Chapter 70 Funding

Increased rural school aid ‘a tremendous win,’ administrators and legislators say

Posted on Monday, August 21st, 2023 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Chris Larabee, Recorder
Date: 8/18/2023
Link: Complete Article

Months after Gov. Maura Healey’s initial budget proposal showed a moderate increase to rural school aid, that line item has nearly tripled in the approved budget, in what area administrators say is a step in the right direction toward equitable education in rural districts. Signed earlier this month by Healey, the final fiscal year 2024… [Read More]

State’s education secretary gets an earful from educators, politicians in Northampton stop

Posted on Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Alexander Macdougall, Hampshire Daily Gazette
Date: 5/8/2023
Link: Complete Article

NORTHAMPTON — Even if the students at Bridge Street Elementary School didn’t know who Patrick Tutwiler was, they could clearly tell he was somebody important. Students frequently stopped him during a Monday tour of the pre-K-5 school to say hello, shake his hand and even ask for his autograph. When he entered the cafeteria, flanked… [Read More]

Gov. Baker agrees to major spending increase in his final budget

Posted on Friday, July 29th, 2022 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Colin A Young, WBUR
Date: 7/28/2022
Link: Complete Article

Signing his eighth and final budget as the state’s chief executive, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday agreed to a major increase in state spending as he approved the vast majority of a $52.7 billion annual budget, vetoed less than half a million dollars of outlays, and returned 41 sections to the Legislature with proposed amendments…. [Read More]

Area lawmakers active in crafting landmark education bill

Posted on Thursday, November 21st, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Dusty Crhistensen, Hampshire Daily Gazette
Date: 11/20/2019
Link: Complete Article

BOSTON — It was a joyous atmosphere on Beacon Hill Wednesday as the state Legislature unanimously passed the $1.5 billion Student Opportunity Act school funding bill. And western Massachusetts lawmakers have their fingerprints all over the legislation. The landmark compromise legislation is a significant overhaul of the state’s Chapter 70 education funding formula. It was… [Read More]

Stretched too thin: Rural school districts go on the offensive for legislative help

Posted on Sunday, March 3rd, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Greta Jochem, Hampshire Gazette
Date: 3/2/2019
Link: Complete Article

CHESTERFIELD — As the state eyes changing the way it funds public education, rural schools are asking that the law take into account the unique challenges their districts face and establish rural school aid. The Massachusetts Rural Schools Coalition, led by Michael Buoniconti, the superintendent of the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont Regional School districts, went… [Read More]

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]