The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Summary of Proposed Changes to 603 CMR 10.00: School Finance and Accountability
Why amend these regulations?
A number of technical changes are needed to replace references that have become outdated since the regulations were last updated. In addition, clarifications are needed.
What changes have we proposed?
Increasing the threshold for extraordinary maintenance projects from $100,000 per project per school to $150,000 per project per school. A number of municipalities do not have access to capital funding for projects needed in some school buildings. Districts have asked us to increase the threshold to allow them to use operating funds to complete these minor projects and count those expenditures in net school spending.
Clarifying regulatory language regarding the prepayment of tuitions across fiscal years in accordance with G.L. c. 71, § 71D. One school district filed suit against its municipality when the town refused to permit the school district to prepay tuition. The regulations as clarified should avoid these disputes.
Deleting language that addressed direct payments of tuition to private special education schools. This provision was needed before G.L. c. 71B, § 5A ("circuit breaker") was enacted. Because certain special education expenses are now reimbursed differently, these provisions are no longer relevant or needed. Elimination of these provisions was proposed in June 2006 but the Massachusetts Association of Approved Private Schools objected. They no longer object to deletion of these provisions.
Changing the reimbursement rate for transportation provided by parents to be consistent with the reimbursement rate for transportation provided to special education students by their parents.
May 2012