Find how much state education aid your school district will receive this year
Chapter 70 increases broken down by community.
Chapter 70Fund Our Future victory means more resources for public schools
Fund Our Future victory means more resources for public schools
There’s both good and bad news this week for Massachusetts public school students.
The good news: Because of effective advocacy and organizing by our members, joined by parents and coalition partners, the new state budget approved on Monday, July 22, puts a foundation in place for more equitably funded public schools, particularly in low-income communities. It is our first Fund Our Future victory!
Under the fiscal year 2020 budget, Massachusetts schools will receive $269 million in new Chapter 70 money — the biggest boost in years — based on the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission. This is huge! Read MTA’s statement and more details about both the preK-12 and higher education budgets.
Breakdown of FY20 Budget
The bad news: This is just a one-year budget — NOT a bill. The Legislature must make a long-term commitment to filling the more than $1 billion hole in state funding for schools. We need a bill that meets the core principles in the Promise Act. And we need legislators to move the Cherish Act out of committee and toward passage so we can reverse decades of cuts to public higher education.
Because of the legislative recess, State House watchers are not expecting action on funding legislation until at least September. We will continue to fight to win a bill that commits the Legislature to phasing in at least $1 billion in new money for our public schools.