Local Schools Win Big with Senate Plan:

Public & Community Affairs Director

Lmonteir@senate.state.ma.us email

Boston, MA— Senator Dianne Wilkerson (D-Boston) reports that the distribution for Boston schools under the Senate plan would be $205,459,721, which would be a $19,307,906 increase above current year state spending, and $6,746,446 above the Governor’s proposal for next year.

"Those additional dollars will surely be put to great use as schools strive to meet our high expectations for the success of the students," said Senator Wilkerson. She explained that "we rely on those closest to the schools at the local level to determine the expenditure of these funds."

"The Senate education proposal for next year is what students and schools need to help meet our high expectations," said Senator Wilkerson. "We have consistently fought for education funding and will continue to make improving the quality of education in Massachusetts a high priority."

"The Senate has consistently upheld the spirit and the letter of the Education Reform Act," said Senate President Tom Birmingham, an architect of the 1993 legislation. "This $245 million increase reinforces our commitment to educational equity and accountability. We are doing so because the equitability and caliber of public education has the most significant impact upon the Commonwealth’s society and economy."

The $245 million increase proposed by the Senate, which will be included in its FY2001 budget recommendation, exceeds the Governor’s proposal by more than $100 million. "While the statewide funding may seem like an abstract concept," Senator Wilkerson contends that for Boston schools "this funding level would bring tangible and meaningful improvements to the quality of education."

While the state funds are largely discretionary, the Senate proposal would dedicate $34.5 million for early childhood education, specifically either reducing class size in K-3 grades or creating all day kindergarten. Senator Wilkerson noted that of Boston school district’s increase, $7,942,181 is directed toward these established methods of helping young children start school well.

"The continued need for significant education spending is real," said the Senate Chair of the Education Committee, Senator Robert Antonioni. "We're beginning to see signs that the curriculum frameworks and the MCAS tests are having an impact on student achievement. We're also seeing that many schools still have significant needs. The legislature must maintain the financial supports for schools to identify and address the specific barriers to enable each student the opportunity to graduate with his or her class in 2003. We need to keep faith with the Education Reform effort."

Senator Wilkerson is pleased that the Senate proposal includes not only the increase in local, unrestricted spending, but also doubles a $20 million program to help schools meet the MCAS challenge: "The failure rates are too high and success is too important for us to simply accept the status quo. We must work aggressively to increase the number of students who pass the test and prove they are ready for either higher education or a competitive work place." These funds help school districts provide intensive tutoring, summer school and after-school programs.

The $245 million Senate proposal also allocates $2.5 million to provide school districts with grants to create more appropriate educational environments for chronically disruptive students.

"Our continued emphasis on education coexists with our fiscal responsibility. This proposal will be part of a balanced budget," said Senator Mark Montigny, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means where the Senate budget is developed. "We will not compromise our fiscal discipline, and we will ensure that students get the support they need to help their own futures and the collective future of Massachusetts."

The House budget will be completed in the coming weeks and then the Senate budget will be finalized. A compromise version of the two budgets will subsequently be submitted to the Governor. Senator Wilkerson expressed her support for seeing the Senate’s funding recommendations incorporated in the final budget.