FY2026 Chapter 70 Local Contribution Study

Information on Public Listening Sessions

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Revenue's Division of Local Services (DLS) have been requested by the Legislature to conduct a study of the local contribution components of the state's Chapter 70 school finance formula. [See St. 2025, c.9, s.2, line item 7010-0005 .] As part of this study, DESE and DLS will be conducting five public listening sessions (four in-person and one virtual) to solicit testimony from local officials, members of the public and others who wish to comment on this topic.

Background

The Chapter 70 school finance formula was enacted by the Legislature to ensure that every public school district in the Commonwealth has sufficient financial resources to provide an adequate education to its students. The formula establishes a minimum spending level for each district (the "foundation budget") and then determines how much each city and town must contribute toward that amount ("required local contribution"). The state provides Chapter 70 school aid to bridge the gap between a municipality's required local contribution and the foundation budgets of the districts to which it belongs. See the white paper at the end of this notice for a more detailed description of the formula.

Scope of study

The Legislature has asked DESE and DLS to focus on these particular topics:

The adequacy and equity of the methodology used to determine a municipality's target local contribution and required local contribution as a measure of a municipality's ability to contribute to its foundation budget;
The impact of local contribution requirements on municipalities' ability to maintain and fund adequate levels of municipal services;
The extent to which the wealth and income measures in the Chapter 70 formula accurately and fairly determine a municipality's ability to contribute to its foundation budget costs;
The impact of Proposition 2 ½ (Chapter 59, section 21c of the General Laws) on municipalities and their ability to make their required local contributions; and
The impact that changes to local contribution requirements have had on municipalities and school districts over time.

Schedule of public listening sessions

October 23
Masconomet Regional High School, Boxford
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
October 30
Doherty High School, Worcester
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
November 6
Greenfield High School, Greenfield
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
November 19
Apponequet Regional High School, Lakeville
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
November 18
Virtual public comment hearing, register online
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Information for those wishing to speak at the public listening sessions

There will be a sign-up sheet at the entrance to the room.
In an effort to hear from as many people as possible at each hearing, each speaker will be limited to 3 minutes.
All comments related to this topic are welcome, but, consistent with the legislative language directing this study and report, the Departments are particularly interested in specific suggestions for changes in the methodology for determining local contribution.
Please be aware that we may not be able to accommodate all those who wish to speak within the allotted time. Those who cannot be accommodated are encouraged to submit written comments.
Speakers will not necessarily be taken in the order in which they signed up. The meeting moderators will use their best efforts to ensure that we hear from a wide range of stakeholders.
The in-person hearings will be videotaped but will not be livestreamed. The virtual comment session will be livestreamed; information on participating in or watching the virtual session will be posted here at a later date.

Submission of written comments and questions

DESE and DLS encourage the submission of written comments, which can be emailed to: C70PublicComment@mass.gov . Written comments are not limited in length. Please submit any questions about the legislative report or the public hearings to the same email address.

Last Updated: October 9, 2025