Fair Share and Education Funding

In this issue:  School Funding Debate Underway on Beacon Hill | Other Items of Interest

A Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation job trends report released this month finds that the industry will need to fill 11,600 additional jobs by 2022.  Biotech-related job postings are increasing at a faster rate than Massachusetts higher education is growing the number of biotech-related degree graduates.  This adds to the overwhelming evidence that we must modernize our schools to ensure ALL students graduate prepared for college and the workforce.  This is of paramount importance to MBAE as we weigh in on education bills that will be debated at hearings this summer and fall.

School Funding Debate Underway on Beacon Hill

The Fair Share Amendment, which took another step toward the 2018 ballot this month, promises to bring millions of new dollars to education and transportation.  MBAE has a keen interest in how any new money for education is spent.

We are deeply concerned that the current K-12 education funding system does not ensure that state funds allocated for needier students are actually spent on those students; does not give school leaders enough control over how money is spent in their building to address their student body’s unique needs; does not require an evaluation of where funds are being used effectively and where they are not; and, focuses primarily on funding programs rather than specific outcomes that are desired for students.

These shortcomings in our funding system contribute to our failure to close racial and socio-economic achievement gaps and a widening college and workforce readiness gap.  For this reason, MBAE can support increased K-12 education funding only if it is coupled with reforms that involve a greater devolution of resources to schools, a strong focus on productivity at the district and school level, and incentives for greater innovation to benefit students.

We will be addressing this topic frequently in future issues of Passing Notes.

Click here for our position on the Foundation Budget Review Commission.

Other Items of Interest

Boston Globe Editorial “Surplus Teachers Straining BPS Budget” contends “There is no justification…for the extra millions spent or a system that prioritizes job security over teacher quality.”

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading recognized Springfield with an All-America City Award for its Reading Success by 4^th Grade Initiative.

A new report from the Center on Education Policy (CEP) connects the skills employers are looking for to classroom instruction.

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Employers play a pivotal role in bringing about needed change in our public education system.  Please join MBAE  in our effort to ensure every student graduates high school prepared for success in college, career and citizenship.