Karyn Polito press release regarding passage of the education reform bill

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Friday, 15 January 2010 14:49
HOUSE PASSES EDUCATION REFORM BILL
Bill will qualify the state to receive up to $250 million in additional funding
BOSTON – The House of Representatives has accepted the conference committee report allowing for passage of education reform for the first time in Massachusetts since 1993. The legislation will, among other things, qualify Massachusetts for up to $250 million in federal aid as part of President Barack Obama’s “Race to the Top Funding” initiative to improve the nation’s education system.
“We have reason to be proud of the quality public education in Shrewsbury and Westborough, but there are still some school districts in the state that underperform.  This bill targets those districts that need more work and makes more charter schools available across the Commonwealth.  I advocated strongly for higher reimbursements to sending school districts and am pleased that more dollars will be devoted to helping our school districts address their fixed costs.  Increased funding helps to level the playing field for our towns, although there is still more work to do in this area,” said Rep. Karyn E. Polito (R-Shrewsbury).
The bill will allow for a clear determination of what constitutes an underperforming and chronically underperforming school which will allow those schools, through enhanced administrative actions to turn themselves around. With regard to the charter school funding formula, the final bill includes language which calls for a new charter reimbursement schedule of 225% over a six year period with 100% in the first year followed by five years at 25%.  Polito had proposed an increase to 305% over six years, based on recommendations from the Mass. Association of Superintendents.
Furthermore, the final bill includes language requiring DESE to conduct a study of the “status of the public education financing system,” and an analysis of funding discrepancies between a school or district’s funding and their actual needs. It also requires reductions in regional transportation to be no greater than proportional to reductions to Chapter 70 dollars.
The House and Senate enacted the bill which will now be sent to Governor Patrick for signature.

HOUSE PASSES EDUCATION REFORM BILL

Bill will qualify the state to receive up to $250 million in additional funding

BOSTON – The House of Representatives has accepted the conference committee report allowing for passage of education reform for the first time in Massachusetts since 1993. The legislation will, among other things, qualify Massachusetts for up to $250 million in federal aid as part of President Barack Obama’s “Race to the Top Funding” initiative to improve the nation’s education system.

“We have reason to be proud of the quality public education in Shrewsbury and Westborough, but there are still some school districts in the state that underperform.  This bill targets those districts that need more work and makes more charter schools available across the Commonwealth.  I advocated strongly for higher reimbursements to sending school districts and am pleased that more dollars will be devoted to helping our school districts address their fixed costs.  Increased funding helps to level the playing field for our towns, although there is still more work to do in this area,” said Rep. Karyn E. Polito (R-Shrewsbury).

The bill will allow for a clear determination of what constitutes an underperforming and chronically underperforming school which will allow those schools, through enhanced administrative actions to turn themselves around. With regard to the charter school funding formula, the final bill includes language which calls for a new charter reimbursement schedule of 225% over a six year period with 100% in the first year followed by five years at 25%.  Polito had proposed an increase to 305% over six years, based on recommendations from the Mass. Association of Superintendents.

Furthermore, the final bill includes language requiring DESE to conduct a study of the “status of the public education financing system,” and an analysis of funding discrepancies between a school or district’s funding and their actual needs. It also requires reductions in regional transportation to be no greater than proportional to reductions to Chapter 70 dollars.

The House and Senate enacted the bill which will now be sent to Governor Patrick for signature.

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