On October 3, the Senate voted to pass the Student Opportunity Act. This is a historic victory for students, educators, and parents who, for years, have been advocating for the Senate to Fund Our Future.
BTU President Jessica Tang has issued the following statement:
The allocation of this $1.5 billion investment into K-12 education is a historic victory for educators, students, and parents across Massachusetts who, for years, have tirelessly advocated for equitable funding for our public schools. We applaud our senators for listening to the voices of our community members and for passing this critically important piece of legislation that corrects a 26-year-old funding formula. We will encourage the House to do the same.
Like many districts across the state, Boston has endured the repercussions of inadequate and inequitable funding, with low-income students, English-Language Learners, and special education students disproportionately impacted. The seven-year allocation process of the funds secured through the SOA will ensure that our students’ needs are addressed in a way that is both expedient and financially prudent.
In Boston and throughout Massachusetts, we will continue to push for the details of the bill to be upheld and left unharmed. We also reaffirm our commitment to advocating for the Commonwealth to fully reimburse public schools for funds lost to charter schools and to implement a durable fix to the charter mitigation problem faced by districts across the state.
Today, Massachusetts is a key step closer toward keeping its promises to public school students, educators, and families.