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State lawmakers brief Scituate on education budget, urge funding formula changes
Summary
State Rep. Patrick Kearney and Sen. Patrick O'Connor updated the Scituate School Committee on the state budget, Student Opportunity Act gains, and proposals to change the foundation funding formula and increase special-education reimbursements amid federal funding uncertainty.
State Rep. Patrick Kearney and State Sen. Patrick O'Connor told the Scituate School Committee on May 19 that the Legislature’s budget work this month includes increased K–12 aid but that the state must overhaul its outdated school-funding formula to keep pace with health‑insurance and special‑education costs.
The two lawmakers briefed the committee on the House and Senate budget positions, Student Opportunity Act (SOA) funding already flowing to Scituate and proposals to increase circuit‑breaker reimbursements for special education and reopen the foundation budget review.
Kearney said the state is debating the fiscal 2026 budget after the governor’s proposal and the House and Senate have adopted different numbers. “We really need to change the funding formula,” Kearney said, adding that the current approach assigns a single minimum dollar figure to districts and “is just simply not keeping up with all of the challenges the school districts are facing right now.”
O'Connor said rising health‑insurance costs…
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