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Michael Festa on Education


This Scorecard reflects votes from the 2003-2004 legislative session. Click here for the 2005-2006 Scorecard.

Vote selection and interpretation by representatives of Mass Scorecard without approval or participation from the Massachusetts Democratic Party.

Voted YES on Exempting two-way bilingual programs from English-only rules.
Platform indicates voting YES in Part II: Education:Excellence, Equality and Community.

Gov. Romney vetoed budget section 210, which says. “Section 4 of MGL chapter 71A is hereby further amended to add:— “Foreign language classes for children who already know English, 2-way bilingual programs for students in kindergarten through grade 12 and special education programs for physically or mentally impaired students shall be unaffected.” [MGL chapter 71A requires English-only classroom teaching. Section 210 would exempt “2-way classes” in which some students are native English speakers and some are non-native English speakers. A vote to override the Governor's veto would continue to allow that type of bilingual education although foreign-language classes without native English-speaking students would still be disallowed.]

The relevant part of the MassDems Platform is Part II: Education, Training, And Opportunity -- Excellence, Equality and Community: "We reaffirm our support for classroom programs, including Special and Bilingual Education"

Reference: Excellence, Equality and Community; Bill Section 209 ; vote number MA03-H266 on Jul 14, 2003

Voted YES on moratorium on expansion of charter schools.
Platform indicates voting YES in Part II: Education:Full Funding.

Gov. Romney vetoed a budget line item (“Section 312”) which would impose a moratorium on additional charter schools, and additional enrollment at existing charter schools, and would suspend the five charters granted in 2004, pending additional study on the subject. The House vote was to override the governor's veto. A yes vote would override the veto and impose the moratorium. A no vote would sustain the veto and allow the next round of expansion of charter schools.

Relevant platform section: Full Funding: We call upon the state to change funding of Commonwealth Charter schools to ensure that funds are not drained from established public schools.

Bill Veto Override, sec. 312 ; vote number MA04-H740 on Jul 20, 2004

Voted YES on 3-year moratorium on charter schools.
Platform indicates voting YES in Part II: Education:Full Funding.

Would require 3 yr moratorium and empower commission to study feasibility of charter schools.

Relevant section of platform: PART II: EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND OPPORTUNITY: Full Funding: "We call upon the state to change funding of Commonwealth Charter schools to ensure that funds are not drained from established public schools."

Bill H.4000 ; vote number MA03-H088 on May 6, 2003


Accord with the Democratic Party Platform is determined by representatives of Mass Scorecard and has no approval by nor association with the Massachusetts Democratic Party.

Other Mass Reps from Middlesex County on Education:      Michael Festa on other issues:
Cory Atkins
Ruth Balser
Deborah Blumer
Paul Casey
Vincent Ciampa
Edward Connolly
Paul Donato
Carol Donovan
James Eldridge
Christopher Fallon
Colleen Garry
Thomas Golden
William Greene
Geoffrey Hall
Robert Hargraves
Patricia Jehlen
Bradley Jones
Rachel Kaprielian
Jay Kaufman
Kay Khan
Peter Koutoujian
Stephen LeDuc
David Linsky
Paul Loscocco
James Marzilli
James Miceli
Kevin Murphy
Charles Murphy
David Nangle
Anne Paulsen
Susan Pope
Karen Spilka
Thomas Stanley
Timothy Toomey
Patricia Walrath
Alice Wolf
Part I: Families & Children
Part II: Education
Part III: Health Care
Part IV: Economic Growth
Part V: Fiscal Responsibility
Part VI: Safety & Justice
Part VII: Housing
Part VIII: Environment
Part IX: Political Reform
Part X: Worker Rights
Part XI: America & the World

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