Tracy O'Connell Novick Profile picture
Jan 24, 2022 22 tweets 7 min read Read on X
#MAEdu, it’s a BIG week this week!

Know why?

It’s STATE BUDGET WEEK!
Governor Baker* proposes his FY23 budget to the House on Wednesday!
*for the last time
So, what does this mean for education?
We should see year two of six of the phase in of the Student Opportunity Act.
(Unless for some reason the Governor decides this is still supposed to be a seven year process…we’re going to call that a long shot)
This is, of course, a good thing!
Do, however, keep in mind that state aid is based on the foundation budget which is based on enrollment which may not be growing for your district.
There is one open question on the implementation this year (though I bet I know which way the Governor will go):
Inflation: SOA caps the inflation rate at 4.5%.
The actual inflation rate is 5.9%.
I will suggest that is the question for the Legislature…
Even with flat enrollment, year two should see some more districts flip out of hold harmless aid!
This is particularly going to be true for the higher poverty (student body) districts.
Also, this is the first year with the “low income plus” student count (this is already on your district profile page)
Remember, though, that SOA implementation isn’t only about Ch. 70: there’s also the charter reimbursement…
…and the circuit breaker phasing in transportation.
What am I worried about?
I am very, very concerned that ESSER is going to make some leaders think districts are just all set.
ESSER isn’t long-term operational funding.
If you’re unclear on that, you haven’t been listening.
That all starts on Wednesday, and you can check here.
I’ll be watching for it! #mapoli #MAEdu

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Tracy O'Connell Novick

Tracy O'Connell Novick Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @TracyNovick

Mar 13
I’m sure that sometimes some of you think I am overreacting to the Boston Globe’s education coverage, but you probably couldn’t frame “how is this school funding reform working this year” WORSE than looking at Belmont, Harvard, and Westford.
I could try to invent one, but it’s an incredible manifestation of whom the Globe perceives its audience as AND how poorly it understands the state school funding system.
Read 33 tweets
Feb 26
Hey, #MAEdu advocates, can we have a word?

Please pull up a chair.
You all are my people, and I think the world of you.

I'm concerned about what seems to be how FY25 budget season is being approached.
It's not so much that I think it's missing the forest for the trees, and more that there is no forest; it's actually a prairie.

It's not even the same ballgame.
Read 15 tweets
Dec 13, 2023
So I logged off last night to have dinner with my family and write about how the Globe was wrong about school finance (chapter MMXXIII), and it appears I missed some Discourse on Worcester Public Schools funding.
Y’all were busy!
And so, a thread:
Let me first note that when I teach MA school finance (which is part of what I do for work, for those who might be new), I start in 1647, so there’s some history here.
From a Worcester perspective, let’s sum up by saying that the early colonial law that required towns to have schools once they hit a particular size was violated more than once, resulting in the town being fined.

More than once.
Read 14 tweets
Mar 23, 2023
.@jgoodeHN I think you're just repeating the framing that the city is giving you here, but I think we should clear up a misconception.

School transportation doesn't count towards net school spending in Massachusetts for ANY district. #MAEdu

heraldnews.com/story/news/edu…
The reason for that is pretty straightforward: Chelsea is three square miles; Franklin County Regional Tech is 500 square miles. Both are Massachusetts school districts. As you might imagine, they spend WILDLY differing amounts on transportation.
What is different between Fall River--and, indeed, any municipal district in Massachusetts--and their neighboring regionals, is, that while BOTH have mandated state reimbursed transportation, only one of those reimbursements gets funded.
Read 12 tweets
Mar 21, 2023
finally watching last week's Joint Ways & Means hearing, and appreciate @Jo_Comerford's question on the balance of one time versus sustained funding #MAEdu
she also did a lovely, polite refocus of her question; good chairing!
Cheers also to Sen @AnneGobi for opening her Q to @MassEducation a pointed: "on behalf of the entire Worcester delegation for your thoughtful and spot-on comments regarding the charter school in Worcester. It was extremely appreciated."
Read 5 tweets
Sep 15, 2022
ok, good morning, I have a question (just getting to #MAEdu news from yesterday):

This MEEP claim that gaps have widened over the pandemic is based on...what exactly?

We don't yet have the last year's MCAS data. We don't yet have MA NAEP data.
The report cites 2019 to 2021 third grade reading scores, and then percentage of low income 9th graders passing their classes compared to wealthier peers.
Then enrollment in college, which we know dropped...everywhere?
Read 5 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

:(