Representative Don Humason



For Immediate Release July 25, 2006 HUMASON ANNOUNCES LEGISLATURE'S EDUCATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS As the formal Legislative sessions come to a close, Westfield’s State Representative Don Humason announced the accomplishments that the Massachusetts Legislature has made this session with respect to education. In adopting the FY07 state budget the Legislature made significant progress in increasing school funding known as Chapter 70 aid. In addition, the House and Senate have restored funding for targeted educational programs and begun to create a funding structure to reach the goal of proficiency for all students. Chapter 70: The budget includes an additional $217 million in funding over FY06 levels, an increase of 6.6%. This year’s budget plan for Chapter 70 draws elements from the Governor’s proposal in House 2, the House plan, and the Senate plan. Additional elements included in the distribution approved by the legislature are: · A $463 million increase in foundation budgets over FY06 amounts. This includes an uncapped inflation allowance of over 5.86% and increases of $50 per student for English language learners and $25 per student for low-income students. · A 20% reduction of required contribution towards their target levels for communities deemed to be overly burdened by the existing formula. · The establishment of a minimum aid level of 17.5% of the foundation budget for all districts in the Commonwealth. · A guarantee that all districts receive at least $50 more in aid per pupil in Fiscal Year 2007 than they did this year. · A state and local funding ratio of 41% and 59%, respectively. (Governor, Senate, and House versions all had a 40/60 ratio.) · Inclusion of Growth aid, which particularly benefits fast growing districts. · Significant progress made in addressing long-standing concerns over the equity of the formula. Special Education: The Legislature also ensured that local school districts could take advantage of the special education circuit breaker. The budget provides full funding for the special education circuit breaker at $207,700,000, an increase of over $6 million from FY06. This program provides State financial assistance to school districts for high-cost special education students. Other matters relative to special needs include: · Special Education Transportation Pilot Program: For the second consecutive year, the budget includes funding for the statewide pilot program testing a model of delivery for special education transportation services. The cost of these services has considerably outpaced the rise in regular education transportation in recent years and the quality of service needs improvement. The goal of the pilots is to demonstrate how service and efficiency can be enhanced with more collaboration in out-of-district transportation. · Support of Blind and Dyslexic Students: The budget includes $800,000 for audio taped textbooks for special needs children, and of that $800,000, a $25,000 earmark for a program that will provide the 10th grade Math and English MCAS tests in audio digital format for the Blind and Dyslexic, and a $400,000 earmark will provide for teacher training and outreach. This represents a $200,000 increase over last year for this earmark. Regional Transportation Due to the increased popularity of regional school systems and charter schools, the Legislature has taken steps to include relief to local school districts. The budget increases spending for regional transportation by $10.5 million, or 23%. This brings funding to $55.5 million and cuts the gap to full funding by approximately 50%. These funds are critically important to regional school districts for which transportation costs are often a significant portion of their overall operating budgets. Line item language authorizes a $500 thousand pilot program to help districts achieve greater efficiency in providing transportation services. Other Education items in this year’s budget: · Extending Learning Time Grants: The budget created a new $6.5 million line item for extended learning time grants to allow students in under performing schools additional “time on task” to meet the rigorous demands of the State curriculum guidelines. This pilot program will help districts begin to work through the many challenges that are involved in transitioning to a longer school day and/or year. · Alternative Education: The Legislature continued its commitment to alternative education, appropriating $1.25 million for grants to establish alternative education programs and services for students who are suspended or expelled from school, and students who are at-risk of educational failure due to truancy or dropping out of school. · Gifted and Talented Program: The Legislature continues its commitment to funding programs for the Commonwealth’s highest achieving students, appropriating $750,000 for Gifted and Talented education, representing a 50% increase. · Certificates of Occupational Proficiency: Adds $200,000 for the Department of Education to continue developing certificates of Occupational Proficiency. This allows vocational education students to demonstrate their mastery in the field and a competency determination through MCAS. This represents a 5.5% increase from the previous Fiscal Year. · Youth-Build: Provides a $600,000 increase for Youth Build programs, which help 16 to 24 year olds learn valuable vocational skills while earning a diploma or GED. This increases funding to a little over $2 million, representing more than a 40% increase for this line item. · Adult Basic Education: The Legislature continues with its commitment to adult basic education, appropriating $29.5 million for these important programs, which provide adults with the necessary skills to perform in the Commonwealth’s rapidly changing economy. · School-to-Work / School-to-Career: Increases funding for these programs by over $310,000, which represents a 15% increase. This included $200,000 for the Diploma Plus program, which serves students who have had difficulty in traditional schools or have already dropped out of school. · Reading Recovery: Provides a $200,000 increase over last year’s budget to help support Reading Recovery teacher salaries. This effective early intervention literacy program has helped improve the performance of children throughout the Commonwealth who are at-risk of failing to read by the end of 1st grade. · Citizen Schools: Includes $300,000 to support matching grants for Citizen Schools after school learning programs. These valuable programs help students strengthen their academic skills, develop their personal leadership skills, and prepare them for college. “I am pleased the Legislature has maintained, and in many cases increased, its commitment to the education of our youth in the Commonwealth,” Humason said.
This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group

For Immediate Release

July 25, 2006

HUMASON ANNOUNCES LEGISLATURE'S EDUCATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS

As the formal Legislative sessions come to a close, Westfield’s State Representative Don Humason announced the accomplishments that the Massachusetts Legislature has made this session with respect to education.

