TO: MASS Colleagues
FROM: Tom Scott, Executive Director
SUBJECT: Foundation Budget Review Commission, Some Talking Points
Consistent with the mission of this association, to speak with a cohesive, powerful voice on behalf of laws, policies and funding, we provide you with sample talking points to consider when making recommendations at hearings before the Foundation Budget Review Commission. Testimony time will be limited. Select items of greatest local concern to testify about, and please offer written commentary to expand on points to the Commission. It is important to relate to the commission your actual story of the challenges school face, successes, and limits on addressing currents needs. We encourage superintendents to join with others to present testimony using roundtable, collaboratives, and key local partners.
Foundation Items1. The Foundation Budget is based on an outdated educational model that has, and continues to change with new levels of instruction and attainment / Factual Issue
· Formulated in early 1990’s the foundation is based on a now outdate view of education, curriculum and professional standards, time on learning, staffing, technology and student demographics.
· The MASS School Finance Taskforce points out that these items are priority suggestions. / Local Issue Examples
· Recent change made in your schools
· Staffing needs that are not being met
· Need for increase learning time
· District Technology needs are different than 1990 and include (Tell your story)…
2. Total Foundation funding is grossly inadequate / · MA School districts are spending on Chapter 70 requirements $2 billion above the foundation budget, averaging 121% of foundation allowance.
· 196 of 324 districts (61%), a great majority of districts spend above the state average of 121%
· 127 of 324 districts (39% of districts spend less than the state average with 22 of those districts spending below foundation.
· Spending above required comes from municipal revenue sources to support K-12 education, placing a great strain on local resources / (From the attached file) Your district in FY14 spent _____% above your foundation budget.
· Yet these are the needs we cannot fund with present funding resources: _ _ _
· State local challenges of securing spending above foundation allowances
· Cite local municipal needs that are constrained by funding school needs
3.Special Education costs are grossly underfunded in the foundation budget
Special Education costs are grossly underfunded in the foundation budget (Continued) / In FY 14 over 21% of educational spending is for direct special education costs, totaling over $2.5 billion, up from 18.6% a decade ago.
· The IEP mandated spending, for staffing in special education reduces non-mandated resources available to fund regular education staff. Actual spending for special education staff is double the amount provided in the foundation budget
· Special education enrollment at 3.75% of students under represents the number of students with an IEP.
Foundation Budget allowed for tuitioned out of district special education student in FY14 is $25,848 yet average tuition (as well as transportation costs not funded) total much higher. MASS recommends a $39,000 allowance for out of district placement. / (From information posted at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/finance/statistics/)
· Your district in FY13 spent ____ % of your budget for direct special education costs.
· Examples of Local staffing demands for special education drawing resources that are needed, for regular staffing needs to continue student progress.
· Special education enrollment of your school district, percentage ____%
· Trends in special education enrollment
· District Examples of special education costs
· Adequate special education is important
Foundation Items / Factual Issue / Local Issue Examples
4 Health insurance costs are double the actual costs allowance in the foundation budget. / Health and retirement spending is presently $1.2 billion above the cost allowance in the foundation.
Locally growth in these costs has been slowed by contractual agreement with employees groups, but growth continues to draw resources from instructional needs. Health demands are much higher than the 1990’s / · What are local costs of health and benefit as a percentage of total education spending?
5. There is a need to increase resources to address the growing number of low-income students and English Language Learners / · Since 2007 low-income students in MA, schools have grown from 29.5% to 38.3% of total enrollment (a 30% increase).
· Low-income student make up a larger share of students not meeting proficiency standards.
· English Language learner have also grown over the same timeframe from 15.1% to 16.9% / · Local examples of demographic shifts causing stress on meeting the needs of low-income students and other students who enter the schools with challenges to their learning progress.
· Examples of homeless student needs and “churn” factor for high poverty schools.
6. Salary allowances in the foundation budget are well below actual salaries of staff. / · Staffing credentials and degree levels, expanded time on instruction and planning, curriculum and development have grown significantly over 20 years
· . 2/3 rds. Of teachers now hold a MA. Or higher
· In FY13, average teacher salaries were $71,620, over $8,000 higher than the amount provided in the foundation budget. / · Describe the extra time added to instructional time with school reform and expanded staff time engaged in curriculum development and instructional planning.
Points of concern for your district / State or municipal provided limits / Suggested changes to meet needs
Please include in your commentary an expression of appreciation for the legislature and administration consistent support for funding the existing foundation budget. Full funding of the Special Education Circuit Breaker and uncapping of Pre K enrollment are important recent improvements.
Please feel free to share with us, and with your MASS colleagues your stories of compelling needs to improve the progress being made in student outcomes.