During the fiscal year 2015, the Chapter 70 education funding from the state and the general local aid will increase for Marblehead. The House’s 2015 budget plan calls for $5.38 million in Chapter 70 education funding for Marblehead which is an increase of $110,000 over the budget in 2014.

As state Rep. Lori Ehrlich said, “There is no higher priority for me as a legislator than working to ensure schools in my district get the funding they need. I’m pleased with the progress we have made in recent years toward our goal of properly funding our schools.”

In addition, Ehrlich filed an amendment to the budget to perform a review of the state’s funding formula for education. As Ehrlich explained, “When the state passed the Education Reform Act of 1993, the bill called for a thorough, systematic review of how the foundation budget was calculated at least once every four years. Unfortunately, this review has only been completed twice since then, most recently in 2001. The needs of our schools have changed dramatically in the 21 years since education reform was passed, with the adoption of new curriculum frameworks, increased need for special education and changes in technology in the classroom. This study will examine our funding formula to ensure we are spending our education dollars wisely.”

As State Rep. Alice Peisch, House chairman of the Joint Committee on Education, said, “I am grateful that the House adopted this important amendment, which will ensure a systematic and comprehensive reevaluation of the foundation budget. Such review will provide a critical opportunity to gain insight on whether the current formula meets the needs of all students throughout the Commonwealth and will help us to identify ways to ensure the most effective and efficient use of resources.”

The Commission has a deadline to present their findings in a report on or before June 30, 2015.