Chapter 70 Program

The Chapter 70 program is the major program of state aid to public elementary and secondary schools. In addition to providing state aid to support school operations, it also establishes minimum spending requirements for each school district and minimum requirements for each municipality's share of school costs.

Information on FY09 Chapter 70 State Aid Reductions
05/30/2009		DOR Bulletin on Accounting Entries and Reporting to Implement FY09 Chapter 70 Reductions
05/18/2009		Answers to some frequently asked questions about the FY09 ARRA-SFSF grant application
05/14/2009		Joint DOR/ESE implementation memorandum
05/14/2009		Application workbook for SFSF grant
05/13/2009		List of state aid reductions and SFSF grants by district
05/07/2009		Commissioner Chester's May 7 memorandum

1. Chapter 70 Legislation & Regulation
		Legislation
		Regulations
		Compliance With Net School Spending Requirements
		How the foundation budget is calculated
		How foundation enrollment is calculated
	Download MS EXCEL file size: 2.5 MB	Chapter 70 district profiles The on-line Chapter 70 database shows, for each school district, yearly spending and state aid totals in comparison to the foundation budget. Trend data is available for each year going back to FY93.

2. Chapter 70 State Aid and Spending Requirement
01/25/11	FY13 Preliminary Chapter 70 Aid and Net School Spending Requirements
07/11/11	FY12 Chapter 70 Aid and Net School Spending Requirements
08/25/10	Update on Federal Education Jobs Funding and FY11 Chapter 70 Program
06/30/10	FY11 Chapter 70 Aid and Net School Spending Requirements
10/30/09	FY10 Chapter 70 Aid and Net School Spending Requirements
10/20/09	FY10 "One-Time Adjustment" Waivers
06/19/09	FY10 Chapter 70 Aid, Net School Spending Requirements, and Federal Stabilization Grants: Legislative Conference Committee Report
05/07/09	Planned Reductions in 4Q FY09 Chapter 70 State Aid Payments
07/14/08	FY09 Chapter 70 Aid and Net School Spending Requirements
07/12/07	FY08 Chapter 70 Aid and Net School Spending Requirements
07/08/06	FY07 Chapter 70 Aid and Net School Spending Requirements

3. Materials on Proposed Changes to Chapter 70
09/12/2005		Aggregate Wealth Model Workbook
04/21/2005		DOE Proposals on Local and State Funding for Public Schools
02/01/2005		Hancock v. Driscoll -- Hancock v Driscoll - final decision of the Supreme Judicial Court
04/26/2004		Hancock v Driscoll report of Judge Margot Botsford
12/04/2003		Report of the Legislative Working Group on Chapter 70
10/23/2002		Proposed Amendments to School Finance Statute (Chapter 70)
06/28/2002		How Accurately Does the Foundation Budget Reflect Spending and Staffing Levels in Rural Regional School Districts?
10/23/2002		Proposed Amendments to School Finance Statute (Chapter 70)
06/30/2001		Report of the Foundation Budget Review Commission, June 2001
06/01/2001		Economic Analysis of the "Wage Factor" Concept
04/00/2001		A & F Policy Report: Fairness in School Funding -- Reformulating Local Aid for Phase Two of Education Reform
04/18/2001		House Ways and Means Proposed Chapter 70 Reforms
01/26/2001		Governor's Proposed Chapter 70 Reforms
12/07/1999		Summary of Board of Education's Forum
10/19/1999		Proposed Changes to Chapter 70
08/24/1998		Background Discussion Paper -- Technical Issues Related to the Reauthorization of the Chapter 70 Formula

4. Foundation Reserve Aid
08/22/2011		FY2012 Instructions and Application for funds to support Districts with shortfalls in federal impact aid
08/24/2010		FY2011 Instructions and Application for funds to support Districts with shortfalls in federal impact aid
05/29/2009		Announcement of FY09 Discretionary Foundation Reserve Awards
09/29/2008		Announcement of FY09 Foundation Reserve Awards
07/21/2007		Announcement of FY08 Foundation Reserve Awards
10/05/2006		Announcement of FY07 Foundation Reserve Awards

5. Professional Development
11/01/2008		Report on Professional Development Spending in Massachusetts Schools, FY2007