WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HD 6071

A communication from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (see item 7061-9813 of Section 2 of Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025) submitting report #1 on Rural School Aid for fiscal year 2026

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Rural School Aid FY2026 allocates $12M by priority districts (density-based) to improve funding equity and urges annual surveys and streamlined reporting on efficiencies and region

Placed on file
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 6071

Summary of HD 6071 (194th Massachusetts Legislature) — Rural School Aid FY2026, Report 1

Purpose and intent

  • This bill is a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) submission detailing Rural School Aid for fiscal year 2026, required under Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025, line-item 7061-9813.
  • Primary goals include reporting on allocations, eligibility, and recommending adjustments to improve accuracy, equity, and regional collaboration in rural school funding. A follow-up plan (due Jan 30, 2026) requests districts to outline steps to increase regional collaboration or efficiencies over the next three fiscal years.

Key provisions and changes

  • Eligibility and distribution framework (as defined by line-item 7061-9813):
    • Eligible districts include rural towns and regional districts (excluding vocational, independent agricultural/tech, and charter schools) with:
    • Student density of ≤ 35 students per square mile.
    • Per capita income not exceeding the state average ($57,834 in MA data used for FY2026 eligibility).
    • Priority groups (based on student density, using the three-tier approach):
    • Priority 1: ≤ 11 students per square mile.
    • Priority 2: >11 and ≤ 21 students per square mile.
    • Priority 3: >21 and ≤ 35 students per square mile.
    • For FY2026, funds were allocated with greater weight to Priority 1 districts:
    • Priority 1: $6.0 million
    • Priority 2: $3.6 million
    • Priority 3: $2.4 million
    • Total FY2026 Rural School Aid: $12 million (consistent with the line-item total distribution by priority groups and proportional to each district’s Chapter 70 target aid).
  • Recipient and historical context:
    • In FY2026, 65 districts were eligible; 65-65-65 rows in the table reference. Funds to districts are prorated based on their current Chapter 70 aid targets.
    • Examples of awards in FY2026 ranged from about $13,518 to $1,164,818, with specific district totals listed in the accompanying Table 1 (FY22–FY26) showing year-by-year distributions.
  • Reporting and plan requirements:
    • Current statutory requirement calls for districts to submit a three-year plan in January detailing steps toward regionalization, consolidation, or efficiency measures.
    • The report recommends replacing the three-year plan requirement with a short annual survey (due ~60 days after fiscal year close) to streamline data collection on:
    • How rural aid was used,
    • Efforts to increase efficiencies, shared services, consolidation, and regionalization,
    • Steps the state can take to assist these efforts.
  • Department reporting:
    • The Department currently submits two reports annually; the recommendation is to consolidate into a single annual report in October after the recipient survey, to provide a clearer view of fund use and regionalization progress.
  • Data and eligibility methodology:
    • The Department uses three years of income data and student density to determine eligibility and minimize year-over-year fluctuations.
    • The methodology is designed to stabilize eligibility amid minor annual changes in income or enrollment.
  • Carryover, use of funds, and regionalization exploration:
    • Recommendations include allowing districts to carry over unexpended rural aid funds for one fiscal year.
    • A portion of rural aid could be used by DESE to support emerging regionalization efforts.

Who would be affected

  • Eligible rural districts and regional school districts (excluding vocational, independent agricultural/tech, and charter schools) that meet density and income criteria.
  • DESE would administer the program, collect data, and implement any adjustments to eligibility or distribution formulas.
  • The Massachusetts General Court would receive an annual, consolidated report on rural aid and district progress toward regionalization and efficiency.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Initial FY2026 funding distribution: $12 million total, allocated by Priority group within the rural aid framework.
  • Eligibility determination: Based on three-year income data and current student density calculations.
  • Reporting timeline:
    • Not later than December 1, 2025: DESE to detail recommendations for FY2027 adjustments and fund calculations (as per the Act’s line-item language).
    • Not later than January 30, 2026: Districts must submit plans outlining steps to increase regional collaboration or efficiencies for the next three fiscal years.
    • Suggested statutory changes: Move to an annual survey/report model (instead of a three-year plan plus separate annual reports) and streamline data collection.
  • Action history note: As of May 26, 2026, the bill/package was placed on file.

Notable specifics

  • FY2026 Rural School Aid total: $12,000,000.
  • Priority-based allocations for FY2026: $6,000,000 (Priority 1), $3,600,000 (Priority 2), $2,400,000 (Priority 3).
  • Eligibility threshold: student density ≤ 35 per square mile; per capita income ≤ MA state average ($57,834 in the cited data).
  • 65 districts received rural school aid in FY2026 (distribution details provided in the accompanying table).

This summary captures the bill’s purpose, key funding mechanics, affected parties, and the proposed procedural adjustments to reporting and eligibility practices.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.