Mass. advocates lament failure to reach deal on education funding

BOSTON (AP) — Of all the bills that stalled out during the Massachusetts Legislature’s just-completed formal session, perhaps the one creating the most heartburn is the failure to reach a deal on overhauling the state’s 25-year-old education funding system.

Education advocates, parents and teachers unions had hoped to revamp the funding formula – known as the “foundation budget” – a key element of the landmark 1993 Massachusetts education reform law meant to smooth out educational disparities between wealthier communities and poorer ones.

To address the issue, the state set up a Foundation Budget Review Commission, which found the original formula underestimated education costs by up to $2 billion every year. The commission made a series of recommendations to overhaul and update the foundation budget in a report issued three years ago.

Even with all that preparation and discussion, the Massachusetts House and Senate – each of which had passed their own version of an overhaul – failed to reach a final compromise deal in the waning days of the 19-month formal session.

The Senate bill would have increased annual spending on education by about $1 billion when fully implemented. The House bill would spend about $500 million over five years to help school districts better cover the costs of special education and employee health care.

The criticism was swift – including talk of possible lawsuits by districts seeking more funding from the state.