Fiscal Year 2020

School funding heads in the right direction in Conference Committee budget, but much more is needed

After intensive advocacy and organizing by educators, parents, municipal leaders and other community members, the fiscal year 2020 budget passed today takes a step in the right direction for our public schools.

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MTA gives mixed reviews to Senate budget

The budget approved by the Massachusetts Senate this week takes a significant step in the right direction for our public schools, providing more Chapter 70 funds than the House budget does and targeting much of the new money to educating low-income students. It provides $269 million in new Chapter 70 funding, up 4.1 percent from the current fiscal year. That’s $50 million more than what the House budget provides and $68 million more than in the governor’s budget.

FY20 Senate Budget

Education funding in Senate budget plan is a mixed bag

The Senate Ways and Means budget proposal is a significant step in the right direction for our public schools, providing more Chapter 70 funds than the House or the governor’s proposal and directing much of the new money to educating low-income students. The Senate bill provides $269 million in new Chapter 70 funding, up 4.1 percent from the current fiscal year. That is $50 million more than the House budget and $68 million more than the governor’s budget. However, the Senate proposal provides significantly less than the amount called for in the Promise Act.

FY20 Senate Ways & Means Budget

MTA calls House budget proposal ‘woefully inadequate

The House budget proposal is woefully inadequate relative to what is needed to support a high-quality public education system for all students, rich and poor, from preschool through college. While the House budget is a modest improvement over the governor’s plan, it must be amended to increase education funding. As the House debates the budget, we will continue to fight to pass bills that would require phasing in significant increases for public education over the next few years.

Fy20 House budget

MTA analysis of governor’s 2020 budget

Throughout the governor’s budget recommendation, there are a number of proposals of concern to the MTA. They include inadequate funding increases across all levels of education, severe underfunding of charter school tuition reimbursement, potential elimination of key services to urban districts, and restrictions on the accrual of sick time.

FY20 House 1 Budget