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SD 3914

Rural School Aid Second FY26 Report

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Rural School Aid FY2026 funds districts by density and income, with modest grants and mandatory regional collaboration plans to boost efficiency and potential consolidations.

Placed on file
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Bill Summary · SD 3914

Summary of SD 3914 (Session 194th) – Rural School Aid FY2026 Report

  • Purpose and intent

    • This bill is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s second annual report detailing Rural School Aid for FY2026, submitted to the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means as required by Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025, line item 7061-9813.
    • It provides an overview of rural aid distributions, eligibility rules, and progress on regional efficiencies, collaboration, and potential consolidations among rural districts.

  • Key provisions and content

    • Rural Aid eligibility and distribution (FY2022–FY2026)
    • Eligibility is based on two criteria: student density (not more than 35 students per square mile) and per-capita income below the state average ($57,834, per Massachusetts Department of Revenue).
    • In FY2026, three priority groups determine aid allocation:
      • Priority 1: districts with ≤11 students per square mile
      • Priority 2: districts with >11 and ≤21 students per square mile
      • Priority 3: districts with >21 and ≤35 students per square mile
    • Funding allocation for FY2026 mirrored FY2025 proportions: $6.0 million for Priority 1, $3.6 million for Priority 2, and $2.4 million for Priority 3, distributed as prorated shares of target Chapter 70 aid totals.
    • Ninety-three districts’ eligibility intersects with these priorities; 65 rural districts received aid in FY2026 (awards ranged from about $13,500 to $1.16 million; examples include Warwick $13,518 and Central Berkshire Regional $1,164,818).
    • A statewide total over the period shows fluctuations in aid amounts by year; FY22–FY26 totals appear in Table 1 (noting a shift from higher early-year allocations to $12 million in FY26).
    • Regional efficiencies plans
    • Recipients must submit regional efficiencies plans outlining regional collaboration, consolidation, or other efficiencies for the past three years and the upcoming three years.
    • The report provides a synthesis of actions taken in the past three years, including:
      • Shared services and staff agreements (e.g., regional/superintendency unions, shared transportation, shared special education services, shared professional development).
      • Formation and exploration of regional school districts or partnerships (e.g., regional collaborations among 6- to 9-town groups, Joint Supervisory Unions, and efforts with Northampton/North Berkshire districts).
      • Specific examples of collaboration across unions include unions like Union61 (Brimfield/Brookfield/Holland/Sturbridge/Wales) and Union66 (Southampton/Westhampton/Williamsburg/Chesterfield-Goshen, etc.), with many districts engaging in shared services and staff, transportation, and professional development.
    • Figure 2 outlines planned activities for the next three years to increase regional collaboration and other efficiencies, spanning transportation, staff sharing, curriculum and professional development, and potential regional district expansions.

  • Who is affected

    • Rural school districts meeting density and income criteria are eligible for FY2026 Rural School Aid, with distribution prioritized by density.
    • Districts participate in regional efficiencies planning, reporting, and potential consolidation or shared-service arrangements.

  • Procedural/timeline aspects

    • The report is filed pursuant to Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025, line item 7061-9813.
    • The document serves as an annual progress and planning update, with data through FY2026 and plans for the next three fiscal years.
    • The report rounds out the required two Rural School Aid reports for the 2025–2026 cycle and was placed on file in May 2026.

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

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