Partial Torelli groups and homological stability

Abstract: We prove a homological stability theorem for the subgroup of the mapping class group acting as the identity on some fixed portion of the first homology group of the surface. We also prove a similar theorem for the subgroup of the mapping class group preserving a fixed map from the fundamental group to a finite group, which can be viewed as a mapping class group version of a theorem of Ellenberg-Venkatesh-Westerland about braid groups. These results require studying various simplicial complexes formed by subsurfaces of the surface, generalizing work of Hatcher-Vogtmann.