This memorandum informs the Felix Commonwealth Virtual School (Felix) and all school districts that will send students to Felix about the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (Commissioner’s) adjustment to the tuition rate that the virtual school will receive for fiscal year 2027 (FY27). Felix is a new Commonwealth Virtual School, which plans to open in September 2026, serving students who reside in 95 districts.1
In fiscal year 2027, Felix will receive $16,461 per pupil. Sending districts will be charged a total of $16,536 per pupil, with $75 retained by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) to cover administrative costs. The final tuition rate for fiscal year 2027 reflects the annual inflation adjustment to Chapter 70 of 2.76 percent.2
The Department calculated this rate by increasing the projected FY25 base tuition rate of $15,715 by the FY26 and FY27 Chapter 70 inflation rates (1.93 percent and 2.76 percent, respectively). This results in an increase of $746 in total, generating a new base rate of $16,461 for FY27. This is the amount that Felix will receive for each student enrolled in FY27.
The Department calculated the sending tuition rate by adding an administrative fee of $75 per pupil to the adjusted base rate, bringing the FY27 sending tuition rate to $16,536. This is the amount that sending school districts will be charged for each student attending Felix.
At its March 22, 2024, meeting, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) voted to authorize a total tuition rate for Felix of $15,790 per pupil, reflecting grades served and relevant program cost categories using FY25 foundation budget rates, with $75 retained by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) for program administration, which is how we arrived at an FY25 base tuition rate of $15,715.
Additionally, during the meeting, the Board voted to delegate to the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education (Commissioner) authority to adjust Felix’s tuition rate to reflect the annual Chapter 70 inflation adjustment. The tuition rate approved by the Board and adjusted by the Commissioner for Felix is in effect for the entire fiscal year and does not change over the course of the year.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Robert O'Donnell, Director, Office of School Finance.
1 Acton, Arlington, Ashland, Ayer, Avon, Bedford, Belmont, Beverly, Bolton, Boston, Boxborough, Braintree, Brockton, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Canton, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Concord, Danvers, Dedham, Dover, Everett, Framingham, Grafton, Hanover, Harvard, Hingham, Holbrook, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Mansfield, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medford, Medway, Melrose, Milford, Millis, Milton, Nahant, Natick, Needham, North Reading, Newton, Norfolk, Northborough, Norwell, Norwood, Peabody, Quincy, Randolph, Reading, Revere, Rockland, Salem, Saugus, Sharon, Sherborn, Shrewsbury, Somerville, Southborough, Stoneham, Stoughton, Stow, Sudbury, Swampscott, Upton, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley, Westborough, Westford, Weston, Westwood, Weymouth, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn, and Worcester
2 The inflation rate is based on a third quarter to third quarter comparison, in this case third quarter 2024 to third quarter 2025 from the state and local government price deflator issued by the United States U.S. Department of Commerce’s and capped at 4.50 percent, which is the maximum inflation rate authorized by Chapter 70.
Last Updated: June 16, 2026