This bill specifically targets the enhancement of education financing and support systems for rural and special education programs in Massachusetts. It provides a clear definition for "rural school district" and establishes the Rural Schools Aid Fund, directing financial support to districts with low student density and below-average per capita income. In addition, the bill forms a Declining Enrollment Fund to help districts facing significant student enrollment drops, distributing funds equitably based on student density and changes in enrollment.

Further, it establishes a dedicated office within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to oversee the creation of regional school districts and superintendent unions, aiming to optimize resource allocation in rural areas. The bill underscores the importance of special education by initiating programs to develop specialized educators and considering reforms to improve special education services' funding and quality. It mandates regular assessments to ensure adequate funding and proposes a special commission to review and recommend enhancements to the state’s special education financing system. Additionally, it supports school transportation reimbursements and provides financial incentives to encourage regionalization and shared services among school districts.

This bill focuses on the enhancement and support of regional school districts and superintendent unions in Massachusetts. It proposes the creation of an Office of Shared Services within the Department of Education, which will assist with forming regional school districts and developing projects and agreements for shared services. The bill mandates that grants for school facilities projects within these districts cover at least 90% of project costs. Moreover, municipalities affected by school closures due to regionalization will have any school facilities maintenance debt relieved and will be provided assistance for repurposing these buildings.

The bill also outlines transitional state aid for newly formed regional school districts, offering $200 per pupil annually for the first three years, along with additional aid to support temporary employee salaries for the first two years. To further support these efforts, it establishes several funds: the School District Regionalization Grant Fund, the Regional School District Foundational Aid Fund, and the Superintendent Union Formation Grant Fund. These funds aim to facilitate the study, planning, and implementation of regional district organization, sustain foundational aid post-regionalization, and help form superintendent unions where regionalization is impractical. The bill sets forth criteria for eligibility, methods for distributing funds, financial support amounts, and reporting requirements for involved districts and departments.

This bill establishes the Massachusetts Farm to School Program, with the aim of boosting the local food and agriculture economy, enhancing student nutrition, and promoting food literacy across primary, secondary schools, and licensed childcare programs. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will oversee a grant program and local food incentive, aiding schools in purchasing local food, preparing meals from scratch, and incorporating educational initiatives on the food system.

The bill creates an advisory committee made up of representatives from various state departments and stakeholders and mandates the hiring of a full-time program coordinator to oversee program implementation and provide technical assistance. A grant program will be established to increase the use of local foods in school meals and integrate food literacy into education. Funding from this program will cover kitchen equipment, staff training, and other related expenses.

Additionally, the bill creates the Massachusetts Farm to School Fund to receive public and private funding and sets up the Massachusetts Local Food Incentive program. This program will reimburse school food authorities and childcare programs for buying local food, prioritizing purchases from socially disadvantaged farmers and small businesses. The bill outlines measures for outreach, setting eligibility criteria, and ensuring equitable distribution of funds.

By January 31 each year, the department, in collaboration with the advisory committee, must submit an annual report detailing the program's activities, impacts, participating schools and producers, financial implications, and further needs. Regulations for implementing the program must be established within 180 days following the act's effective date.

This bill requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to annually submit a budget request to the General Court starting in fiscal year 2026. The request must adhere to the Commonwealth's total funding obligations as outlined in section 16C of chapter 71 of the General Laws, ensuring that budget proposals align with statutory funding mandates.

This legislative bill introduces a phased reduction in the maximum percentage of Massachusetts' total state foundation education budget that must be funded through mandatory local contributions. Specifically, it proposes amending Section 2 of Chapter 70 of the General Laws to decrease this cap incrementally over a span of four years. Starting January 1, 2026, the cap will be reduced to 58%, followed by subsequent yearly reductions to 57% in 2027, 56% in 2028, and ultimately to 54% by January 1, 2029. These percentage changes will be detailed annually in the general appropriations act, thereby adjusting the fiscal responsibility of local sources in funding education.

