Thread by @SenJasonLewis

In a few minutes, I’ll be speaking on the @MA_Senate floor on the #StudentOpportunityAct, our historic proposal to reform the Mass. school funding formula and invest $1.5 billion in our public schools and students.

Tune into the livestream at this link:
malegislature.gov/Events/Session…

The #StudentOpportunityAct reflects our state’s core value that dictates that every child, regardless of ethnicity, background or ability, deserves a great public education. Education is the golden door to opportunity.

I’m grateful to my fellow Senate conferees, @SenRodrigues and @PatrickMOConnor

I must thank @SoniaChangDiaz, a tireless champion who stayed in this fight over the years to ensure educational opportunity for every single child, from her work on the #FBRC to the present

I also thank @KarenSpilka, who has spent her whole career in government fighting for fair school funding

Thank you @SenBruceTarr, an important collaborator and supporter in these efforts

And endless thanks to @RepAlicePeisch, who has been an incredible partner

The #StudentOpportunityAct fully implements the #FBRC recommendations laid out in 2015. It improves the formula to better reflect special ed. tuition, employee health care costs, and perhaps most importantly, the needs of English learner and low-income students

Especially when it comes to the needs of low-income students, this bill will create the most progressive school funding framework in the United States

The #StudentOpportunityAct goes beyond the #FBRC recommendations, increasing foundation calculations for guidance and psych services, recommitting the state to full charter school reimbursement, expanding the special ed. circuit breaker and increasing funds for school buildings

This bill is also about more than just the dollar amount— it’s about ensuring that new funding reaches the students who need it the most. The #StudentOpportunityAct ensured that special education students, English learners & those from low-income background get the help they need

We conceived a #21stCenturyEducationTrustFund to help school districts innovate and improve classroom-, school- and district-level strategies for student success.

We also require each district to create a 3-year District Improvement Plan to develop concrete plans to close achievement gaps and reach every student with the educational approaches and interventions they need.

The #StudentOpportunityAct creates a framework for the Commonwealth to evaluate college and career readiness among our high school graduates to make sure that they can succeed in their lives and in the 21st century economy

We carefully acknowledged the questions that go unanswered in this legislation, including the policy needs of rural and regional schools, the challenges posed to school finances by Prop 2 1/2, and opportunities to improve the Mass. School Building program

The voices of advocates across Massachusetts were heard in the #StudentOpportunityAct: parents, students, educators, businesses leaders, community advocates all raised their voices and joined together to make this bill a possibility. Congratulations to all of you.

I urge my colleagues in the House and @MA_Senate to swiftly enact the #StudentOpportunityAct and to send it today to the Governor to be signed into law.

#mapoli #maedu

After inspiring words from @SoniaChangDiaz @PatrickMOConnor and Sen. Michael Brady, the Senate clerk is calling the roll for the final Senate vote

#StudentOpportunityAct

And with that; the #StudentOpportunityAct passes for enactment with a unanimous vote of the @MA_Senate.

@MA_Senate Learning now that just a few minutes ago, the House also voted unanimously to enact the #StudentOpportunityAct!

@MA_Senate Great to catch up with some of my #MAEdu colleagues after the #StudentOpportunityAct vote in the House: @AaronMVega @PaulTuckerSalem @SoniaChangDiaz @RepAlicePeisch and @KimFergusonMA!