Bill > S2870

This bill aims to provide comprehensive support for rural schools by establishing several key initiatives. First, it defines a "rural school district" as an area with 35 or fewer students per square mile and a per capita income below the state average. The bill creates a Rural Schools Aid Fund to provide targeted financial support to these districts, prioritizing areas with the lowest student density. It also establishes an Office of Shared Services and Regionalization to help rural districts collaborate, form regional partnerships, and share administrative resources more effectively. The legislation includes provisions to support special education by creating programs to help paraprofessionals become licensed special education teachers and providing more flexible funding for specialized staff. Additionally, the bill offers financial incentives for school districts that regionalize, including transitional aid for new regional districts, debt relief for closed school facilities, and grants to support regionalization efforts. The bill also requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to review special education regulations with a focus on rural district needs and ensures that at least one board member represents rural western Massachusetts counties. Finally, the bill mandates a comprehensive analysis of barriers to school district regionalization, with a report due by the end of 2026.

Budget and Finance

Committee on Education (Joint)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2870