By Bob Katzen

Senate 36-4, approved an amendment that would repeal a current law, often called “Learnfare,” that allows the state to reduce Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) financial assistance to families whose children under age 16 have excessive unexcused school absences. The reduction or end to the benefits would apply only to the aid received by the child with the unexcused absences.

The amendment also tasked the Department of Transitional Assistance to seek federal permission to prevent SNAP recipients from using their public benefits on candy and soft drinks.

“Learnfare is an outdated state policy from 1995 that strips low-income families of their TAFDC financial assistance if a student has too many unexcused absences from school,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester). “Learnfare has proven to be ineffective, inequitable, needlessly punitive and pushes away students and families who need support the most. Chronic absenteeism for low-income students often comes from barriers such as housing and food insecurity, lack of transportation, illness and mental health struggles, disabilities and family responsibilities. We are working at the local and state level to address these issues to combat chronic absenteeism which has declined since the pandemic but still remains a problem.”

Lewis continued, “At the end of the day, taking away critical assistance from financially struggling families simply does not get students to attend school and only makes things worse, which is why I was proud to champion this issue and lead my Senate colleagues in voting to repeal Learnfare.”

Four of the chamber’s five Republicans voted against the repeal — Sens. Kelly Dooner (R-Taunton), Peter Durant (R-Spencer), Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton) and Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). None of them spoke against the repeal during the Senate debate and none responded to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them why they voted against the repeal.

(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment that would repeal a current law that allows the state to reduce TAFDC financial assistance to families whose children under age 16 have excessive unexcused school absences. A “No” vote is against the repeal and favors keeping the current law on the books.)

Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes