Consistent with the governing language and funds appropriated in line item 7061-9813 of the fiscal year 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the Department is posting Rural School Aid grant amounts for eligible districts. The Department identified districts eligible for Rural School Aid based on their student density (not more than 35 students per square mile) and their per capita income (less than $61,880 per capita according to 2021 data from the Department of Revenue). Based on these criteria, there are 67 school districts that are eligible to receive rural school aid in fiscal year 2025 .
As directed by the legislative language, Rural School Aid for eligible districts is prioritized based on their student density, with Priority 1 funding for districts that serve not more than 11 students per square mile, Priority 2 funding for districts that serve more than 11 and not more than 21 students per square mile, and Priority 3 funding for districts that serve more than 21 and not more than 35 students per square mile. The Department allocated $7.9 million of available funding for Priority 1 districts, $4.7 million for Priority 2 districts, and $3.2 million for Priority 3 districts. The Rural School Aid that the districts in each priority group receive is based on a prorated share of their fiscal year 2025 Chapter 70 target aid.
Rural School Aid can be used for a wide variety of purposes to support district operations, with priority given to efforts to increase regional collaboration, consolidation, or other strategies to improve long-term operational efficiency and effectiveness.
The Department will distribute the funding in two payments over the course of the fiscal year. Once received, the funds should be deposited in a separate account so that they can be spent without further action on the part of the local appropriating authority by June 30, 2025. Districts are required to complete a brief survey to report on planned uses of the funds each year. Districts will also be required to report Rural School Aid as a state grant expenditure on their fiscal year 2025 End of Year Reports.
Please direct all questions regarding Rural School Aid to Michelle Griffin or at 781-338-6515.
Last Updated: December 19, 2024
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
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