Latest news with #MassBudget
Boston Globe
11-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Here's what education gets out of Massachusetts' new state spending plan
The spending plan slashed $130 million, including by trimming the Statewide College and Career Readiness Program, which provides online materials for students to reach college readiness, and reducing charter school reimbursements, which districts receive as partial reimbursement for student tuitions costs. Here's how the new Massachusetts state budget will impact education: Advertisement Fair Share funding and rising costs School districts faced rising costs from inflation and the end of COVID relief programs. Current state funds like the Student Opportunity Act, which largely targets schools with underserved communities, have The new state budget increased the opportunity act's minimum per-pupil cost to $150, up from $104. However, advocates like Jessica Tang, of the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts, said there needs to be a permanent change to the Chapter 70 school funding program to account for inflation. To offset this need, the Fair Share supplementary budget, which is funded by revenue from the millionaies tax, added $1.5 billion for education. Advertisement Tang said that instead of using the money to expand education programs, the surtax funds are being used to fill gaps left by potential cuts in federal funding to programs like Medicaid, which reimburses school districts for important medical services. Tang mentioned Healey vetoed $20 million in charter school reimbursements in the state budget, which help mitigate funding losses from Chapter 70. Viviana Abreu-Hernandez, the president of the MassBudget policy organization, said the federal government is 'I'm afraid that the budget is not going to be enough once the federal cuts materialize, particularly for the children that need more support to be successful,' Abreu-Hernandez said. Vocational and technical schools The new state budget allowed to move forward The new system will allow schools to use student interest, middle school attendance, and lack of serious disciplinary issues as weights in a lottery. Lew Finfer, from the Vocational Education Justice Coalition, said the lottery system will help expand vocational school access to students from marginalized backgrounds. 'They're creating a system where conceivably every student can at least get into the lottery,' Finfer said. The state House budget included a two-year moratorium on the lottery requirement, but that was excluded from the final budget. Advertisement Mary Tamer, the executive director of MassPotential, said admission changes have to account for greater student demand, with more than 6,000 students waitlisted for vocational school seats. 'The question becomes: Will the state provide resources to create more schools?' Tamer said. Finfer said the supplementary budget accounts for at least $100 million to fund comprehensive schools that offer vocational or technical programs, which will renovate and expand existing spaces to provide around 3,000 new seats. Career readiness and higher education Healey vetoed more than $800,000 in college and career readiness programs, because they did not align with her initial budget recommendations, and she cited other programs that support career readiness. However, she added $50 million for the state's early college initiative, which allows high school students to earn college credits. 'This year's funding for early college is well positioned to catalyze growth and impact that we need to see,' said Chessye Moseley from the Massachusetts Alliance for Early College, about the program reaching 11,000 students next year. Tang said the state needs to continue promoting affordable higher education with the free community college program, and at the same time ensure there are options for students who prefer other career pathways. 'We need to focus on how do we continue to have high standards for schools and colleges, and support families and their needs,' Tang said. Literacy and student support Literacy rates in Massachusetts dropped, with four in 10 third- to eighth-graders achieving reading proficiency, Tamer said. The new state budget allocates $15 million to Tang said there is a need to expand funding for current teacher development, instead of just allocating funds to outside organizations. Advertisement Tamer said Massachusetts is following the footsteps of states like Ohio, which invested more than $100 million in literacy programs that showed significant improvements. Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez, said the state will continue to work with districts to ensure they support the rising population of students with special needs, as well as multilingual learners, whose needs are more expensive. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education expects $8.9 billion in funding. 'It is harder today to be a teacher than ever before,' Martinez said. Vatsady Sivongxay, from the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance, said the state needs to be bolder in its funding, given school districts continue to layoff councilors and education specialists. Sivongxay, who is a parent of the Cambridge public schools, said parents should expect fewer specialized educators in kindergarten classrooms next school year. '[My son] benefits from having support staff,' Sivongxay said about her fifth-grader who does not have a specialized education program. 'He appreciates and loves all of the staff equally.' Maria Probert can be reached at
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unveiling the Architects of Change: Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center on Empowered with Meg Ryan
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. , Feb. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Empowered with Meg Ryan, a nationally televised program spotlighting impactful social change, announces an upcoming segment featuring the Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center (MassBudget). Airing on Public Television stations nationwide, the program delves into the critical work of organizations making a positive difference in their communities. MassBudget serves as a powerful advocate for economic and social justice in Massachusetts. Through meticulous data analysis and unwavering dedication, they craft impactful policy solutions that promote racial and economic equity for working families. "It is Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center's honor to partner with Empowered to showcase how our research is used to impact people's everyday lives. We are grateful for Empowered's unique storytelling platform to demonstrate how rigorous research and policy analysis are the starting points of evidence-based advocacy. Research and information empowers and uplifts people, in particular communities that have been historically excluded from decision making spaces," said Viviana Abreu-Hernandez, President. The segment will explore MassBudget's impactful work, including their success in advocating for: Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Minimum wage increases Earned sick time The Student Opportunity Act, promoting equitable funding for K-12 education The Fair Share amendment, generating over $2.3 billion for transformative investments in education and transportation MassBudget goes beyond policy analysis. They empower communities with the data and resources needed to advocate for lasting change. The program will explore how MassBudget is building a stronger, more equitable future for all residents of the Commonwealth. About Empowered with Meg Ryan Empowered with Meg Ryan is an award-winning educational program hosted by actress Meg Ryan. The program tackles critical social issues using powerful storytelling to inform and inspire viewers. Each segment sheds light on the work of remarkable organizations that are making a difference in their communities. Learn more at About the Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center The Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center (MassBudget) is a leading voice for economic and social justice in Massachusetts. Through rigorous research and data analysis, they shape critical policy solutions to promote racial and economic equity for working families. MassBudget empowers communities with the tools and resources they need to advocate for lasting change. Learn more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Empowered Sign in to access your portfolio
Boston Globe
31-01-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
A sweet deal? Massachusetts moves to tax candy
Healey wants to get rid of that exemption, which would generate about $25 million. The two questions I had are — what candies exactly would the tax apply to, and is this really a good idea when better ways to raise revenue are available? And if it is a good idea, well, what's the logic in stopping there? What about other sugary products, like some types of cereal and breakfast bars, that are practically candy in disguise? For that matter, what about a pound of sugar at a grocery store? 'We think that makes sense,' Advertisement 'This isn't about a new tax,' the governor said. 'What this is doing is simply saying, when you go to the grocery store, instead of having candy treated like a purchase of bread and eggs and milk – you know, essential groceries – that candy is now going to be treated in the same way as when you go to the bakery in the back of the grocery store and pick up cupcakes for your kids.' But defining what qualifies as candy isn't as straightforward as you'd think. Legally, it's a sticky situation. 'You see states drawing an administrable line,' Advertisement Massachusetts, however, takes a broader approach. Holderness argues that all these complications are why he generally favors a very broad-based sales tax. 'Once you introduce exemptions, that's where all these problems come into being,' Holderness told me. 'If you're going to do that then you also need accompanying assistance for lower-income individuals who are bearing the regressive nature of the tax.' Those regressive effects are a reason to think twice about the whole idea, especially given the tiny amount of money it will bring in in the context of the state's $62 billion budget. 'What is $25 million bringing to the table' Viviana Abreu-Hernández, the president of the Taxing candy, Abreu-Hernández said, 'is going to be a regressive tax, because poor people are going to have to pay more for candy than rich people based on the percentage of their income that goes into that tax. We want taxes to be fair.' It's why Abreu-Hernández's organization has been constantly pushing for the state to eliminate a different, far more generous tax exemption — the one on the sales of private jets and helicopters, which MassBudget called a ' Advertisement 'In our analysis, if you tax aircraft and aircraft parts, you will bring in $27.6 million' in state revenue, she said. That's more revenue than taxing candy while targeting a much smaller, much wealthier group of people. Perhaps not surprisingly, Big Candy opposes making candy a taxable item. A spokesperson for the So, Massachusetts lawmakers have a choice: Do they tax the kid buying a Snickers at the corner store, or the executive flying a private jet to Nantucket? This is an excerpt from , a Globe Opinion newsletter from columnist Marcela García. . Marcela García is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at
