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SD 2173

Resolve establishing a special commission on special education funding

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Becca Rausch

Creates a temporary commission to study Massachusetts special education funding (Chapter 70 and circuit breaker) and propose reforms, with a report by March 6, 2026.

House concurred
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Bill Summary · SD 2173

Summary: Senate Docket No. 2173 — Resolve establishing a special commission on special education funding

Overview

  • Purpose: Establish a special legislative commission to investigate and study state funding for special education in Massachusetts, with a focus on the Chapter 70 funding formula and the special education circuit breaker program, and to propose improvements to funding.

  • Bill status: House concurred. Introduced February 27, 2025 (Filed January 17, 2025 as Senate Docket No. 2173, Senate No. 442). The bill resolves issues through a temporary commission rather than creating permanent law.

Key provisions

  • Commission objective

    • Examine and propose changes to state funding of special education services.
    • Specifically review and suggest improvements to:
    • Chapter 70 foundation aid calculations (to address inflation and rising costs)
    • Chapter 70 local contribution calculations
    • Thresholds or caps on local contributions
    • Penalties for localities not meeting expected contribution levels
    • The Special Education Circuit Breaker program (to better supplement local funding)
    • Other funding-related matters at the commission’s discretion

  • Commission composition

    • Chair: Secretary of Education or designee
    • Designee: Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
    • Designated members from leaders:
    • House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Education (or their designees)
    • 1 member appointed by the President of the Senate (advocate for individuals with disabilities)
    • 1 member appointed by the Speaker of the House (expert in transportation of students with disabilities)
    • 1 member appointed by the Senate minority leader
    • 1 member appointed by the House minority leader
    • Sector-specific representatives:
    • President of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Federation of Teachers
    • Executive directors of: Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents; Massachusetts Association of School Committees; Massachusetts Association of Approved Special Education Schools
    • Up to 3 additional individuals appointed by the chair

  • Appointment timeline

    • All appointments must be made within 90 days after the act’s effective date.

  • Reporting and publication

    • Not later than March 6, 2026: the commission must submit a report and recommended proposed legislation to appropriate committees (Ways and Means, Chairs of Education, and clerks of both houses).
    • DESE shall publish the report on its website.

Who is affected

  • Massachusetts school districts and localities relying on Chapter 70 funding and local contributions for special education.
  • Students with disabilities and their families (via potential changes to funding mechanisms and transportation considerations).
  • Educational stakeholders represented by the named associations and organizations (teachers, superintendents, school committees, special education schools, etc.).
  • State agencies and legislative committees involved in education funding policy.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • The bill creates a temporary, focused commission rather than new permanent law.
  • No new funding is appropriated in the resolution itself; any fiscal impact would arise from later legislative action implementing the commission’s recommendations.
  • If enacted, the commission’s findings could inform future budget and policy proposals related to Chapter 70, local contributions, and the circuit breaker.

Bottom line

SD 2173 seeks to establish a diverse, expert-staffed commission to reassess and improve Massachusetts’ funding framework for special education, with concrete deliverables by March 2026 and potential legislative reforms to Chapter 70 and the circuit breaker.

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

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