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Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The Healey-Driscoll administration today announced a series of public listening sessions to solicit feedback on the state’s Chapter 70 school finance formula.
Chapter 70 is the primary funding program that establishes how Massachusetts distributes education aid to cities, towns and regional school districts.
The listening sessions are part of a Chapter 70 Local Contribution Study included in the fiscal 2026 state budget and conducted by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services.
“This is an opportunity for the public to help shape the future of a system that affects every student in Massachusetts,” said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. “We strongly encourage our educators, families, community leaders and stakeholders to attend these sessions and let us know what is working and where we need to make changes.”
The listening sessions will inform the final Chapter 70 Local Contribution Study, which will examine the methods used to determine each municipality’s target local contribution and required local contribution toward school funding.
The study will also consider the impact of factors such as income and property wealth, the effect on municipal services, and the unique challenges of rural and regional school districts.
The DESE and DLS expect to release the final report next summer.
Here’s the listening session schedule:
• Oct. 23, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Masconomet Regional High School, 20 Endicott Road, Boxford
• Oct. 30, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Doherty Memorial High School, 299 Highland St., Worcester
• Nov. 6, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Greenfield High School, 21 Barr Ave., Greenfield
• Nov. 18, 4-7 p.m., virtual public comment hearing (register online)
• Nov. 19, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Apponequet Regional High School, 100 Howland Road, Lakeville
The DESE and DLS encourage the submission of written comments, which can be emailed to [email protected].
More information about the public comment sessions, Chapter 70 and local contributions is available on the DESE website.