New coalition urges education funding fix

Politico

11-02-2025

FIRE DRILL — Greater demand for mental health services, rising costs from inflation and revenues that aren't keeping up.
It's this 'perfect storm' in education funding that has a group of more than a dozen unions and advocacy groups uniting to call for fixes to the state's education funding formula.
Members of the coalition, dubbed United for Our Future, include Massachusetts Teachers Association, the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Lawyers for Civil Rights, and the Massachusetts chapter of the AFL-CIO, among others. The organizations came together to 'collectively emphasize the urgency of this moment and the shared commitment of cherishing public education in Massachusetts and assuring that our public schools receive the resources they need to thrive,' they wrote in a letter announcing the coalition's formation.
It's a reunion of sorts. Many of the groups who signed onto the letter were members of the Council for Fair School Finance, the group that sued the state decades ago arguing it was failing to meet the constitutional requirement to provide students in Massachusetts with a quality education.
'This is a group that represents really a wide range in the public education community,' MTA President Max Page told Playbook. 'It's really broad, and it's not necessarily groups that agree on everything, but we are clearly unified around this funding crisis that is before us.'
The focus is on 'advancing a package of bills that we know will help to address the funding issues in our schools,' said Jessica Tang, president of AFT Massachusetts, one of the groups that's part of the coalition.
Among the coalition's chief concerns: a school funding formula that's failing to keep up with inflation, rising costs for out-of-district transportation and special education programs and lagging aid for rural schools.
And then there's the question mark around federal funding. 'Particularly with the context of the federal funding and possible loss of Title I funds, especially in a state like Massachusetts, we really do have to show that we are going to protect our public schools,' Tang said.
Massachusetts recently ranked at the top for reading and math scores in the National Assessment of Educational Progress. But the coalition is warning that might not last.
'We know that education budgets – at the federal, state and local levels – reflect our commitment to public education. We often say that 'What we fund, we value,' the letter reads. 'If Massachusetts is committed to remaining a national leader in public education, and we all are committed to doing what is right for students, we must find creative ways in this difficult fiscal environment to provide schools and districts with the funding to meet the growing needs of students and families.
GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. The group didn't shy away from taking a shot or two in its letter.
'State officials cannot continue to declare proudly that the Circuit Breaker program is 'fully funded' when districts have to dedicate time and resources to secure supplemental funding to cover actual costs,' they write.
TODAY — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll chairs a meeting of the Local Government Advisory Commission at 1 p.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu visits Madison Park Technical Vocational High School at 10 a.m.
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DATELINE BEACON HILL
— 'Senate Loads Reform Bill With Shelter Reporting Requirements,' by Colin A. Young, State House News Service (paywall): 'Top Senate Democrats are on board with many of the changes to the overburdened family shelter system that the House included in its funding and reform bill, but are also seeking to impose additional reporting requirements on the Healey administration in a $425 million bill expected to pass by Thursday. Like the version that the House passed last week (H 58), the bill introduced by Sen. Michael Rodrigues on Monday (S 16) would fund the emergency assistance (EA) family shelter program through June and give the Healey administration new, but temporary, authority to restrict eligibility for state emergency shelters as well as permanent mandates aimed at tightening security.'
FROM THE HUB
— 'Round 3: Boston City Council set to vote on Mayor Wu's tax shift legislation Wednesday,' by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: 'The City Council is expected to vote this week on a mayoral home rule petition that seeks to alter property tax rates set by the city in a way that would tax businesses at a higher rate to provide relief for homeowners grappling with steep increases. The proposal before the Council marks a third effort by the mayor's office to push through the controversial legislation, which died twice last year amid intense opposition on Beacon Hill.'
— 'White Stadium deal clears key milestone as BOS Nation owners put $25M into escrow fund,' by Bill Forry, the Dorchester Reporter: 'The pro women's soccer team that will use Franklin Park's White Stadium as its home playing field has followed through on a key provision of its lease commitment with the city of Boston by depositing $25 million into an escrow account that now clears the way for major demolition work to begin in the coming days and weeks. The city of Boston and Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper were formally notified of the transaction in a letter sent by an attorney representing the BOS Nation football team [Monday].'
WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET
— 'Judge halts Trump administration's cap on NIH funds after Mass. and 21 other states sue,' by Roberto Scalese, WBUR: 'A federal judge in Boston granted an emergency temporary restraining order to block the Trump administration's effort to significantly limit funds distributed by the National Institutes of Health. The move was in response to the multi-state lawsuit filed by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell and joined by 21 other state attorneys general. The order went into effect immediately upon issue Monday evening.'
THE RACE FOR CITY HALL
PAC IT UP — Less than a week after Boston Mayor Michelle Wu drew her first high-profile challenger, a PAC is already lining up to play in the race.
The independent expenditure PAC 'Your City, Your Future' was created to 'support candidates who work to create a thriving, affordable and sustainable Boston for all and oppose those who do not,' according to a filing with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Rebecca St. Amand is listed as the chair.
MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS
— 'ICE lodges detainer against man charged with Lynn restaurant owner's killing,' by Charlie McKenna, MassLive: 'A 25-year-old man charged with killing a Lynn restaurant owner is in the United States illegally, federal immigration officials said Monday. Eric Dionida German-Pena, a native of the Dominican Republic, is charged with murder in connection with the death of 48-year-old Ilias Mavros.'
