Thread by @SenJasonLewis

Starting the @MA_Senate formal session on the #StudentOpportunityAct.

Tune in here: malegislature.gov/Events/Session…

And follow this thread for live updates from me and my team!

#mapoli #FBRC #MAEdu

@MA_Senate I'm speaking now in support of the #StudentOpportunityAct, a piece of legislation which recognizes the fact that access to an excellent public education is not a luxury—it is a fundamental right, in every community and for every child in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. #MAEdu

@MA_Senate In the 18th century, President John Adams, the author of our state constitution, wrote that “Laws for liberal education of youth … are so extremely wise and useful, that, to a humane and generous mind, no expense for that purpose would be thought extravagant.” #MAEdu

@MA_Senate In the 19th century, @MA_Senate Pres. Horace Mann championed the once radical idea of a free public education for all children.

His framework for a public school in every town became a framework and roadmap for the entire nation to emulate.

Mann said that education is “a great equalizer of the conditions of men" (and I would add women) "—the balance wheel of the social machinery.” #MAEdu

More recently, the 1993 Education Reform Act set high academic standards, along with assessments to measure student performance, and established a first-in-the-nation funding formula to ensure that all districts had the resources necessary to provide for every child. #MAEdu

This bargain—increased funding in exchange for new statewide standards of academic excellence—seemed fair and wise. #StudentOpportunityAct #MAEdu

Although we have strengthened & focused our accountability tools over the years since '93, the funding side of the bargain has not kept pace with fast-changing economic & instructional pressures. We fell behind on the promise to provide necessary resources for a great education.

Among the approximately 1 million public school students in Massachusetts, substantial disparities exist between our most successful and least successful districts, schools and classrooms, especially along racial, ethnic, wealth, and income lines. #MAEdu

Many public schools have no library service, part-time nurses, limited art and music programs, inadequate counseling services, and crumbling classrooms and buildings. #MAEdu

I spoke with a student, a first-generation immigrant in my own district, who learned how to apply for college by watching YouTube videos over the summer before her senior year because she couldn't spend enough time with her guidance counselor. #MAEdu

Story after story in the press describes classroom teachers crowdfunding for basic supplies, and we all know from our own communities about the hard choices that town meetings and city councils make every year between school funding and other important local priorities. #MAEdu

The 2015 #FBRC laid out a clear plan for how to address our school funding shortcomings. It directed updates to the Foundation budget formula in four major categories, to address costs which have outpaced assumptions in the 1993 formula. #MAEdu

Those areas are employee & retiree health care $$$, special education tuition, funding for English learners, & supports for students from low income households. The #FBRC was clear: these changes are necessary to ensure adequate & equitable public education for every child in MA

It's so important to acknowledge my colleague @SoniaChangDiaz, who chaired the #FBRC. Senator Chang-Diaz’s strong leadership and relentless advocacy instilled much-needed urgency and moral conviction into our state’s conversation about education funding equity and justice #MAEdu

Since the FY18 budget, we have started to implement the #FBRC recs, and the Commonwealth’s progress towards educational funding justice has been significant. The FY20 budget increased Ch.70 school aid by nearly $270M, the largest single-year increase in over 20 years. #MAEdu

But we need to do more, as we learned in countless school and classroom visits and discussions across the Commonwealth. That's why we created the #StudentOpportunityAct. #MAEdu #mapoli

The #StudentOpportunityAct will have substantial and far-reaching impacts on school budgets across the state, and indeed, it will result in funding increases for every single school district in the Commonwealth. You can unpack the bill here: #MAEdu

I also want to offer my sincere and profound thanks to all of the groups and individuals who have engaged in this process and advocated for a better school funding system for the Commonwealth. #MAEdu #StudentOpportunityAct

There have also been countless local officials who have been a part of this process: mayors, town managers, superintendents, city councillors, select boards, finance boards, PTOs. #MAEdu #StudentOpportunityAct

Thanks are also well deserved for our partners at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, my legislative partners and colleagues, and all of the staff members who worked hard on the #StudentOpportunityAct

The Commonwealth’s strong commitment to high quality public schools has forged a population deeply committed to the success of public education, and at the same time, produced a highly educated workforce and a dynamic 21st century economy. #MAEdu #mapoli #FBRC

Passing the #StudentOpportunityAct today will mark a bold step into the 21st century for the public schools of Massachusetts and for all the future generations of students under our tutelage. #MAEdu #mapoli #FBRC

