Several years into Massachusetts’ education funding reform, the Student Opportunity Act, the state has poured millions into high-need districts — often urban and high-poverty districts. The state’s new spending formula, rolled out in 2021, has helped New Bedford pay for more counselors, nurses and other staff — but low test scores persist.
The Student Opportunity Act revised the spending formula within Chapter 70 — the state’s primary school funding law — and increased Chapter 70 funding by a projected $1.5 billion across its seven-year rollout.
Its goal was to close academic achievement gaps. Districts with high populations of students with disabilities, students from low-income families, students of color, or English learning students receive the most in Student Opportunity Act funding. Roughly three-quarters of the additional aid has been directed toward Gateway Cities like New Bedford, but achievement gaps remain.
MassBudget Reference:
The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, a public policy research and advocacy organization, projected that if the Legislature had lifted the Chapter 70 inflation cap, it would’ve unlocked an additional $465 million in SOA funding statewide. New Bedford could have gained nearly $14 million in additional SOA aid in FY2025, according to MassBudget.
