MTA Today - Summer 2015

SAVE THE DATE

2015 MTA
JUST FOR NEW TEACHERS

14TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

FRIDAY | DECEMBER 4

Sheraton Framingham

Hotel & Conference Center
Please also consider joining us for the
ETHNIC MINORITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
(EMAC) CONFERENCE

T he commission charged with reviewing whether the state has et adequate spending levels for K- 12 school districts is extending its work until November. It has already recommended immediate adjustments, however, to calculations used to determine expenses for employee health care and special education.

The Foundation Budget Review Commission issued a preliminary report on June 30 after holding six public hearings across the state. The commission found that school districts are spending far more on health insurance and special education than is assumed in the state’s foundation budget formula.

The state’s calculation of a
“foundation budget” for each school
district reflects the cost of providing
students with an adequate education.

After local contributions are figured in, the state allocates Chapter 70 funds to districts to ensure that foundation levels are met. The formula takes into account several factors, among them student need, special education and health insurance for employees.

The formula was created under the Education Reform Act of 1993, but it had not had a thorough review until the Legislature revived the Foundation Budget Review Commission in 2014.

The commission is chaired by Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz (D-Boston) and Representative Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley). MTA President Barbara Madeloni serves on the 19-member panel.

During the public hearings, educators and municipal officials repeatedly told the commission that the escalating costs of health insurance and special education consume a lot more of local school budgets than the foundation formula factors in.

In the case of health insurance, the commission has recommended linking the formula to the average rate set by the Group Insurance Commission.

In the area of special education, the
report noted that the foundation budget
understates the number of children
receiving in-district services and that
school systems spend far more than is
allotted for out-of-district placements.

The commission will continue to examine funding issues concerning mental health and wraparound services for students, English language learners, full-day preschool, class size and technology.

“I’m glad we are continuing to work on a funding model that will address the needs of all public school students and work to ensure that every student is receiving a high-quality education,” Madeloni said.

“Educators have known for years that the state funding formula and budget assumptions were way off,” she continued. “We now have a chance to correct the formula, as well as make sure that we value all school districts equally by providing them with the necessary funding for arts programs, small class sizes and enrichment opportunities.

“Of course,” Madeloni said, “these formula changes will require more revenue, but our work on the amendment to fund public schools and transportation through taxing the highest-income earners can make these

The Foundation Budget Review Commission issued a preliminary report on June 30 after holding six public hearings across the state.

“In less than a week we got all our members to sign the testing resolution,” Reynolds said. “The School Committee asked for more information. I and two other members compiled a brief, bullet-style report, giving the main points made at the national and local levels. Our district serves students in grades seven to 12. Over that time, our students spend nearly 100 hours either taking a test or staying at home because their peers are taking a standardized test. And that’s just taking the test — not preparing for it. We’re a district that scores well, but those days are a loss.

“As a French teacher, I would love to travel more with students,” Reynolds said, “but it’s really challenging to find time on the calendar with such a focus on testing.”