Archived Information
School Finance: Chapter 70 Program
Final FY02 Chapter 70 Aid and Spending Requirements
| To: |
School Superintendents, School Committee Chairpersons, Mayors, Boards of Selectmen
|
| From: |
David P. Driscoll, Commissioner of Education |
| Date: |
December 3, 2001 |
| Subject: |
Final FY02 Chapter 70 Aid and Spending Requirements |
Today marks the release of the final Chapter 70 school aid and spending requirements for FY02, in conformance with the final FY02 state budget. The proposal calls for $3.213 billion in aid, a $223 million or 7.4 percent increase over the FY01 distribution of $2.990 billion. As you know, the Commonwealth is experiencing an unexpectedly severe state revenue shortfall. While there are difficult reductions in a broad range of state appropriations, the magnitude of the Chapter 70 increase should offer reassurance that the Commonwealth remains fully committed to education reform.
The original goal of the Chapter 70 formula -- helping all districts reach an adequate spending level -- was first reached in FY00. The FY02 aid distribution maintains that objective, while also striving to more effectively fund districts' growth in costs and to enhance equity among cities and towns.
This year the Chapter 70 distributions were computed not from one unified set of computations, but from a series of separate formulas proposed by the Governor, the House, and the Senate. There is much common ground in how the proposals define the foundation budget, ensure that all districts reach that budget, and measure a community's ability to pay. I hope that agreement will soon be reached on a single formula which synthesizes the positive ideas put forth this year and results in a permanent, predictable, and understandable mechanism for funding K-12 education.
The following reports provide final FY02 Chapter 70 aid and spending requirements, and describe the methodologies used to arrive at them:
Some of the above information can also be downloaded in format  .
For those districts whose final Chapter 70 aid is greater than the preliminary amount issued last January, the budget again provides for an expedited process for appropriating the additional funds at the local level. Detailed information is provided on the FY02 Formula Factors page.
If you have any questions concerning the FY02 Chapter 70 calculations, please contact either Roger Hatch at 781-338-6527 (rhatch@doe.mass.edu) or Rob O'Donnell at 781-338-6552 (ro'donnell @doe.mass.edu) in the School Finance Office.
Thank you for your continued cooperation and support.
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