State News

Orange: state shortchanges its SPED funding by $3.5 million

Posted on Thursday, February 28th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: David McLellan, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 2/27/2019
Link: Complete Article

ORANGE — It’s not just rural schools feeling left behind by the 25-year-old formula for state aid, it’s schools with a high number of special education students too. Unfortunately, Orange’s elementary schools are both, and the special education issue is costing Orange taxpayers about $3.5 million a year, town officials calculate. The town Finance Committee… [Read More]

Baker to file stand-alone education bill

Posted on Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Matt Murphy, Worcester Telegram
Date: 1/7/2019
Link: Complete Article

BOSTON – Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday he’s “optimistic” that the Legislature and his administration can reach a deal to reform public education funding by the summer, despite past attempts falling apart in recent years when talks between House and Senate Democrats broke down. Baker, in his inaugural address, said he would be filing a… [Read More]

Elementary School In Berkshires Revamps Culture With Trauma In Mind

Posted on Tuesday, December 18th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Karen Brown, www.nepr.net
Date: 12/14/2018
Link: Complete Article

Other than its bucolic setting in the Berkshire mountains, Lee Elementary seems like any other public school. Case in point: On a recent morning, as children were scuttling to classes, stuffing their backpacks in their lockers, the loudspeaker announced the day’s taco-salad lunch and reminded students to apply for the talent show. But around the building,… [Read More]

Rural School Aid awarded to local districts

Posted on Tuesday, November 6th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Diane Broncaccio, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 11/6/2018
Link: Complete Article

DALTON – State Sen. Adam G. Hinds and state education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley announced that 33 rural school districts will receive part of a new $1.5 million appropriation to help cash-strapped rural schools in sparsely populated communities. In Franklin County, the largest aid sums went to Ralph C. Mahar, Mohawk Trail and Pioneer Valley regional school… [Read More]

Afterschool and Out-of-School Programs Woefully Underfunded

Posted on Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: State Senator Brendan Crighton, Date: 10/23/2018
Link: Complete Article

A release from the office of State Senator Brendan Crighton: The Legislature’s Afterschool and Out-of-School Time (ASOST) Coordinating Council has found that years of underfunding have left too many Massachusetts children without access to the afterschool and summer learning programs that would help them reach their fullest potential. In a comprehensive report, Recommendations of the… [Read More]

Rural School Aid in State Budget

Posted on Friday, July 27th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Bob Salsbert and Steve LeBlanc, Greenfield Recorder/Associated Press
Date: July 26, 2018
Link: Complete Article

BOSTON — Massachusetts’ new budget includes $1.5 million for a new “rural school aid” account championed by Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield. Nearly one month into the state’s new fiscal year, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker signed the $42 billion spending package into law Thursday, ending the state’s status as the only one in the nation without… [Read More]

400 Attend Annual DYS Art Showcase

Posted on Friday, May 25th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Martha Maloney, Collaborative for Educational Services
Date: 5/25/2018

Over 400 people from across the Commonwealth filled the space at WGBH Studios in Brighton on Tuesday, May 15th to celebrate the work of youth involved with the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, at the 6th Annual Statewide DYS Youth Arts Showcase, “Share Your Art, Share Your Voice”. The Showcase is part of work to… [Read More]

Baker-Polito Administration Signs Criminal Justice Reform Laws, Proposes Additional Reforms

Posted on Tuesday, April 17th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Susan Petroni, Framingham Source
Date: 4/13/2018
Link: Complete Article

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker today signed An Act Implementing the Joint Recommendations of the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Review and An Act Relative to Criminal Justice Reform. After careful review of the comprehensive legislation and initial discussions with the Legislature, the Baker-Polito Administration will also file a separate bill today, An Act Building on Criminal Justice Reform, to modify certain provisions…. [Read More]

ESE Issues Fiscal Conditions in Rural School Districts Report

Posted on Friday, March 2nd, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Kathy Levesque, Collaborative for Educational Services
Date: 3/2/2018

In January, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) filed a report with the Joint Committee on Ways & Means, the Joint Committee on Education and the Commonwealth’s Rural Policy Advisory Commission on Fiscal Conditions in Rural School Districts. The report was part of a feasibility study requested by the legislature, relative to establishing… [Read More]

Jeff Riley Will Be Massachusetts’ New Education Commissioner

Posted on Tuesday, January 30th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Max Larkin, WBUR.org
Date: 1/30/2017
Link: Complete Article

It’s official: Jeff Riley will be the state’s next education commissioner. Members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted 8-3 to recommend Riley for the post. Among his supporters, Education Sec. James Peyser, who will make the official appointment. “Riley is probably the best choice for us at this time,” Peyser said. Riley… [Read More]