We'll be following development of the State's FY20 Budget until it is finally approved later this year. Funding for public ed in the Commonwealth is the purview of the State Legislature; policy and regulation belong within the Board.
Each September the Board's Chair appoints members to a Budget Committee. A preliminary discussion of the next year's budget ensues, including budget framework and timelines. The Committee works with the Commissioner and senior staff to develop budgetary areas of focus for the October Board meeting.
Secretary of Education reviews and approves DESE's current fiscal year spending plans and Administration and Finance (ANF) gives final approval in early October. ANF also determines funding estimate based on the analysis of spending plan submissions.
The Budget Committee brings forward recommendations to the full Board, then members discuss before a vote is taken on the areas of priority. A letter, or statement of values, is drafted (the Board's FY20 Budget Priority letter is here) and accompanies DESE's budget request that is sent to the Secretary of Education for consideration in the development of the Governor's House 1 (or 2) budget proposal. In 2019, it's House 1.
Budget Committee met in September following the regular Board Meeting. The focus of that discussion was on the Holyoke Public Schools budget, specifically, their budget challenges. You'll recall that Holyoke is one of three districts held in receivership by the DESE. Steve Zrike, Receiver, Holyoke Public Schools, and Anthony Soto, Business Manager, Holyoke Public Schools, joined the meeting by phone. They provided a high-level overview of the HPS budget and the challenges -- specific budget challenges that are common to at least 32 similar districts across the Commonwealth. Districts are forced to make reductions every year as revenue and enrollment remains relatively flat while other drivers in the budget continue to grow at a much greater pace than revenue, including:
- Employee Salaries
- Health Insurance
- Charter School Tuition
- SPED Out of District Tuition
- Change in funding for economically disadvantaged students
The Committee also reviewed a summary of HPS 5-year financial forecast (on page 76 of their report), which included anticipated revenues and expenses from FY2018-FY2023.
This brings us to Chapter 70* aid and Net School Spending (NSS). HPS is but one District needing 100% of NSS, in addition to $3M in one-time revenue streams to balance the initial projected budget deficit and avoid deeper cuts. Holyoke is one of ten cities with the lowest local contribution in Massachusetts. In fact, Holyoke is one of 32 communities across the Commonwealth who are within 5% of NSS.
- DESE FY19 Spending Update: State supplemental funds were applied to close government business for the year, including $5M in Targeted Assistance; $7.5M for Behavioral Health and Mental Health; and $7.5M for School Safety
- DESE FY20 Development Update: Maintenance Budget (funding the FY19 Budget items in FY20, aka, no new initiatives) was filed with ANF on October 19
- Foundation Budget: DESE working with Governor and Legislative Leaders to implement FBRC recommendations
- Targeted Assistance: all acknowledge the STRUCTURAL PROBLEM with Foundation Budget Formula, Budget members seek to annualize the targeted amount
- DESE looking to fund STEM Learning Initiative ~$1.4M
- DESE looking for ability to accept revenue for Educational Licensure Fee Increase (otherwise it goes to the General Fund), from $100 to $150 for the 5-year license; from $25 to $50 for each additional edu license (for an additional estimated $1.5M) to better fund and improve better response time from the Office of Professional Practice Investigations (for educator ethics and misconduct issues)
- MCAS Academic Support
- Compilation of successes, including:
- Breakfast in the Classroom, Civics Education, LOOK Act, Early Literacy, Summer learning, Dyslexia Bill recently signed
Subsequent to the meeting, I forwarded MassBudget's updated "Cutting Class" report (of 2011) with updated numbers. Interesting to read their projected scenarios of Chapter 70 aid distribution. What the MB report does not discuss is the need for new revenue, which is where true meaningful reform lives. But, I digress.
This brings us to today. All agencies have submitted their requests to the governor who will submit his House 1 budget request no later than February 27th. Governor Baker hinted there was more to come, but we'd have to wait for his budget to be submitted. During January, House and Senate Ways and Means Committees request subsequent fiscal year maintenance budget data from all state agencies. As of this writing, Committee membership has yet to be assigned.
Going forward, Mid-Year Review of Department spending by ANF in February, to identify any projected deficiencies or any projected surpluses. Joint House and Senate Ways and Means Committee conducts budget hearings, generally held across the Commonwealth in late February.
Big challenges lie ahead, particularly for House Legislators, who must work together to challenge leadership, and for activists, who must hold House members' feet to the fire. Activists must articulate what we stand for at a gut level and Legislators have a responsibility to respond. Politics in 2019 demands proactive engagement from all of us, elected and non. It insists that we not play small, that we drive urgency on the critical issues before us:
A progressive government will operate with transparency and the highest ethical standards. It will ensure fair debate of issues and accountability to constituents, provide a decent standard of living, affordable housing as a human right, and fair work schedules for all, as institutional racism is also addressed, working, ultimately, for freedom, equality, and justice for all.
* (Overview and details of Chapter 70 funding may be found online at MassBudget or DESE's website). In a nutshell, Chapter 70, Foundation Budget, and Net School Spending goes like this:
Members of the 191st General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may be found HERE.
This brings us to today. All agencies have submitted their requests to the governor who will submit his House 1 budget request no later than February 27th. Governor Baker hinted there was more to come, but we'd have to wait for his budget to be submitted. During January, House and Senate Ways and Means Committees request subsequent fiscal year maintenance budget data from all state agencies. As of this writing, Committee membership has yet to be assigned.
Going forward, Mid-Year Review of Department spending by ANF in February, to identify any projected deficiencies or any projected surpluses. Joint House and Senate Ways and Means Committee conducts budget hearings, generally held across the Commonwealth in late February.
Big challenges lie ahead, particularly for House Legislators, who must work together to challenge leadership, and for activists, who must hold House members' feet to the fire. Activists must articulate what we stand for at a gut level and Legislators have a responsibility to respond. Politics in 2019 demands proactive engagement from all of us, elected and non. It insists that we not play small, that we drive urgency on the critical issues before us:
- Short- and long-term revenue
- Adequate funding for K-12 education, including improving vocational education, expanding early childhood education, and providing debt-free college options
- Safe communities for immigrant and undocumented people
- Stronger environmental protections
- Healthcare for all
- Affordable housing
- Ballot access, i.e., same day registration and ranked choice voting
- Campaign finance reform
A progressive government will operate with transparency and the highest ethical standards. It will ensure fair debate of issues and accountability to constituents, provide a decent standard of living, affordable housing as a human right, and fair work schedules for all, as institutional racism is also addressed, working, ultimately, for freedom, equality, and justice for all.
* (Overview and details of Chapter 70 funding may be found online at MassBudget or DESE's website). In a nutshell, Chapter 70, Foundation Budget, and Net School Spending goes like this:
- Chapter 70 is the Massachusetts General Law that establishes funding requirements for public school districts within the State.
- The law establishes a minimum funding requirement (or “foundation budget") for each district that seeks to ensure an adequate education consistent with the Education Reform Act of 1993.
- The law also defines the payments that make up the foundation budget.
- The State uses a complex formula to calculate an adequate funding level, which is based on many factors including each district’s student demographics.
- Then, taking into account the community’s wealth, the formula calculates the required “local contribution” (the amount the municipality can afford).
- The State then funds the remaining amount with Chapter 70 Aid.
- In 2015 the Foundation Budget Review Commission recommended updating the formula substantially to more accurately reflect changes since enacted more than 25 years ago. The Legislature has come close but has not made any changes to date.
Members of the 191st General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may be found HERE.