The letter delivered was signed by 1,075 leaders from communities across the state asking for immediate action to fix the school funding crisis. Specifically, they are focused on:
Strengthening the Special Education Circuit Breaker Program.
Fixing the Chapter 70 inflation cap.
Fully reimbursing regional and non-regional school districts for student transportation costs.
Significantly increasing rural school aid.
Further mitigating the financial impact of charter schools on traditional public schools.
Making targeted investments in the staffing and programs needed to best support student mental health.
This unprecedented show of unity marks the largest collective call for school funding reform in recent months. Earlier today, a delegation met with Governor Healey’s staff to drive home the urgency and importance of the issues outlined in their message.
“We are writing to demand decisive state action in the FY2027 budget and using available Fair Share surplus funds to address the fiscal crisis facing our public school districts. It is increasingly clear that public schools across our state are facing significant fiscal challenges caused by severe flaws in our school funding policies that are rapidly undermining our students’ constitutional right to a high-quality and fully funded public education,” the letter states.
The letter was signed by leaders from communities across Massachusetts. These leaders are sounding the alarm that Beacon Hill’s decisions are directly destabilizing local budgets and threatening essential student services. They are demanding fixes to the funding formulas that shape whether students in their communities have access to stable staffing, safe schools, and the supports they are entitled to.
“We know that every dollar we allocate to our schools today strengthens the long-term economic and civic health of the Commonwealth. Our schools are asked to do more and more each year, and state funding has not kept up with the pace of inflation or the needs of our students,” said Boston Teachers Union President Erik Berg. “From updating our dilapidated school buildings, to meeting the needs of our students with disabilities, we believe that Massachusetts has the resources and an obligation to invest in our students, and our future.”
“As district leaders across the Commonwealth begin to develop their budget proposals for FY27, far too many are facing the tremendous challenge of costs rising at rates that greatly exceed the growth in revenue,” said Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Executive Director Mary M. Bourque. “As inflation continues to soar, our cities and towns simply cannot close budget gaps on their own using local funding from taxpayers. If Massachusetts is expected to lead the nation in public education, the State must leverage all of the funding sources at its disposal to provide districts, schools, educators, and students the resources they need to excel.”
“Today, we brought the full weight of more than 1,000 signatories straight to Governor Healey’s doorstep,” said Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy. “This fiscal crisis is statewide, it’s urgent, and it cannot be kicked down the road any longer. Our students are already losing the vital services that help them learn, thrive, and feel safe. School districts are laying off staff by the dozens, not just at the end of the school year, but mid-year, as we saw 23 educators laid off in Whitman-Hanson Regional School District just last week. We made it clear today: the state Legislature and Governor Healey have the power to solve this. We expect bold action, not next year, not next legislative session – but now.”
