Regional School District Organization

Laws and Regulations:

• MGL, chapter 71, section 14-16I — governs all regional districts

• MGL, chapter 74 — governs vocational programs

• DESE regulations on regional districts: 603 CMR 41.00

Advisories and Guidance

• Advisory on the Establishment of a Regional Transportation Reimbursement Fund

• Fiscal Intervention and Oversight — Guidance for Regional School Districts

Reports:

• Report of the Legislative Commission on School District Collaboration and Regionalization

• School District Consolidation in Massachusetts
  This document provides a brief history of regionalization; explains the complex web of relationships that already exist among districts; looks at some demographic, fiscal, and programmatic factors that might motivate districts to regionalize; and uncovers some lessons from a recent series of regionalization studies. It is also intended as a companion piece to a more in depth report on the outcomes of recent planning studies included in the following document.

• Results of Regional Planning Studies
  This report summarizes the individual results of recent planning studies in the context of the district's existing affiliations and compares the current findings with concerns and benefits that have been identified in the past.

• Patrick Administration Awards Regional Planning Grants to 12 Communities

Professional Organizations:

• MARS: Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools

• MAVA: Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators

• MASC: Massachusetts Association of School Committees

Formation and amendments:

• A Pathway to Regionalization

MGL c.71, s.14B outlines the process for establishing and amending a regional school district agreement. All regional school district agreements and amendments to those agreements must be approved by the Commissioner of Education in accordance with the law and regulation noted above. Communities interested in forming a regional school district or regional school districts interested in amending their regional school district agreement or admitting a new member should contact Christine M. Lynch by e-mail at clynch@doe.mass.edu or by phone at 781-338-6520.

• Checklist for Forming or Amending a Regional School District:
  This document may be used as a guide for those interested in exploring the formation of a regional school district.

Amendment Process:

• A complete copy of the latest approved agreement and any proposed amendment must be submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for review prior to receiving local approval

• Final approval by the Commissioner will be subject to legal approval and receipt of all authorized local votes

• A new or amended agreement must be approved by DESE and member communities prior to December 31 of any given year in order for the agreement to be in effect on July 1 of the following fiscal year

Budget Process:

• Advisory Memorandum on FY10 Regional School District Budgets

• Developing the Regional Budget

• Preparing Member Assessments: Guidance for Regional School Districts

• Advisory on Regional School District Stabilization Funds

Information and Statistics:

• Listing of Regional School Districts

  • FY20 Listing of Academic Districts

  • FY20 Listing of Vocational Districts

• School District Organization Fact Sheet

• School district organization charts

  • Configuration of School Districts in Massachusetts — 2020

  • Configuration of Cities and Towns in Massachsuetts — 2020

Superintendency Unions

Massachusetts General Laws allows the school committees of two or more towns to join together to form a union school committee. The organization of the union school committee is governed by statute, as are its powers, which are limited to the authority to employ a superintendent of schools, school physicians, school nurses, clerical and secretarial personnel, special teachers, and supervisors. All other powers and responsibilities are retained by the local school committees of the member towns. There are 15 superintendency unions in Massachusetts, comprised of 48 member towns. Currently 32 of the municipal districts participating in superintendency unions also are members of regional school districts that hire the same superintendent and central office staff. In 2020, 15 superintendents and 62 school committee serve 48 municipalities and 14 regional school districts in 84 schools serving 30,164 students. For information on superintendency unions, contact Christine M. Lynch at 781-338-6520 or at clynch@doe.mass.edu.

Tuitioning Arrangements

In accordance with provisions of Chapter 71, sections 1, 4 and 6, the following school districts are permitted by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education not to maintain school serving selected grade levels and to tuition their students to other school districts for the school year 2019-2020.

• FY20 Tuition Districts

Last Updated: August 12, 2021