Bill > H3225

This bill establishes a system for providing additional funding to school districts in Massachusetts that experience a significant increase in the number of English learners, which refers to students who are not native English speakers and are learning English in school. Specifically, if a school district sees at least a 20-student increase in English learners compared to the previous year, it will be eligible for extra financial reimbursement from the state. This reimbursement will be calculated based on the difference in the number of English learners between the two years and will be an amount per student equivalent to the reimbursement already provided for English learners under Chapter 70, a state education funding law. Eligible districts will receive an advance payment of this reimbursement early in the fiscal year, and these funds will be held separately by the state treasurer and disbursed to the school districts under the direction of the commissioner of education. This additional funding is intended to help districts cover the costs associated with supporting these students and is separate from any other grants they might receive, including those under Title III of Public Law 107-110, which is a federal law providing support for English learners.