On March 24, I had the opportunity to host and Chair a Joint Committee on Ways and Means hearing at UMass Amherst focused on the education and local aid funding in Governor Healey’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget proposal — grateful to House co-Chair Representative Pat Duffy.
Before the hearing even began, the room was already filled to capacity with students, teachers, and caregivers advocating for a more equitable K-12 education funding formula. It was moving to see just how many people, both inside of the building and outside in the cold rain, took time out of their day to advocate for this long overdue reform.
The first panel of the day was Education Secretary Dr. Pat Tutwiler, Higher Education Commissioner Dr. Noe Ortega, Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Russell Johnston, and Early Education & Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw.
I asked Secretary Tutwiler about re-examining the K-12 education funding formula. Watch our exchange here.
News coverage of the hearing on March 24 focused on the severe problems with our K-12 education funding formula:
- Daily Hampshire Gazette — Legislators: State’s school funding formula has ‘left us out,’ call for changes at hearing held at UMass
- Greenfield Recorder — Legislators: State’s school funding formula has ‘left us out’
- WWLP 22 News: UMass Amherst hosts hearing on governor’s $62B budget for education
