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| 麻州州長Maura Healey有意增撥ㄧ億元預算，助學區度過經費難關。（周菊子攝） |
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| 麻州教育廳廳長Stephen Zrike坦言移民學生人數減少也是導致經費下降的原因之一。 （周菊子攝） |
奚莉州長指出，近年來由於特殊教育成本、校車交通等費用高漲，加上通貨膨脹形成的結構性財務衝擊，逼使麻州許多地方學區考慮裁減教職員或砍掉課外活動。州政府因此爭取撥發這筆款項為學校紓緩困境，爭取時間來規劃因應。
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| 許多州市政府都派員出席，支持州政府的增撥經費計劃。（周菊子攝） |
麻州教育廳廳長Stephen Zrike與中小學教育局長Pedro Martinez指出，州政府撥發的這一億元，可讓各學校多得平均每名學生112美元的經費，而且州政府給地方學區極大的使用彈性，可用於推動早期識字課程、更新教學教材，或落實新的高中畢業門檻。
麻州政府表示，奚莉州長提交的2027財政預算已經破紀錄的，撥出76.6億美元「第70章」基礎教育補助（Chapter 70 aid）。其餘配套預算還包括撥發大增19.5%的8.066億美元特教補助，以及1.508億美元校車補貼，提撥1.8億美元用於「全民免費學校午餐」，並投入640萬美元強化學生心理健康支援，提供1,600萬美元偏鄉學校補助，400萬美元英語學習者（EL）專項儲備金。
美國聯邦教師會（ＡFT）麻州分會主席唐佳宇（Jessica Tang）和波士頓教師工會（BTU）主席伯格（Erik Berg）都表示，在聯邦補助縮減的難關下，這筆錢是救命稻草，能實質幫助學區救回原定被裁撤的教師與助教職缺。麻州學校總監協會（M.A.S.S.）執行長Mary M. Bourque及特許公立學校協會執行長Tim Nicolette也一致讚許州政府正視基層財政危機，給了學校最實質的底氣。
Governor Healey Boosts Schools Funding to Retain Teachers, Paraprofessionals, Mental Health Counselors
$100 million supplemental budget would deliver an average increase of $112 per student, on top of significant school funding increase in FY27 budget
BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today filed legislation to deliver $100 million to school districts across Massachusetts in Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27), providing immediate relief for communities facing significant budget pressures and helping schools avoid layoffs and harmful program cuts ahead of the new school year.
The funding comes from projected, unbudgeted Fair Share surtax collections in FY27 and supplements the record levels of local aid included in the FY27 budget recently signed by Governor Healey. The one-time investment is intended to help retain teachers, paraprofessionals, mental health counselors and other school staff while preserving important educational programming in communities facing fiscal challenges.
“We know that Massachusetts has the best schools in the nation, but there is always more to be done to ensure our students are getting an excellent education and to support our hardworking educators,” said Governor Healey. “We’re proud to have more than doubled school funding since taking office and significantly increased local aid for cities and towns. Now, we’re delivering an extra boost to local districts to help them navigate challenging budget years and retain the teachers, paraprofessionals, mental health counselors and programs that are so essential to our children’s success.”
“Everywhere I travel, I am hearing from municipal and school leaders about rising costs and the pressure those are putting on their municipal budgets,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “School districts are being forced to consider layoffs, cutting extracurriculars or paring back student support services. These funds will not only help avoid some of those outcomes before the new school year starts but also give municipal leaders the time they need to prepare for how to fund education in their districts moving forward.”
The supplemental budget would distribute the $100 million according to a formula based on FY27 enrollment, ensuring that every one of Massachusetts’ 319 operating school districts receives additional funding. That amounts to approximately $112 per student on top of the $160 million in minimum aid included in the FY27 budget as part of the final year of the Student Opportunity Act.
“This additional funding to support our schools and our children is urgently needed and a responsible use of Fair Share dollars, which continue to be a stable, high-performing source of tax revenue designed to ensure our schools are providing the best education possible,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. “We’ve heard consistently from our partners in municipal government about the fiscal constraints they are dealing with, and our administration is committed to finding ways to support cities and towns without resorting to higher taxes or fees for residents.”
School districts would have the flexibility to use these one-time funds to meet local needs, including supporting evidence-based early literacy reading curriculum, instructional materials and practices and implementing the administration’s robust recommended high school graduation requirements.
“As a former superintendent, I know there are no easy budget decisions when districts are balancing rising costs with the needs of students. This funding provides important flexibility to help districts manage immediate fiscal pressures while supporting classroom instruction, student services, early literacy implementation, key components of the State's recommended high school graduation requirements and other local priorities,” said Education Secretary Stephen Zrike.
"This supplemental budget will mean a lot to school district leaders, who have been trying their best to maintain needed services while balancing their budgets," said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. "This is a clear signal of the state's commitment to Massachusetts students."
This investment builds on the record $7.66 billion in Chapter 70 aid to cities and towns from the FY27 budget and the $1.36 billion for unrestricted general government aid to municipalities, including $30 million in new funding distributed by population to better support small and rural communities.
In addition to these core aid programs, the FY27 budget and Fair Share supplemental budget includes:
• $806.6 million for Special Education Circuit Breaker reimbursement, a 19.5 percent increase over total funding in FY26.
• $200.4 million for charter school reimbursement, a 1 percent increase of FY26
• $180 million for universal free school meals
• $150.8 million for school transportation reimbursement, a 7 percent increase over FY26
• $16 million for rural school aid, a 33 percent increase over FY26
• $6.4 million for mental health supports and wraparound services
• $4 million for a new enrollment reserve to help communities with English learner populations
The FY27 budget also reconvenes the Foundation Budget Review Commission to begin the process of evaluating how the state can best support public education through the school funding formula following the full implementation of the landmark Student Opportunity Act.
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