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| Boston Schools Win Big With Senate Plan: Senator Wilkerson Reports $186,151,815 Allocation |
Boston, Mass. – "We knew the Senate recommendation for investing in education was worth fighting for," said Senator Dianne Wilkerson. "Now we know exactly how beneficial this is for local schools, and it is great news for all of us who care about the quality of education in Massachusetts." Senator Wilkerson reports that the budget agreement reached by the House and Senate includes the Senate’s commitment to fully funding the Education Reform Act of 1993. "The budget will include the full $245 million increase the state promised to provide to city, town and regional school districts. In return, we set high standards and demand high performance. That is a deal the Senate is committed to keeping, and we have done so by allocating $90 million more than the House budget." "While the statewide funding may seem like an abstract concept," Senator Wilkerson reports that for Boston schools "this funding level will bring tangible and meaningful improvements to the quality of education." She reports that the distribution for Boston schools is $186,151,815 for this year, which is the same appropriation included in the Senate budget. This agreed to amount is $9,705,300 above last year’s funding level, and $6,129,098 above the House education proposal. |
"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 has consistently upheld the spirit and the letter of the Education Reform Act," said Senate President Tom Birmingham, an architect of the 1993 legislation. "We have done so because the equitability and caliber of public education has the most significant impact upon the Commonwealth’s society and economy. This increased funding is an important victory that will have a positive effect this year and in the future." Senator Wilkerson notes that the Senate was successful in restoring a $20 million program to help schools meet the MCAS challenge, in addition to the $90 million more for local spending. She adds that "our emphasis on education coexists with our fiscal responsibility. This is a balanced budget that is responsible with regard to our obligation to be prudent with the state coffers, and with regard to our obligation to invest in the schools of the Commonwealth." The final budget, that includes these Senate education appropriations will be finalized in the coming weeks. ¨
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