Gov. Healey files $100 million supplemental budget to help Massachusetts school districts

Governor Healey filed a supplemental budget proposal to provide $100 million in flexible aid to Massachusetts school districts, saying the funding will help districts avoid layoffs and preserve programs and student supports.

The announcement came at a morning event attended by municipal leaders, union officials and education advocates. "I'm filing a supplemental budget to provide an additional $100,000,000 for our school districts," Governor Healey said, noting the money is supported by fair‑share/surtax revenue and is intended as a one‑time infusion to get funds out the door quickly.

Why it matters: The governor and education leaders said the money is meant to help districts respond to local needs this fall — from preserving teaching positions and paraprofessionals to supporting school counselors and high‑quality instructional materials. The administration described the distribution as a simple, statewide formula that amounts to an average increase of about $112 per pupil across 319 school districts; the governor said some of the largest districts will receive more than $1,000,000.

Secretary of Education Steve Zweig framed the proposal as part of a broader commitment to K‑12 funding, citing recent increases in chapter 70 aid, the final year of the Student Opportunity Act funding ramp, higher special‑education reimbursement and transportation support. He also said the FY27 budget reconvenes a Foundation Budget Review Commission to examine the chapter 70 formula for future school finance adjustments.

Local leaders and unions welcomed the plan but urged prompt legislative action. Amesbury Mayor Cassandra Gove told the governor that cities and towns face a "perfect storm" of rising costs and limited revenue and that the supplemental funds will help address acute needs at the municipal and school level. Eric Berg, president of the Boston Teachers Union, said Boston Public Schools is slated to eliminate about 568 positions this coming school year and urged the legislature to pass the measure rapidly so districts can hire before classes begin. Christy Nickerson, president of the Woburn Education Association, speaking on behalf of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, said $100 million is welcome but will not fully counterbalance spiraling health‑care and special‑education costs and the constraints of Proposition 2½.

What the filing does and does not do: The governor described the filing as a supplemental budget submission to the legislature; it does not itself enact funding. Lawmakers will need to consider the proposal, and the administration said it will work with the legislature to expedite action. The administration characterized the money as "flexible funding" to allow districts to address their greatest local needs; the event did not include details on specific grant rules, eligibility criteria, or an exact district‑by‑district allocation schedule.

Authorities and context: Speakers referenced chapter 70 education aid, the Student Opportunity Act and Proposition 2½ in explaining both the need for and limits on local revenue. The governor said the proposal builds on the record investments in the FY27 budget she recently signed.

Next steps: The governor said the legislature will need time to review the supplemental filing but urged quick enactment; no formal vote or enactment occurred at the event.