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Lawmakers hear pleas to boost Chapter 70, special education reimbursements and rural school aid amid widespread local budget pain
Summary
Education and municipal leaders told the Joint Ways and Means Committee that Chapter 70 increases under the Student Opportunity Act, rising special‑education and transportation costs, and hold‑harmless rules are driving local budget gaps; they urged higher minimum aid, full funding for the circuit breaker, and substantial rural aid increases.
Lede: Superintendents, school‑committee officials and municipal leaders told the Joint Committee on Ways and Means that the governor’s FY26 education proposal keeps important investments but falls short for many districts struggling with special‑education, transportation and hold‑harmless funding issues.
Nut graf: Witnesses representing school districts and municipal associations pressed for targeted increases to local aid lines—Chapter 70 minimum aid, the special‑education “circuit breaker,” rural school aid and regional transportation reimbursements—arguing those moves would blunt layoffs, program cuts and municipal hardship ahead of fiscal 2026.
Body: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education acting Commissioner Russell Johnston briefed the panel on the governor’s…
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