The quality of school facilities plays a critical role in student learning, health, and well-being. Yet in Massachusetts, large disparities persist. Students in Boston and the Gateway Cities are significantly more likely to attend schools that are overcrowded, deteriorating, and lacking essential features such as libraries, science labs, and gyms.
Fixing the Foundation: Uneven Access to Modern Schools and a Blueprint for a More Equitable Future, a new report from the MassINC Policy Center and the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, examines these inequities and offers a blueprint for addressing them. The report highlights how facility conditions contribute to persistent achievement gaps and outlines policy solutions to strengthen the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) so that resources are directed where they are needed most.
On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, join us at the Massachusetts State House for the release of this report. The event will feature a presentation of key findings and a discussion with education and policy leaders about how Massachusetts can provide all students with safe, modern, and equitable school environments.
Agenda
Welcome
- Representative Kenneth Gordon, Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Education
- Paul Matthews, Executive Director of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau
Research Presentation
- Ben Forman, Director of the MassINC Policy Center
- Anthony Clough, Public Policy Research Associate, Worcester Regional Research Bureau
Discussion
- Jennifer Herring, Moderator, Executive Director of the Worcester Education Collaborative
- Mayor Jared Nicholson, City of Lynn
- Andrew O’Leary, Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools
- Jessica Tang, President of AFT Massachusetts
Closing Remarks
- Senator Brendan Crighton, Third Essex
