Bill > H521

This bill modifies the funding mechanism for Commonwealth charter schools in Massachusetts, establishing a more detailed and transparent approach to calculating tuition payments. The bill requires the state to pay charter schools a tuition amount calculated separately for each sending district, which aims to reflect the actual per-pupil spending in the district's schools. The calculation involves creating a foundation budget for charter school students, adjusting it based on the sending district's above-foundation spending percentage, and accounting for special education and healthcare costs. The bill stipulates that the state treasurer will deduct the local share of charter school tuition from the district's state school aid, with specific provisions for handling cases where deductions might exceed available aid. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for first-year students from private schools or homeschooling, limits on funding transfers between schools within a network, and ensures continued capital needs funding for charter schools. The legislation also addresses scenarios involving school closures or grade-level eliminations, ensuring that sending school districts retain their chapter 70 allotments for those students.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H521