Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Four years into his term, Governor Baker notices we need to fix education funding

I can't even with this from New Bedford:
In a meeting with The Standard-Times Editorial Board, Baker said he wants to do more to help communities where educational achievement as not as high as most of the state. He gave three examples:
— Improve the charter school reimbursement formula, which for lower-achievement communities presents “a whole different set of challenges” than for others, in part because most charters operate there;
— Enhance the Chapter 70 funding formula to help low-income students and English language learners; and
— Invest state money in those communities that embrace methods proven to boost achievement, such as “acceleration academies,” after-school programming, and professional development for teachers...
 
Baker said he wants to come up with ways to handle charter funding so that when a high-performing charter tries to do more in a community, the conversation does not focus only on the money.
“Which is where these conversations always end up, and I think it’s really defeating,” he said.
The Foundation Budget Review Commission report came out in October of Baker's first year in office. Aside from tiny increases in health insurance, Baker has ignored the report. Baker's single largest education initiative was the push to lift the charter cap through Question 2, during which Baker and his administration entirely dismissed the idea that there would be a funding impact that needed to be discussed. He has had nothing to do with low income students.
So, seriously: Spare us this twenty days before the election. 

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