The Massachusetts Teachers Association, our state union, has pledged to unleash member power to increase state funding for public schools and higher education. Fund Our Future: Invest in the Schools and Colleges Our Communities Deserve was launched this fall. Its goal: increase state funds by $1 billion annually for K–12 schools and $500 million annually for higher education. The monetary goals are based on research reports that identified shortages needed to bring excellence to all schools and all students.