We're hearing now from my colleague @SoniaChangDiaz about her support for the #StudentOpportunityAct: how it both fulfills our state's policy needs and, as importantly, addresses profound and serious issues of racial & economic justice: that "zip codes should not be destiny"

@SoniaChangDiaz She's talking about the important hard truth that our communities with the greatest educational and financial needs have led the way on reform, driving our state from the 1993 reforms to the 2014 creation of the #FBRC to today's #StudentOpportunityAct #mapoli

@SoniaChangDiaz "There is a difference between charity and justice," said @SoniaChangDiaz. Instead of simply making incremental changes, the #StudentOpportunityAct asserts the Commonwealth's constitutional goals: a quality education for every child #mapoli #MAEdu #FBRC

@SoniaChangDiaz Now Minority Leader @SenBruceTarr is rising to speak, calling today a "landmark day," and acknowledging that the @MA_Senate has time and again embraced the state's constitutional charge to support and cherish education #MAEdu #mapoli #StudentOpportunityAct

@SoniaChangDiaz @SenBruceTarr @MA_Senate .@SenBruceTarr pointed out that #FBRC reviews to the Ch. 70 formula should have been conducted regularly, but that the state fell behind. Now, we're catching up on the promise of 1993 with the #StudentOpportunityAct

@SoniaChangDiaz @SenBruceTarr @MA_Senate Both parties in the @MA_Senate agree, @SenBruceTarr
says, that when the state makes a commitment, we should meet it. This bill recommits the Commonwealth to charter school tuition reimbursement, special education circuit breaker commitments & more #mapoli #StudentOpportunityAct

@SoniaChangDiaz @SenBruceTarr @MA_Senate I'm rising now to reiterate a truly important point about school district-by-district projections of the impacts of the #StudentOpportunityAct.

We worked closely with @MASchoolsK12 finance experts to project impacts of any policy & formula changes.

That work and projecting has allowed us to assess the overall impact and cost of the #StudentOpportunityAct for the Commonwealth as a whole.

Assumptions about future impacts rely on many variables: inflation, enrollment, state & local economic conditions...

At the statewide level, we can make evidence-based and rational assumptions to project into the future, and produce projections with real confidence.

District-by-district projections, however, are much more uncertain because of the variables I mentioned.

That's why it would be misleading and irresponsible to release district-by-district projections en masse, without the necessary caveats and context to understand the way formula changes will impact each district.

For those reasons, I've worked diligently with colleagues to review their districts & discuss the ways in which formula changes might affect them, taking into account BOTH Chapter 70 aid and additional financial supports such as special ed. circuit breaker & charter reimbursement

The @MA_Senate is going into recess. We'll be back soon!

@MA_Senate And we're back! #StudentOpportunityAct #FBRC #mapoli #MAEdu

@MA_Senate .@SenRodrigues, Chair of Senate Ways & Means, explaining now that full implementation of the #StudentOpportunityAct will likely not call for new revenues, adding that the current (FY20) budget funded education at a very similar level as would be necessary for this bill #MAEdu

@MA_Senate @SenRodrigues .@SenDiDomenico is speaking now about the ways in which the #StudentOpportunityAct finally rectifies systemic shortfalls in funding schools with high populations of low-income students to achieve fair funding for all communities #MAEdu

@MA_Senate @SenRodrigues @SenDiDomenico The #StudentOpportunityAct will be phased in over several years to ensure that the state can meet its funding commitments and that districts can budget effectively

1. Chapter 70 (direct $) - 7 yrs
2. Special ed. circuit breaker - 4 yrs
3. Charter tuition reimbursement - 3 yrs

@MA_Senate @SenRodrigues @SenDiDomenico As we're digging into the many proposed #StudentOpportunityAct amendments in earnest, keep track of our progress here: malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S235… #mapoli #MAEdu #FBRC

@MA_Senate @SenRodrigues @SenDiDomenico .@CindyFriedmanMA is speaking about her amendment related to #RecoveryHighSchools, which serve students who experience #SubstanceUseDisorder and help them thrive in school with support services and treatment. In the face of the opioid epidemic, it's vital to support our youth.