The bill establishes the Massachusetts Farm to School Program, designed to boost the state's food and agricultural economy, enhance student health and nutrition, and promote food literacy. Developed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, this program will feature a grant initiative and a local food incentive to assist K-12 schools and licensed childcare programs in purchasing, preparing, and educating about locally sourced foods. An advisory committee, including representatives from various state bodies, will guide the program's development and administration. A full-time coordinator will oversee its implementation, focusing on timely reimbursements and capacity building within schools and early education programs.

The grant program prioritizes funding for kitchen equipment, staff training, and educational initiatives related to local food sourcing and food literacy. Eligibility is limited to K-12 schools and licensed childcare programs participating in the National School Lunch Program or the Child and Adult Care Food Program. The Massachusetts Local Food Incentive offers reimbursement to schools and childcare programs for purchasing local produce, providing $1 for every $2 spent on Massachusetts products and $1 for every $3 spent on foods from New England and New York. The Department is tasked with ensuring compliance with federal nutrition standards and encouraging broad, equitable participation across community demographics. A comprehensive annual report will be presented to state legislative bodies, highlighting the program's impacts, challenges, and future resource needs.

The proposed Massachusetts bill aims to enhance funding and support for rural school districts, those experiencing declining enrollment, and special education programs. It categorizes a "rural school district" and introduces a Rural Schools Aid Fund to allocate resources for districts with low student density and below-average income levels. Additionally, it establishes a Declining Enrollment Fund to assist districts facing significant student population decreases over the past two decades. To ensure effective implementation, the bill mandates annual reports and evaluations to assess the adequacy of funding and recommend necessary adjustments.

In terms of special education, the bill offers 100% reimbursement for instructional and transportation costs that surpass pre-approved thresholds. It promotes the development of a specialized workforce by funding alternative licensure pathways for paraprofessionals and current teachers seeking special education credentials. A legislative commission is formed to review and propose a more predictable and equitable financing system that caters to the varied needs of students with disabilities.

The bill also addresses school district regionalization and transportation. It creates the School District Regionalization Grant Fund to facilitate the merger of services and supports the formation of superintendent unions where regionalization is unfeasible. To encourage regional district formation, it provides transitional aid and covers temporary staff salaries during the initial setup period. Provisions are included for full reimbursement of specific transportation costs in rural districts, along with the establishment of the Non-Resident Pupil Transportation Fund. Collaborative efforts with state initiatives aim to secure federal reimbursement for transporting children in foster care.

Lastly, the bill stipulates that at least three members of the board of elementary and secondary education must reside in selected western counties of Massachusetts, ensuring geographic and demographic representation across the state.

The bill requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to submit an annual funding request to the Massachusetts General Court, beginning in fiscal year 2026 and for each year thereafter. This request must conform to the Commonwealth's total funding obligation as outlined in section 16C of chapter 71 of the General Laws.

This bill proposes revisions to the state education funding framework by amending the "total state target local contribution" definition in Chapter 70 of the General Laws. It introduces a phased reduction in the maximum percentage of the total state foundation budget that must be covered by local contributions. Starting on January 1, 2026, the cap will decrease from 58 percent to 54 percent over several years, with reductions scheduled as follows: 57 percent on January 1, 2027, 56 percent on January 1, 2028, and 55 percent on January 1, 2029. These amendments are designed to gradually alleviate the required local contributions, ensuring a smooth transition in the funding policy for state education.

This bill proposes the creation of a special commission tasked with evaluating and developing standards for the apportionment formula utilized by regional school districts in Massachusetts. The commission's primary focus will be to determine if the apportionment should be based on the number of students from a town or the town's total property values. Additionally, it will investigate whether towns should be mandated to establish their own school districts or join existing regional school districts. The commission's findings, recommendations, and any draft legislation designed to implement these recommendations are due to be submitted to legislative leaders by December 1, 2026. The commission will include appointees from state legislative leaders, representatives from the Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education, Revenue, and Administration and Finance, five regional school superintendents appointed by the Governor, and members from organizations such as the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools, the Rural Policy Advisory Commission, and the Massachusetts Municipal Association.