In adopting the FY07 state budget the Legislature made significant progress in increasing school funding known as Chapter 70 aid. In addition, the House and Senate have restored funding for targeted educational programs and begun to create a funding structure to reach the goal of proficiency for all students.

Chapter 70:

The budget includes an additional $217 million in funding over FY06 levels, an increase of 6.6%. This year’s budget plan for Chapter 70 draws elements from the Governor’s proposal in House 2, the House plan, and the Senate plan. Additional elements included in the distribution approved by the legislature are:

· A $463 million increase in foundation budgets over FY06 amounts. This includes an uncapped inflation allowance of over 5.86% and increases of $50 per student for English language learners and $25 per student for low-income students.

· A 20% reduction of required contribution towards their target levels for communities deemed to be overly burdened by the existing formula.

· The establishment of a minimum aid level of 17.5% of the foundation budget for all districts in the Commonwealth.

· A guarantee that all districts receive at least $50 more in aid per pupil in Fiscal Year 2007 than they did this year.

· A state and local funding ratio of 41% and 59%, respectively. (Governor, Senate, and House versions all had a 40/60 ratio.)

· Inclusion of Growth aid, which particularly benefits fast growing districts.

· Significant progress made in addressing long-standing concerns over the equity of the formula.

Special Education:

The Legislature also ensured that local school districts could take advantage of the special education circuit breaker. The budget provides full funding for the special education circuit breaker at $207,700,000, an increase of over $6 million from FY06. This program provides State financial assistance to school districts for high-cost special education students.

Other matters relative to special needs include:

· Special Education Transportation Pilot Program: For the second consecutive year, the budget includes funding for the statewide pilot program testing a model of delivery for special education transportation services. The cost of these services has considerably outpaced the rise in regular education transportation in recent years and the quality of service needs improvement. The goal of the pilots is to demonstrate how service and efficiency can be enhanced with more collaboration in out-of-district transportation.

· Support of Blind and Dyslexic Students: The budget includes $800,000 for audio taped textbooks for special needs children, and of that $800,000, a $25,000 earmark for a program that will provide the 10th grade Math and English MCAS tests in audio digital format for the Blind and Dyslexic, and a $400,000 earmark will provide for teacher training and outreach. This represents a $200,000 increase over last year for this earmark.

Regional Transportation

Due to the increased popularity of regional school systems and charter schools, the Legislature has taken steps to include relief to local school districts. The budget increases spending for regional transportation by $10.5 million, or 23%. This brings funding to $55.5 million and cuts the gap to full funding by approximately 50%. These funds are critically important to regional school districts for which transportation costs are often a significant portion of their overall operating budgets. Line item language authorizes a $500 thousand pilot program to help districts achieve greater efficiency in providing transportation services.

Other Education items in this year’s budget:

· Extending Learning Time Grants: The budget created a new $6.5 million line item for extended learning time grants to allow students in under performing schools additional “time on task” to meet the rigorous demands of the State curriculum guidelines. This pilot program will help districts begin to work through the many challenges that are involved in transitioning to a longer school day and/or year.

· Alternative Education: The Legislature continued its commitment to alternative education, appropriating $1.25 million for grants to establish alternative education programs and services for students who are suspended or expelled from school, and students who are at-risk of educational failure due to truancy or dropping out of school.

· Gifted and Talented Program: The Legislature continues its commitment to funding programs for the Commonwealth’s highest achieving students, appropriating $750,000 for Gifted and Talented education, representing a 50% increase.

· Certificates of Occupational Proficiency: Adds $200,000 for the Department of Education to continue developing certificates of Occupational Proficiency. This allows vocational education students to demonstrate their mastery in the field and a competency determination through MCAS. This represents a 5.5% increase from the previous Fiscal Year.

· Youth-Build: Provides a $600,000 increase for Youth Build programs, which help 16 to 24 year olds learn valuable vocational skills while earning a diploma or GED. This increases funding to a little over $2 million, representing more than a 40% increase for this line item.

· Adult Basic Education: The Legislature continues with its commitment to adult basic education, appropriating $29.5 million for these important programs, which provide adults with the necessary skills to perform in the Commonwealth’s rapidly changing economy.

· School-to-Work / School-to-Career: Increases funding for these programs by over $310,000, which represents a 15% increase. This included $200,000 for the Diploma Plus program, which serves students who have had difficulty in traditional schools or have already dropped out of school.

· Reading Recovery: Provides a $200,000 increase over last year’s budget to help support Reading Recovery teacher salaries. This effective early intervention literacy program has helped improve the performance of children throughout the Commonwealth who are at-risk of failing to read by the end of 1st grade.

· Citizen Schools: Includes $300,000 to support matching grants for Citizen Schools after school learning programs. These valuable programs help students strengthen their academic skills, develop their personal leadership skills, and prepare them for college.

“I am pleased the Legislature has maintained, and in many cases increased, its commitment to the education of our youth in the Commonwealth,” Humason said.

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group