Earlier today the Legislature’s Committee on Education released a sweeping school finance bill that would amend the state’s landmark Chapter 70 school finance law used to determine school aid and local contribution amounts for the Commonwealth’s cities, towns and school districts. The bill would update key factors in the foundation budget spending standard consistent with the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission and implement the changes over a 7 year period. The bill also proposes changes to the special education circuit breaker program, and would provide additional funds for charter school impact reimbursements and make changes to the school building assistance program.

The new bill is headed to the Senate where debate is expected within the next several weeks before the end of the Fall legislative session. The announcement in the State House library was attended by Senate President Karen Spilka, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and the House and Senate Chairs of the Committee, Senator Jason Lewis and Representative Alice Peisch. The bill was described as a consensus proposal.

The MMA is reviewing the bill and will provide more detailed analysis and guidance later in preparation for Senate debate.