Patrick Calls for Increase in Education Spending
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The governor released budget figures today for prekindergarten-through-high school spending, including aid to cities and towns and significant increases in universal preschool, full-day kindergarten and extended-school time initiatives.
"Our budget will reflect the priority our administration places on providing Massachusetts students with the top-quality education opportunities they deserve," said Patrick in a statement. "While the commonwealth faces tough fiscal challenges in the year ahead, we cannot afford not to invest in strategies that work to help students excel. We are making tough choices necessary to make this targeted investment."
The state is looking at a $1.3 billion deficit in a projected $28 billion budget in fiscal 2009. Despite that, the governor's budget increases education spending 6 percent overall.
That has some legislators shaking their heads and wondering where the money is coming from. House Speaker Salvatore Dimasi told the Statehouse News Service that Patrick's education budget has to weighed against other spending - and revenues.
The independent Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center estimates the "total costs of the governor's proposals at between $969.4 million and $2.430 billion per year." The report continues that the final costs will depend on the recommendations of the Readiness Project, established last year by the governor, and the Legislature.
The administration's budget provides $3.9 billion to cities and towns through Chapter 70 education aid, a $223 million increase over this year that will result in additional funding for every school district in the state.
The governor's fiscal 2009 proposal to be filed later this month will also include a $51 million expansion for high-priority programs like full-day kindergarten. An addition $15 million will allow an estimated 892 new classrooms to prepare roughly 14,320 children for the school years ahead.
Key to the education reform plan is an extended-school day that affords students the opportunity to participate in enrichment programs and allows teachers more time for planning and coordination, said administration officials. For the second year in a row, the governor will propose doubling the amount of funding for extended-learning time grants, including $26 million for the coming year. This additional $13 million will allow more than 8,900 students to participate in a lengthened school day.
The budget also includes $43.2 million to transition an estimated 440 half-day kindergarten programs to full day. This $8 million expansion brings the state significantly closer to universal full-day kindergarten. Currently, there are 1,050 half-day kindergarten programs statewide.
Underperforming Schools
While Massachusetts consistently ranks at the top in education nationwide, a persistent achievement gap remains. To address that shortfall, the governor will propose investing an additional $4.5 million in chronically underperforming schools and districts. This 49 percent increase in funds will allow the Department of Education to work with the "Commonwealth Priority Schools" to help students and teachers overcome the challenges they face in improving academic performance.
The budget will also include an additional $2 million to help close the achievement gap through Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System support programs. This additional funding will allow DOE to expand student academic support at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
Other education initiatives in the budget include:
- $2 million for dual enrollment programs that allow 2,000 high school students to take college credits while completing their high school education.
- A $1.5 million increase in the METCO program.
- $234 million for the Circuit Breaker, which partially reimburses cities and towns for special education residential placement.
- $81.7 million for charter school reimbursements
The governor's entire budget will be filed later this month.
