

Statements of Support

Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland):

“Massachusetts has a proud history of protecting civil rights and ensuring everyone can access safe and high-quality public education at every level. I applaud Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell for issuing this joint guidance so that our teachers, students, administrators and residents can know that our commitment to diversity and inclusiveness is unwavering.”

House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy):

“The Massachusetts Constitution declares it’s the duty of the legislature to promote the spread of educational opportunities and advantages across the state, among all people, and the House remains committed to upholding that mission and ensuring that all students in the Commonwealth feel safe, supported, and valued.”

Josiane Martinez, Governor's Council on Latino Empowerment Chair, and ASG Founder and CEO: 

“This joint guidance shows the Healey-Driscoll Administration's and Attorney General’s commitment to protecting educational access for communities of color. We have witnessed a drop in students of color accessing higher education and increases in student absenteeism and hate in K-12 schools nationwide. I'm proud of the leadership in Massachusetts for ensuring that our community's youth have access to a brighter future, and I look forward to working with the Latino Empowerment Advisory Council to move this work forward.”

Tanisha M. Sullivan, Governor's Council on Black Empowerment Chair, and NAACP New England Area State Conference President:

“We appreciate the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s and Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s joint guidance?today that outlines how?Massachusetts educational institutions can continue their work to foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility among their student bodies. In Massachusetts, we remain focused on seeing all students have access to K-12 and higher education opportunities and the Governor’s Council on Black Empowerment looks forward to continuing the work toward that aspiration.”

Anna Krieger, Massachusetts Advocates for Children Executive Director:

“At Massachusetts Advocates for Children, we know that families and students are feeling extremely vulnerable because of the changes rolling out from the Trump administration. These changes threaten the very advances in race equity, disability inclusion, rights of immigrant learners, and rights of LGBTQIA+ students for which we have advocated alongside our partners in Massachusetts for decades. The guidance issued today by Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell is a powerful statement that Massachusetts refuses to go backward on these advances and affirms what we know to be true: promoting and embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion makes education stronger.”

Shaplaie Brooks, Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth Executive Director:

“The Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ+ Youth strongly supports the Joint Guidance on Equal Access to Education issued today by Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. This guidance reaffirms Massachusetts’ unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in education, ensuring that all students—across K-12 schools and higher education institutions—have equal opportunities to thrive. We recognize that educational institutions play a critical role in fostering learning environments that celebrate diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives. The ability of schools to create safe, supportive, and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ students, students of color, students with disabilities, and other historically marginalized groups is essential to advancing both student success and broader societal equity. We urge all Massachusetts educational institutions to utilize this critical guidance as they continue their efforts to support students of all identities and backgrounds. The Commission remains committed to working alongside state leaders, educators, and advocates to ensure that LGBTQ+ students—especially LGBTQ+ students of color, transgender and nonbinary students, and those at the intersections of multiple marginalized identities—receive the affirming, high-quality education they deserve.”

Mary M. Bourque, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (M.A.S.S.) Executive Director:

“As the birthplace of public education in our country, Massachusetts takes great pride in ensuring that our public schools are accessible and welcoming to all students, families, and staff. District leaders across the Commonwealth remain deeply committed to celebrating the diversity of our communities, expanding opportunities for underserved student groups, and eradicating discrimination and inequity from our schools and classrooms. We are grateful to the Healey Administration and Attorney General Campbell for providing guidance to counter the tremendous fear and uncertainty that recent federal directives have created."? 

Jessica Tang, American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President:

"As educators, we are focused?on equitable opportunities?and success for all of our students. Unfortunately, the Trump Administration is, once again, using fear tactics and sowing confusion to try and implement?an agenda based on misinformation and threats because?the law is not on his side. Not only is this latest attempt unconstitutional, they're doing exactly what they accuse others of: creating division and fear in classrooms across America. Children cannot learn if they don't feel like they're in a safe and welcoming school. Massachusetts?educators are working to make sure our schools remain safe spaces for all students to learn in and to go to in times of need. We thank Governor Healey, Secretary Tutwiler, and Attorney General Campbell for taking action and showing the world that Massachusetts will not be deterred from protecting the things we value most - including access to a high-quality public education that opens doors for economic opportunity and helps foster inclusivity and tolerance for every child of the Commonwealth."?

Max Page and Deb McCarthy, Massachusetts Teachers Association President and Vice President:

“From school to school and from campus to campus, MTA members are standing in solidarity along with their other union colleagues, students and community members to promote the values of diversity, equity and inclusion in both learning and working conditions. Our laws are clear and enable us to support all students and colleagues and to respect their views and dignity. Public schools, colleges and universities have a responsibility to ensure every student and staff member feels safe and supported. We are committed to working with Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell in upholding our state’s existing legal protections as they are essential to maintaining the high quality of public education available in Massachusetts.”

Manuel J Fernandez and Kathy Lopes, Association of Massachusetts School Equity Leaders (AMSEL) President and 1st Vice President:

“The Association of Massachusetts School Equity Leaders is proud to support this joint statement, reaffirming the Commonwealth’s longstanding commitment to centering underrepresented populations who face systemic barriers that impact their PreK-12 school experiences. School equity leaders are essential in advancing equity and elevating voices furthest from justice and we intend to continue fighting on behalf of all of our students and educators.”

Dr. Luis Pedraja, President of Quinsigamond Community College and Chair of the Community College Council of Presidents:

“During these times of great uncertainty, we are incredibly appreciative of the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Attorney General Campbell. Community colleges have a long history of being open-access institutions that support all learners by meeting them where they are and ensuring they have the tools necessary to be successful. We look forward to continuing that work with the guidance and support from the Governor and Attorney General.”

Dr. Linda Thompson, Chair of the Massachusetts State Universities Council of Presidents, and President of Westfield State University: 

“Westfield State University is committed to protecting the rights and freedoms of all students, faculty, librarians, and staff including academic freedom which is a cornerstone of higher education.?The updated joint guidance from Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell strengthens the collective interest and intention of educational institutions in the Commonwealth in advancing our?commitment?to?offering accessible, quality academic programs in a welcoming community focused on student engagement and success. We are steadfast in our commitment to offering a diverse learning environment where everyone is respected and valued.”

Marty Meehan, UMass President:

“We’re incredibly grateful to Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell for their leadership and their unwavering support for higher education and equal opportunity. At UMass, we remain committed to creating welcoming and supportive campus communities where all experiences, cultures, and perspectives are respected. We have faced similar challenges in the past, including when the Supreme Court overturned affirmative action in college admissions, and we were able to continue our forward progress in building inclusive, representative student bodies at our campuses. I remain confident in our ability to continue living up to our values as an institution.”

Rob McCarron, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts President and CEO:

“We applaud Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell for this much needed guidance in response to the Dear Colleague Letter. Equally important, we thank them for their leadership and support during this time of great uncertainty coming from Washington, DC. Our institutions remain committed to their missions of learning and research, as well as creating campuses that are welcoming for all.”

Frederick W. Clark, Jr., Esq., President of Bridgewater State University:

“This is the moment for courageous and principled leadership. Bridgewater State University (BSU) stands united with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Attorney General in reaffirming our state’s unwavering commitment to inclusive education. Along with the state universities of Massachusetts, BSU has long been dedicated to the fundamental belief that public higher education should be accessible, inclusive, and empowering for all students.”?