"Massachusetts would invest a new $1.5 billion in its public education system over the next seven years under a long-awaited consensus school finance reform bill that House and Senate leaders rolled out Thursday and expect to hit the Senate floor in two weeks.Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
State Rep. Alice Pesich, D-Wellesley, and state Sen. Jason Lewis, D-Winchester, co-chairs of the Education Committee that has been working for months to develop the legislation, said a focus of the bill is providing resources to low-income students.
“I think it’s fair to say that if this bill passes into law, we will have the strongest and most progressive education funding system in terms of how we reflect the needs of low-income students,” Lewis said. “However, we realize that even with all those changes in the increased Chapter 70 aid that districts will receive, that there’s more that we can and must do to support the needs of all school districts and all students across the state, whether they are in rural districts, suburban districts, Gateway Cities or others.”
The bill, dubbed the Student Opportunity Act and unanimously endorsed Thursday by the Education Committee, would increase Chapter 70 aid to local schools by $1.4 billion, and House Speaker Robert DeLeo said it does not involve plans for additional taxes."
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190919/lawmakers-unveil-15b-seven-year-education-bill
Below, please find links to information regarding the Student Opportunity Act:
Student Opportunity Act Overview
Student Opportunity Act Fact Sheet
Student Opportunity Act Question & Answer
Student Opportunity Act Joint Announcement
Student Opportunity Act Bill Text: Senate Bill 2348
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| "We know that education drives opportunity" (Joint Committee on Education photo) |
