The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
House Committee on Ways and Means Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Recommendations
House Committee on Ways and Means Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Recommendations
The House Committee on Ways and Means (HWM) released its Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15) Budget recommendations today. The FY15 budgetary spending recommendations across all of state government total $36.182 billion; a 7% increase from FY 2014 spending.
The HWM's FY15 total budget recommendation for the Department of $4.977 billion represents an increase of $101.7 million above the FY14 spending level of $4.875 billion.
The House will begin its floor debate on April 28, 2014. I will provide you another update after the House produces its final recommendations.
Among the highlights of the budget proposal are:
Continued Financial Support for Local Districts
- HWM has recommended $4.4 billion for Chapter 70 state aid (7061-0008), representing an increase of $99.5 million over FY14. The HWM keeps districts at foundation and guarantees a $25 per pupil increase for every district. This funding level reflects the joint local aid resolution agreed to by the House and Senate, and is consistent with the Governor's recommended appropriation. In addition, the Foundation Reserve account (7061-0011) is funded at $1 million, which is $1 million less than FY14 appropriation.
- HWM has recommended $257.5 million for Special Education Circuit Breaker (7061-0012), which is an increase of $5 million over the FY14 budget of $252.5 million.
- FY15 funding for Regional School Transportation Costs (7035-0006) is increased by $2 million over the FY14 budget of $51.5 million.
- FY15 funding for Transportation Reimbursement for Homeless Children (7035-0005) is level funded at $7.35 million.
- FY15 funding for Non-Resident Vocational Student Transportation (7035-0007) has been reduced by $1.5 million over FY14 appropriation of $3 million.
- The Charter School Tuition Reimbursement account (7061-9010) has received a $5 million increase over the FY14 budget of $75 million.
Assistance for District and School Turnaround
- HWM has basically level funded the Targeted Assistance to Schools and Districts (7061-9408) at the FY14 appropriation of $7.7 million. The earmark of $250,000 for Parent Engagement Program has been removed.
- The Office of School and District Accountability (7061-0029) is also level funded at $979,650.
Professional Development for English Language Learners Instruction
- The HWM budget fall short of full funding of the Department's Year 3 need for the RETELL initiative (7072-1004). The $540k supplemental funding received in FY14 is not in the FY15 budget. This funding level of $2.8 million limits the Department's ability to administer its training and professional development work with educators of ELL students.
Expanded Learning Time Grants
- HWM recommends an increase of $1 million in the Expanded Learning Time Grants (7061-9412) over the FY14 amount of $14.2 million.
HR and IT Consolidation under EOE
- The HWM Committee has accepted the Governor's House 2 proposal and consolidated human resource operations within EOE's Admin account (7009-6379). As a result, $1.2 million of HR staff salaries have been transferred from the 7010-0005 main administrative account.
- In addition, the FY14 funding of $795,548 for Education Data Services (7061-9200) has been transferred to EOE's IT account (7009-1700).
PARCC funding
- The HWM budget includes an increase of $5 million to support PARCC testing in FY15 in the Student Assessment account (7061-9400).
In addition, the HWM Committee included decreases/elimination in a number of additional Department accounts.
- The School to Work Connecting Activities (7027-0019) is funded at $1 million, which is a decrease of $1.75 million over the FY14 budget of $2.75 million.
- HWM has reduced the Consolidated Literacy Program (7010-0033) account by $850,000. Bay State Reading Institute (7010-0020) is level funded.
- HWM decreases Adult Basic Education (7035-0002) by $1 million over the FY14 funding of $30.17 million.
- AP Math and Science Programs (7035-0035) have been cut by $600,000 over the FY14 budget of $2.6 million.
- HWM has decreased funding to Supports to Close the Achievement Gap (7061-9404) by $3.1 million over the FY14 appropriation of $9.1 million, consistent with the Governor's budget proposal.
- HWM budget for After-School Grant Program (7061-9611) has been reduced by $200,000 over the FY14 appropriation of $1.6 million.
- Massachusetts Service Alliance Grants (7061-9634) is decreasing by $100,000 over the FY14 budget of $350,000.
- In addition, HWM has recommended the elimination of Federal Impact Aid (7061-0033), Innovation Schools (7061-9011), Safe and Supportive Schools Grant Program (7061-9612), Alternative Education (7061-9614), Regional Bonus Aid (7061-9810), and Creative Challenge Index (7061-9811).
The balance of the Department's accounts is either level funded at current appropriation levels, have small increases included to cover traditional program maintenance costs, or have small decreases.
The attached chart compares the HWM FY15 budget recommendations to projected FY14 spending and identifies any variances.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
C. Senior Staff Managers