— 'Guatemalan immigrant detained in immigration raid in New Bedford,' by Gerardo Beltran Salinas, The New Bedford Light.
—'Anxiety ramps up among Framingham immigrant community over reports of ICE raids,' by Tom Benoit, MetroWest Daily News.
YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS
— 'State Democratic and Republican party chairs look forward to governor's race,' by Hannah Loss, GBH News.
FROM THE DELEGATION
— ''A $2 billion chainsaw to the Massachusetts economy': Auchincloss fires back at NIH funding cuts,' by Jon Chesto, The Boston Globe: 'Calling it a $2 billion tax on Massachusetts, US Representative Jake Auchincloss said on Monday that he will try building congressional support this week to exert pressure on the National Institutes of Health to halt its new policy of sharply curtailing subsidies for overhead costs associated with research projects. The National Institutes of Health sparked an uproar late on Friday by announcing it would pare back its reimbursement rate for indirect costs, such as equipment and facilities, for NIH-funded research to 15 percent. Many institutions get reimbursement rates for indirect costs that exceed 50 percent, through negotiated rates set with the NIH; Harvard University, for example, has a reimbursement rate of 69 percent.'
TRUMPACHUSETTS
— 'Trump's 'deferred resignation' offer for federal workers remains in limbo,' by Josh Gerstein, POLITICO: 'More than 2 million federal workers will have to keep waiting for clarity over President Donald Trump's controversial 'deferred resignation' plan after a federal judge heard arguments Monday about the program's legality without issuing an immediate ruling about its future. During an hour-long hearing, U.S. District Judge George O'Toole gave few hints about his views on the program, which purports to allow federal workers to resign immediately but remain on the federal payroll through September.'
HAHVAHD YAHD
— 'Is Harvard responsible for the alleged sale of body parts from its medical school morgue?,' by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Beacon: 'When a family member donates their loved one's remains to a hospital, medical school, or research program, they consider an array of possible outcomes. The bodies will be examined, dismantled as necessary for donation or scientific purposes, possibly save current or future lives, and contribute meaningfully to societal understanding of anatomy and disease. Being stripped for parts and sold are not generally on that list. But it is still unclear if the behavior of a Harvard morgue manager who allegedly ran a multi-state human remains scheme – 'ghoulish' in the words of a Supreme Judicial Court justice considering the case – means that the Ivy League school is also on the hook.'
FROM THE 413
— 'Amherst school budget best-case scenario: 17 positions gone,' by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: 'Unless state aid increases, other sources of funding are found or member towns can contribute more, a fiscal year 2026 budget that eliminates around 17 positions may be the best-case scenario for the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools, according to information presented at a 'Four Towns Meeting' Saturday. Officials from Amherst, Pelham, Shutesbury and Leverett, coming together for the third time this school year at the middle school library, largely agreed on a funding plan that will lead to an average of 4% assessment increases for the communities, but which will mean cuts at the high school and middle school: about five classroom teachers, five paraeducators, two clerical staff and five members of the central office.'
THE LOCAL ANGLE
— 'Mass. regains access to some federal funds, but environmental projects still face uncertain future,' by Barbara Moran and Miriam Wasser, WBUR: 'Massachusetts gained access to at least some previously frozen federal money Monday after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to immediately restore all funding. The sweeping freeze of federal funds is 'likely unconstitutional and has caused and continues to cause irreparable harm to a vast portion of this country,' Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. wrote in his order. But the future of the projects the money will support — many of which protect public health, clean up environmental pollution and tackle climate change — remains unclear as officials grapple with ongoing uncertainty.'
— 'City Council to take up delayed vote Tues. on city becoming 'sanctuary' for transgender, gender-diverse people,' by Toni Caushi, Telegram & Gazette: 'A delayed vote on a petition calling for the city to be designated as a 'sanctuary for transgender and gender-diverse people' is set to be revisited at Tuesday's City Council. Gender issues continue to loom over the council's weekly sessions. In last week's meeting, members of the LGBTQ+ community lambasted councilors who voiced risks about the city possibly losing federal funding in case of an in-favor vote.'
— 'Quincy councilor objects to St Michael statue design: 'Us versus them',' by Peter Blandino, The Patriot Ledger: 'Ward 5 City Councilor and retired Quincy Police Lt. Dan Minton has voiced his opposition to plans for a pair of 10-foot-tall bronze statues. depicting St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian, which will adorn the facade of the new public safety headquarters that is under construction and due to be completed in October. On Saturday night, Feb. 8, Minton posted to Facebook that he had no knowledge of the statues prior to a report published by The Patriot Ledger that morning. Minton's objections related specifically to the image of St. Michael, depicted in a working model for the final statue, which Mayor Thomas Koch shared with The Patriot Ledger.'
MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
— 'N.H. governor, Mayor of Lawrence will team up in fight against fentanyl and crime,' by Matthew Medgar, Boston Herald: 'A Massachusetts mayor called on New Hampshire's governor for help Monday, especially with a deadly version of the opioid fentanyl laced with a tranquilizer, xylazine, that leaves users stunned like zombies and potentially out of reach of common anti-overdose drugs. Granite State Gov. Kelly Ayotte welcomed Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña to the New Hampshire State House Monday where they stood together along with law enforcement from both states and agreed that there is much more the two states can do to combat crime and fight the scourge of opioid overdoses.'
HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH
TRANSITIONS — Shane Pac is now director of policy and research for the Boston City Council (central staff). He was the director of legislative budget analysis.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Governor's Councilor Terrence Kennedy, E&E News/POLITICO's Evan Lehmann, Hannah Lindow, Olga Davidson and Cameron Merritt.