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The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Governor's FY18 House 1 Budget Proposal

To:
Members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
From:
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner
Date:
February 17, 2017

On January 25, 2017, Governor Baker filed House 1, containing the Administration's FY18 state spending recommendations for the upcoming fiscal year. The Governor recommends total state spending of $40.9 billion, representing a $1.1 billion (2.7%), increase over FY17 spending. The Governor has prioritized spending increases for key areas, including local aid, education, transportation, addressing substance misuse, the Department of Children and Families, workforce skills and job training, and homelessness.

The Department's recommended appropriations total $5.3 billion, which represents a net increase of $89.5 million (1.7%), over FY17 spending after all 9c reductions. The Governor's request affirms a commitment to fund education aid for our districts, while focusing on core service delivery at ESE, and providing new opportunities for Career Technical Education and STEM programs.

The following summarizes the Governor's education recommendations by program area.

I. Education Local Aid & Reimbursements

Chapter 70 aid (7061-0008), is increased by $91.4M (2%) over FY17 to $4.72B. The increase maintains foundation level spending in all districts; elevates economically disadvantaged student reimbursement compared to the prior free and reduced price lunch reimbursement levels; provides a minimum aid increase of $20 per pupil to all districts; and includes $66M to address the rising cost of healthcare and retiree benefits in foundation budgets, which is a recommendation of the Foundation Budget Review Commission.

The House 1 budget has level funded all other district reimbursement accounts at FY17 spending levels, including Special Education Circuit Breaker (7061-0012), Regional School Transportation (7035-0006), Non-Resident Vocational Student Transportation (7035-0007), Homeless Transportation (7035-0008), METCO Program (7010-0012), and Charter School Reimbursements (7061-9010).

II. Targeted Assistance and Innovation Consolidation Account (7061-9408)

The Governor's House 1 budget consolidates the following four line items into the newly renamed Targeted Assistance and Innovation account with a combined funding level of $28 million. This consolidated line item includes $2 million in new funding for cohort-based training and coaching for school leaders in level 3, 4 and 5 districts, and for teacher residency programs that train effective new teachers working in urban schools. New language is added to the line item to provide for continuation of consolidated programs, alignment with High Quality Career Pathways criteria, partnerships with higher education campuses, adoption of proven reforms, and coordination with the Department of Higher Education.

III. Expansion of Career Technical Education

As part of the Governor's initiative to support High Quality Career Pathways, School to Career Connecting Activities (7027-0019) is being increased by $500,000 over FY17 to double the number of STEM-related work-based learning experiences for high school students participating in this program.

IV. ESE Administrative Resources

The Voluntary Separation Incentive Program resulted in a total FY18 payroll reduction of $752,812 in the following 3 accounts that fund agency staff.

V. Program Changes

House 1 eliminates spending for 2 accounts previously funded in FY17. In addition, 7061-9011 Innovation Schools and 7061-9401 Assessment Consortium accounts were eliminated as part of the FY17 9c exercise.

The House 1 budget reduces Adult Basic Education (7035-0002) by $320,712 compared to the 9c cut applied in FY17.

FY18 marks the first full fiscal year for the next-generation assessment program. The FY18 budget for the 7061-9400 Student Assessment account is funded at $31.1 million, $3.1 less than FY17 based on the expiration of the old MCAS contract.

In the FY18 House 1 proposal, the WPI Schools of Excellence account is being transferred from the Department of Higher Education to DESE and is funded at $1.4 million.

Regional Bonus Aid (7061-9810) is reduced by $45,000 to match the anticipated need in FY18.

DESE's other accounts are level funded in the Governor's House 1 proposal.

The attached chart summarizes the Governor's FY18 budget recommendations in comparison to our current and prior year's appropriation history and identifies variances.

The Governor's House 1 budget recommendations begin the FY18 budget development process that will culminate in late June when the Legislature approves the FY18 budget and forwards it to the Governor for his final review and approval.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. A discussion of the Governor's budget proposal will be on the agenda at the February 28th Board meeting.

Attachment:

Download PDF Document
Governor's State Education Budget Proposal for FY2018