Archived Information

School Finance: Charter Schools

Memorandum

During the 2003-2004 school year, Massachusetts' 43 Commonwealth Charter Schools served a total of 16,419 pupils. We have prepared the enclosed roster presenting June FY04 Charter School pupil enrollment and tuition data. Our purpose in disseminating the roster is to provide the detail underlying the charter school tuition assessed in this year's distributions and to ensure the accuracy of the information. For additional information, please reference our website, at http://finance1.doe.mass.edu/charter/, to access the following reports:

• June FY04 Charter Tuition and Reimbursement. This page details each district's total full-time equivalent pupils at all charter schools (Column A); the amount of local tuition and transportation being assessed (D); the amount of direct state subsidy for pupils who were in private or home school settings in FY03 (E); and the amount that the Commonwealth is reimbursing each district for the cost of their charter pupils (O). Please note that due to FY04 state budget reductions, the charter reimbursement account is insufficient for full funding. Therefore, a pro-ration factor of 31 percent has been applied to each district's entitlement.

• June FY04 Charter Pupils and Tuition. This page details the number of pupils at each charter school and the total dollars to be paid-including the Commonwealth's subsidy for private and home-schooled pupils. Please note that it was necessary for the Department to cap enrollment at three schools, in accordance with the charter school statute. Although this reduction was minor in its tuition impact, I point it out as a reminder that this provision does exist and will be enforced.

• FY04 Charter School Tuition Rate Calculations. This page shows the budgeted expenditures and enrollments used in determining the tuition rate at each school district.

If you have any questions please contact me at the Department of Education at (781) 338-6586 or via email at hcabral@doe.mass.edu.