Education

In Massachusetts, we have some of the best schools in the country. Yet for rural school districts, the current funding formula ignores the reality of costs for smaller districts. I will fight to implement a rural school funding floor that provides a mandatory minimum level of funding, ensuring that rural schools remain stable community anchors. The current funding formula penalizes smaller school districts with decreasing enrollment numbers, which threatens our communities' ability to retain teachers and maintain essential education programs.

I will advocate for 100% Commonwealth reimbursement of rural student transportation costs. While state law technically requires this support, the Legislature has consistently failed to fully fund the account. By refusing to close this gap, the Commonwealth has left local taxpayers to cover the bill required to get our students to class over long distances. It is time for the Commonwealth to fully reimburse school districts, so we can finally redirect local property tax dollars back into the classrooms where they belong.

I will fight to expand our tuition-free programs beyond community colleges to include all Massachusetts State universities for residents. At the same time, we need to respect every career path by expanding funding for retraining, apprenticeships, and technical schools through increased investment in vocational-technical schools and union-run apprenticeship programs to ensure that our neighbors are prepared for the changing economy and job market.

By protecting our rural districts, ensuring our kids can get to school without breaking the town budget, and controlling the cost of higher education, we can build a Western Massachusetts that is competitive, equitable, and prepared for the future.