Her amendment proposes allowing districts to create local reserves to cover unexpected #RecoveryHighSchool costs. This proposal is revenue-neutral, but moreover, it's smart substance-use prevention and treatment policy. The amendment was adopted! #MAEdu

Thank you @Barry_Finegold for taking time during this debate to discuss important violence-prevention efforts in our schools. We can all agree: students and teachers should be safe from bullying, suicide, gun violence and other serious dangers. #mapoli #MAEdu

@Barry_Finegold As we developed the #StudentOpportunityAct, we heard the message from our school districts loud & clear about the real and meaningful impacts of charter schools on our cities & towns. That's why the bill commits us to fully funding charter mitigation over the next 3 years.

@Barry_Finegold Heading into a recess until about 5:00pm! #StudentOpportunityAct

@Barry_Finegold We've received lots of feedback on the parts of the #StudentOpportunityAct related to district & school improvement. We've made sure to incorporate parent & teacher voices, made it clear that we do NOT believe that all districts need to pursue the same strategies for success

We've worked to ensure that assessment means MORE than just test scores, and most crucially, we've made it very clear that DESE will NOT be empowered to withhold funds when schools & districts haven't yet met their goals. H/t @BeccaRauschMA & @senjehlen for your input here!

@BeccaRauschMA @senjehlen .@EricLesser is talking now about the challenges faced by lower-income communities when they run up against the Prop 2 1/2 levy ceiling. This is a widespread issue among Mass. towns, especially in the more rural parts of the state #MAEdu #StudentOpportunityAct

@BeccaRauschMA @senjehlen @EricLesser Although that challenge is wider than the immediate subjects of the #StudentOpportunityAct, Sen. Lesser is right that we need to assess this problem at a statewide level. That's why we passed an amendment to study Prop 2 1/2's effects on municipalities! #MAEdu #mapoli

@BeccaRauschMA @senjehlen @EricLesser Thanks also to @SenMikeMoore, who advocated convincingly for his amendment which enhances data collection for student preparedness for life after high school into college and careers! #MAEdu #mapoli #StudentOpportunityAct

@BeccaRauschMA @senjehlen @EricLesser @SenMikeMoore President Emerita @Sen_Chandler telling the chamber that this is a watershed moment for #MAEdu funding and for Massachusetts public schools. Thank you for your strong leadership and partnership in the battle for education funding justice! #mapoli #StudentOpportunityAct

@BeccaRauschMA @senjehlen @EricLesser @SenMikeMoore @Sen_Chandler Thanks also to @Sen_Chandler for her powerful voice opposing overreaches in accountability proposals. You're right: every district has different needs, and moreover, struggling districts require a helping hand from the Commonwealth, not new punitive measures. #MAEdu

@BeccaRauschMA @senjehlen @EricLesser Credit also due to @Jo_Comerford, who filed the amendment! Thank you both for your leadership.

@BeccaRauschMA @senjehlen @EricLesser @SenMikeMoore @Sen_Chandler .@Barry_Finegold speaking now about the rapidly-rising costs of school construction and renovation and relatively slow growth in @Mass_SBA funding. Kids need great public school buidlings in order to thrive! 21st century education can't be conducted w/ buildings from the 50's

@BeccaRauschMA @senjehlen @EricLesser @SenMikeMoore @Sen_Chandler @Barry_Finegold @Mass_SBA I'm proud that the #StudentOpportunityAct already proposes to raise the @Mass_SBA spending cap to $750 million, but I'm very supportive of @Barry_Finegold's amendment to raise it to $800 million. The amendment passes unanimously!

@BeccaRauschMA @senjehlen @EricLesser @SenMikeMoore @Sen_Chandler @Barry_Finegold @Mass_SBA As we make important changes to the Foundation Budget, it's important that we phase all of them in at the same pace to make sure that we make consistent and adequate progress toward education funding equity. Amendment on proportional phase-in adopted! #mapoli #MAEdu #FBRC

@BeccaRauschMA @senjehlen @EricLesser @SenMikeMoore @Sen_Chandler @Barry_Finegold @Mass_SBA And now... the moment you've all been waiting for: the final roll call vote for @MA_Senate passage of the #StudentOpportunityAct! #MAEdu #mapoli #FBRC

@BeccaRauschMA @senjehlen @EricLesser @SenMikeMoore @Sen_Chandler @Barry_Finegold @Mass_SBA @MA_Senate The #StudentOpportunityAct passes the @MA_Senate unanimously in a vote 39-0. This bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revitalize public education in Massachusetts, and I am so proud of my colleagues for supporting this historic legislation.