MassBudget: Massachusetts Third in Nation for Child Well-Being, But Many of Our Children Face Difficult Challenges

Massachusetts Third in Nation for Child Well-Being, But Many of Our Children Face Difficult Challenges        Children in Massachusetts lead the nation in educational achievement, and are at or near the top in a number of measures of health, but one in six children live in poverty and an increasing number of our children are growing up in very high poverty neighborhoods. These findings and detailed data on a wide array of measures of child well-being are presented in the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2015 KIDS COUNT Data Book released today. The Data Book contains significant good news, particularly on education. In addition to our children leading the nation in reading and math proficiency, we are making real progress on reducing the number of students dropping out. Now 14% of our students don't graduate on time - that's too many, but it's down from 18% on 2008. But we remain a long way from providing each of our children with the support they need to succeed. For example, we lead the nation in the share of our children who are proficient in reading by fourth grade. But still more than half of our students - 53% - are not reading proficiently by fourth grade. We know that our economy and our society are stronger when every child has the opportunity to thrive (more info: Roadmap to Expanding Opportunity).  While Massachusetts ranks at the top in educational attainments and near the top in child health, on measures of family economic well-being we rank 17th. Raising the incomes of low and middle income families remains an important challenge for our Commonwealth (more info: The State of Working Massachusetts). The recent increase in the minimum wage, and the scheduled increases over the next two years should help - as will the likely to be enacted increase in the earned income tax credit. There is, of course, more that could be done to help working parents succeed in the workforce be better able to support and nurture their children. Working parents need affordable child care, a transportation system that lets them get to work, and often education and job training to improve their skills. There is strong evidence that when the income of low wage families increases, their children are helped not just in the short term, but also in the long term: they do better in school and earn more as adults (more info: Massachusetts's Earned Income Tax Credit). Read the 2015 Data Book HERE.  See all of our Kids Count Resources HERE.  MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108 The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Franklin Cultural Festival Schedule - Sunday, August 2

Sunday, August 2 

Circle of Friends stage (on THE BLACK BOX property )

12:00 PM to 5:00 PM

• Lydia Warren
• Jamie Barrett
• Jesse Hanson
• Kim Jennings
• Stefilia’s Stone
• Carolyn Waters 

Taste of Franklin (on THE BLACK BOX property )

12 Noon – 5:00 PM

• 3 
• BAMBOO HOUSE 
• ELIZABETH’S BAGELS 
• MAC DELI 
• THE CAKE BAR 
• THE CURRY HOUSE 
• THE ROME
• UNION STREET GRILL 

COST: $2.00 minimum for 1 signature taste

also on THE BLACK BOX property

12:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Ceramic bowl fundraiser for the Franklin Food Pantry

Franklin Historical Museum 

12:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Wool Spinning, Rug and Straw Braiding, Historical Film 

Franklin Methodist Church 

12:00 PM to 4:00 PM - FAA Art and Photography;  Robots and Magical Machines 

Inside THE BLACK BOX

12:00 PM to 4:00 PM - FAA Art and Photography by the FAA  


5:00 PM: CLOSING CEREMONY, THE BLACK BOX 

Franklin Cultural Festival - Arts Happen Here

The full schedule of performances and events for the first annual Franklin Cultural Festival can be found here  http://www.franklinsculturalfestival.org/

Economic Development Committee meeting - July 27 - 5:00 PM

From Town Councilor Matt Kelly

"We have set up the next EDC meeting for Monday the 27th. 

Here is the schedule:

• 5:00 p.m. Kearsarge Energy, Lease for Solar Proposal
• 5:45 p.m. Solect Energy Development, Lease for Solar Proposal
• 6:30 p.m. Baystone Development. Purchase and Develop Proposal

Each company will have 10 to 15 minutes to present their proposed projects, and then Town Officials will ask questions".

Franklin aerial photo of the Pond St Property

The RFP response documents can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/07/pond-st-rfp-responses-available-for.html

Prior meeting notes can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/p/meeting-notes.html

Franklin Library: Discover India through Dance - July 22, 1:00 PM

The Franklin Public Library will host a program on "Discover India through Dance". Scheduled for Wednesday, July 22 at 1:00 PM.

Franklin Library: Discover India through Dance

This was shared from the Franklin Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/07/discover-india-through-dance.html

Another in the series of summer programs sponsored by the Friends of Franklin Library.

The Franklin Public Schools announces limited Preschool Openings

Franklin residents who are between 3 and 5 years old are eligible to participate in the F.X O'Reagan Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) integrated preschool program. Our NAEYC Accredited early childhood program features low student-teacher ratios and highly qualified public school early childhood and special education teachers and support staff.

Limited spaces are still available in our 2, 3 and 5 day  half-day programs, so act now!

Additional information about tuition, staff, curriculum, school hours, and much more can be found on the ECDC website http://franklinecdc.vt-s.net/pages/index  or by contacting Kelty Kelley, ECDC Principal @ 508 541-8166 or kelleyk@franklin.k12.ma.us.

Entrance to the ECDC building on Oak St

Kelty Kelley, Principal

F. X. O'Regan Early Childhood Development Center

224 Oak Street

Franklin, MA 02038

Phone:  508-541-8166

Fax:            508-541-8254

kelleyk@franklin.k12.ma.us

"There is no hand so small that it cannot leave an imprint on the world!" Klub Kidz

MassBudget : Debt-Free Public Higher Education: What Would It Take?

Debt-Free Public Higher Education: What Would It Take? Expanding access to affordable higher education would directly help tens of thousands of students in Massachusetts and their families. In addition to giving more of our young people the opportunity to go to college, over the long term expanding access to quality, affordable, higher education would increase the productivity of our workforce and the strength of our state economy. Debt-Free Public Higher Education: What Would It Take? examines options for making public higher education more affordable in Massachusetts, including making it possible for young people to graduate from college debt free. The paper examines three options: Eliminating tuition and fees for in-state students at Community Colleges and State Universities. Cost: roughly $325 million/year. Providing grants to cover Community College costs (tuition, fees, books, and transportation), but which could also be used to defray the costs of attending State Universities and UMass campuses. Cost: roughly $524 million/year. Eliminating tuition and fees for in-state students at all campus types. Cost: roughly $631 million/year. While eliminating or significantly reducing tuition and fees would have upfront costs, these should be considered alongside the many immediate and long-term benefits: more of our young people having access to all of the benefits of higher education; our economy benefiting from a better educated workforce, and students and families being relived of the burden of excessive debt.    Please click HERE for the full paper.  The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Not just any "Thank you" card

You call for service, someone comes out. 

The job is done, they go away. 

And sometimes something special happens. 

At least one Franklin plumber sends a "Thank you" card. Yes, you got that right. He sends one to us to thank us for calling him and providing the opportunity.

Thank you from Jim Patete, Patete Plumbing

That is service I like!