MA RURAL PUBLIC SCHOOL AID PROPOSAL RURAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS CRISIS
CRISIS CONDITIONS • Since the late 1990s 1. Declining student enrollment 2. Flat Chapter 70 State Education Aid 3. Rising operating costs Mohawk Trail Regional District Western Massachusetts
Athol-Royalston Regional District Central Massachusetts
Chronic financial crisis Public education crisis
MA EDUCATION AID • Designed for Urban Districts
STUDENTS AFFECTED •
100,000 MA students attend rural public schools — Approx. 10% of total MA public student population — 50,000 attend rural public schools in severe fiscal crisis
PROPOSED REMEDY •
Rural public school state aid — Chapter 70 Program — Eligibility criteria — Tiered allocations — Targeted aid
North Middlesex Regional School District Eastern Massachusetts
MA RURAL PUBLIC SCHOOL AID PROPOSAL DETAILED
Severe conditions
Most Severe conditions
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 1. Change in enrollment MA RURAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS — Between 2013 fiscal year and 1998 fiscal year 2. Density factor — Total square mileage of the district / 2013 enrollment 3. Change in Chapter 70 education aid — Between 2013 Chapter 70 and 1998 Chapter 70 4. Per Capita Income — 2013 per capita income (U.S. Census Bureau) TIERED ALLOCATION Tier 1: highest allocation of rural aid per student ELIGIBILITY • highest % decline in enrollment • fewest students per square mile • lowest avg. annual increase in Chapter 70 • lowest per capita income Tier 2: 2nd highest allocation of rural aid per student ELIGIBILITY • 2nd highest % decline in enrollment • 2nd fewest students per square mile • 2nd lowest avg. annual increase in Chapter 70 • 2nd lowest per capita income Tier 3: 3rd highest allocation of rural aid per student ELIGIBILITY • 3rd highest % decline in enrollment • 3rd fewest students per square mile • 3rd lowest avg. annual increase in Chapter 70 • 3rd lowest per capita income Tier 4: 4th highest allocation of rural aid per student ELIGIBILITY • 4th highest % decline in enrollment • 4th fewest students per square mile • 4th lowest avg. annual increase in Chapter 70 • 4th lowest per capita income
Gateway Regional District Western Massachusetts
Quaboag Regional District Central Massachusetts
Triton Regional District Eastern Massachusetts
MA RURAL SCHOOLS COALITION • Founded in 2016 to address plight of MA rural public schools • Comprised of MA rural school superintendents • For more information, please contact
[email protected]
