Stanley pursues multiple efforts to support and protect Waltham Public Schools

Boston- Representative Thomas M. Stanley (D-Waltham) has been pursuing multiple efforts to support and protect public education through legislation and budget initiatives to reduce costs and increase revenue for Waltham Public Schools.  As the FY17 state budget debate is set to begin about a month from now in April, Rep. Stanley reflects on pending measures in the legislature that will have an impact on Waltham students.

“Public education in Waltham is of the upmost importance to me and I will do everything I can to ensure that we receive our fair share of local aid from the state to support our schools,” said Rep. Stanley.  “A top-notch education is critical and I will continue to advocate legislative leaders to boost local aid for our schools and review state mandates on the school district.”

–          Rep. Stanley supported the creation of the Foundation Budget Review Commission in the FY15 state budget.  The Commission studied the ways in which Massachusetts funds public education and determined in its Final Report (10/30/15) that the state was underfunding its obligation to cities and towns.

–          Co-sponsored legislation (HD 4531 – An Act Strengthening Public Education in the Commonwealth) which implements the findings of the Foundation Budget Review Commission and favorably adjusts the formula by which Ch.70 aid to school districts, and Foundation Budgets are calculated.  Under this legislation, Waltham’s Foundation Budget would increase by $2 Million dollars, triggering an immediate infusion of $540,272 from the state into Waltham’s Chapter 70 local aid award according to the most recent statistics.

–          Co-signed bi-partisan letter to state budget leaders calling for an increase in minimum aid from the current level of $20 per pupil up to $50 per pupil for the upcoming fiscal year.  On a statewide basis, the request would add about $20 million to the entire Chapter 70 line item, $106,311 of which would go to Waltham if $50 per pupil target is met.

–          Co-sponsored H. 472 – An Act expanding the special education reimbursement program, allowing transportation costs to be factored into the Special Education Circuit Breaker.  Waltham would see an increase in Circuit Breaker aid.

–          Co-sponsored the following bills seeking to unburden school districts from excessive, unfunded mandates:

o   H.456 – An Act establishing an educational mandate task force

Bill establishes an 11 member education mandate task force to review existing state mandates placed on public schools and districts.  Task Force is charged with developing recommendations to streamline, consolidate, or eliminate outdated or duplicative mandates.

o   H.376 – An Act concerning unfunded education mandates

Creates a task force, similar to H.456, but also establishes a moratorium on all new mandated education programs until the Task Force completes its recommendations.

o   H.3391/S.322 – An Act related to unfunded mandates on public schools

This bill would require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to conduct an analysis of all new state laws, regulations, or administrative directives to assess their impact on school districts.

–          Testified against H.3928, An Act to allow fair access to public charter schools, at the Public Education hearing on Monday, March 7, 2016.  This initiative petition would allow the authorization of up to 12 new charter schools every year.  Charter schools divert funding from public schools.  Raising the cap will drain limited resources public schools desperately need.

–          Sponsored H.493, An Act relative to charter schools. This legislation would require local approval for proposed charter schools.

–          Over the past several years, Rep. Stanley led the effort to create a new line item in the state budget to reimburse municipalities for homeless student transportation costs related to the federal McKinney-Vento Act.  Although this funding has only been partially funded due to budget cuts, Rep. Stanley continues to push for full funding and made DESE’s FY17 McKinney-Vento estimate of $24,312,389 one of his FY17 budget priorities.

–          Rep. Stanley also made increased state aide to school districts serving non-Gateway Communities with high populations of English Language Learners one of his FY17 budget priorities. The Waltham Public School system has experienced a dramatic increase in the enrollment of ELL students over the past several years (60% since 2011-12).  Waltham High School, in particular, has seen a nearly 100% increase in ELL students since 2011.  Many of these students arrive at school with little to no formal education for WHS to build upon.  WHS has very little time to close the learning gap, requiring costly staff-intensive interventions with support staff to meet this challenge.  Overall, this remarkable influx of ELL students has put a severe strain on the school system’s resources.

o   Rep. Stanley urged the House Ways and Means Committee to include the Foundation Budget Review Commission recommendations regarding ELL students into the FY17 budget.

o   Funding is not only needed for operational expenses to educate ELL students but for capital expenditures as well.  Rep. Stanley requested an outside section in the FY17 budget to include increased enrollment of ELL students as a viable option for submitting a Statement-of-Interest (SOI) to the Massachusetts School Building Authority.  Many school districts in the Metro-West area are facing unique and significant population increases and don’t have the proper facilities to provide the highest-possible education to these students.

Waltham is qualified for and does receive limited funds from the Federal Title III program but that comes nowhere close to covering the cost of educating ELL students.  Waltham’s income and college achievement levels are slightly above the state requirements for Gateway Communities which are eligible for certain economic development and educational state programs.  Despite Waltham educating some of the highest populations of ELL students (percentage-wise) in the Commonwealth, more than many Gateway Communities, the City is unable to apply for these state programs and grants.

o   Rep. Stanley filed legislation, H.3220 – An Act relative to gateway communities to help raise this issue.  The bill allows any municipality who has experienced a sudden increased in ELL enrollment to be eligible for any education programs and funding reserved for Gateway Communities.

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