The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Senate Ways and Means FY19 Budget Recommendations
On May 10th, the Senate Ways and Means Committee (SWM) released its recommendations for the upcoming FY19 state budget year. Senate Ways & Means recommends total state spending of $41.42 billion, representing a 3 percent increase over projected FY18 spending.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (Department) recommended appropriations total $5.568 billion, which represents an increase of $217.5 million (4.07 percent) over FY18 spending, an increase of $107 million (1.95 percent) above the Governor's FY19 request (House 2), and $40.4M (.73 percent) above the House's recommendation. Senate Ways & Means proposes a total increase of $218.4 million for Chapter 70, Circuit Breaker, Charter School Tuition District Reimbursement, and Regional Transportation Reimbursement.
The following summarizes the SWM education recommendations. Our budget tracking spreadsheet is attached, showing detail for all Department appropriations.
I. Education Aid & Reimbursements
Chapter 70 aid (7061-0008) is increased by $160.2M (3.38 percent) over FY18, including $12.5 million to provide transitional relief to districts related to the change in the reporting metric from low-income to economically disadvantaged. The increase in Chapter 70 maintains the long-standing commitment to foundation level spending in all districts; fully phases-in (100 percent) effort reduction for high-effort communities; and provides a minimum aid increase of $30 per pupil to all districts (the same as the House and up from $20 in the House 2 budget). Senate Ways & Means proposes making a structural change in the foundation budget by shifting the Limited English Proficient (LEP) rate to an LEP increment for each grade category. Senate Ways & Means also addresses the rising cost of employee and retiree health insurance by including in foundation budgets 14.2 percent of the increase that the Foundation Budget Review Commission recommended in 2015; the House also recommended 14.2 percent and House 2 proposed 11 percent. Based on the SWM budget, districts are eligible to receive the higher of the amount determined by SWM or the amount passed by the House; 43 districts receive the aid amount determined by the House. SWM also includes another $15 million in the Foundation Reserve "pothole" account (7061-0011) for districts serving Puerto Rican and USVI students displaced by Hurricanes Maria and Irma.
Senate Ways and Means funding for the Special Education Circuit Breaker account (7061-0012) is increased by $37.7 million over FY18. Charter School Tuition District Reimbursements (7061-9010) is increased by $19.5 million over FY18. Regional School Transportation (7035-0006) is increased by $1 million over FY18. The METCO grant program (7010-0012) is increased by $500,000 over FY18. Non-Resident Vocational Student Transportation (7035-0007) and Homeless Student Transportation Reimbursement (7035-0008) are level funded with FY18 spending.
II. Literacy Accounts and English Language Acquisition
Senate Ways and Means partially supported the Governor's proposal and combined Bay State Reading with Consolidated Literacy under 7010-0033 account, but added earmark language to fund Reading Recovery and Bay State Reading at FY18 levels.
The English Language Acquisition Account (7027-1004) sees an increase of $694,508 over FY18, which will fund SEI training for vocational education educators and implement the provisions of the Language Opportunity for Our Kids (LOOK) Act.
III. Expansion of Career Technical Education (7027-0019)
- Senate Ways and Means proposes an increase of $446,000 to School to Career Connecting Activities over FY18 and removes $585,000 of earmarks.
IV. Program Changes
Senate Ways and Means increases the Adult Basic Education line item (7035-0002) by $1.37 million to reduce the waitlist of students for English language learning slots and to fund the new professional development system to provide training and support for ABE programs.
Senate Ways and Means does not support the Governor's request to fund Student Assessment (7061-9400) at $32.1 million and has reduced it to $27.1 million ($4 million less than the FY18 GAA and supplemental budget).
7061-9408 Targeted Assistance is funded at $6,760,939 and does not include funding for the empowerment zone initiative included in the Governor's H2.
Senate Ways and Means funds Teacher Licensure (7061-9601) at $1,867,453, an increase of $121,104 to cover the additional volume expected in a license renewal year.
Senate Ways and Means agrees with the FY19 House 2 proposal and transfers the administration of the Recovery High School Program (7061-9607) from the Department of Public Health to DESE, and increases the funding to $3.1 million, which includes funding to administer this grant program.
Senate Ways and Means adds $650,000 to the YouthBuild Programs line item (7061-9626) over FY18.
After the removal of some earmarks, the 7061-9611 After School Grant Program is funded at $2,858,009, which is a net gain of $450,000 for Department programs over FY18.
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention (7061-9812) is increased by $250,000 of earmarks.
Senate Ways and Means proposes the elimination of 7061-9406, the College and Career Readiness Program, which was funded at $700,000 in FY18.
In the SWM proposal Department's other accounts are either level funded or receive minor increases/decreases due to payroll changes or with the removal of legislative earmarks.
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The Senate Ways and Means recommendations will be debated in the full Senate starting on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. After that, the budget will go to the Conference Committee. We will have a further update on the FY19 budget at the May 22, 2018 Board meeting.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
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