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March 24, 2015
The Foundation Budget Review Commission held its sixth and last public hearing on the re-examination of the Chapter 70 school finance law on March 9th in Boston. MBAE testified for funding strategies that will make effective use of resources to support a high quality education system that prepares all students to engage successfully in a global economy and society.
MBAE offered recommendations to the Commission which align with our blueprint for a world class education system, The New Opportunity to Lead. The report, released last year, assessed progress over the past two decades and proposed action for the future based on evidence of what is working around the world. School funding is a critical lever for all other efforts and initiatives designed to improve schools and student outcomes.
MBAE’s recommendations to the Commission, are rooted in the belief that all students can achieve at the levels necessary to succeed. We are convinced that changes to the education funding system are required to meet the needs of every student and to provide the added support necessary for those facing obstacles based on language, poverty or other special needs. To achieve the goal of additional funds for students who require more services, MBAE’s position is that the funds allocated for those students must also be delegated to the schools they attend. Educators at these schools are in the best position to meet the needs of the student population they serve and should be given greater authority to determine how that money is spent.
In addition, funding must be structured to achieve specific outcomes, such as learning goals set by the state for 4th grade reading levels, graduation rates, and similar expectations, rather than be tied to existing programs. Finally, Massachusetts must find new ways to assess the effectiveness of public funding for education in order to demonstrate value for taxpayers’ investment and justify further increases in spending. To achieve this goal, we recommend productivity reviews of schools and districts that ensure every dollar of taxpayers’ money is being used effectively.
These recommendations for student-centered funding; outcomes-based distribution and accountability; and productive investment are aimed at updating our funding strategies to be fair and equitable; help students acquire the knowledge and skills required for a successful future; and ensure we have the talent and workforce our 21stcentury economy demands.
Co-chaired by Joint Committee on Education Co-Chairs Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz and Representative Alice Peisch, the Foundation Budget Review Commission is due to issue its report in June. MBAE is represented on the Commission by Board Member Joe Esposito, a CPA and former School Committee member who has served as Chair of the state’s Accountability and Assistance Advisory Council and as a member of its predecessor organization, the Education Management Audit Council (EMAC). Joe brings professional expertise and knowledge of the state’s governance system to this role and we appreciate the time and energy he has devoted to it.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES – Visit “Our Positions”
MBAE Report – School Funding Reality: A Bargain Not Kept How is the Foundation Budget Working
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education “Report on the Status of the Public Education Financing System in Massachusetts” July 2013
Foundation Budget Review Commission Members
Massachusetts Municipal Association – Foundation Budget Review Commission Resources Page –Hearing Testimony
Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center – Demystifying Chapter 70
Education Resource Strategies – School Funding Tools – For evaluating funding effectiveness