Massachusetts seeks $100 million in Fair Share school aid as districts prepare for fall

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is seeking $100 million in additional one-time aid for public schools as districts prepare for the 2026-27 school year, but lawmakers have not approved the money.

The proposal would distribute the funding according to enrollment across the state’s 319 operating school districts and Commonwealth charter schools. The statewide average would be about $112 per student, although individual allocations would vary.

For school officials, the unresolved status creates a practical problem: fall staffing and program decisions are being made before districts know whether the supplemental aid will arrive.

The proposal remains pending

Healey filed House Bill 5586 on July 15, 2026. The House read the bill and referred it to the House Committee on Ways and Means on July 16. The legislative record showed no enactment of the proposed school funding as of August 3.

H.5586 is a supplemental Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations bill. Its $100 million school-aid request is separate from the $63.42 billion FY 2027 budget that Healey signed on July 9.

That distinction matters to districts and families. The proposed money cannot be treated as guaranteed state aid unless the Legislature approves the bill and the governor signs it.

Fair Share revenue would fund the request

The proposed aid would come from projected, unbudgeted revenue generated by Massachusetts’ existing 4% Fair Share surtax on household income above about $1 million. The proposal would not create a new tax.

The enacted FY 2027 budget assumes $2.7 billion in Fair Share revenue. MassBudget’s analysis says the budget directs that money to education and transportation, including $1.7298 billion for education-related programs and $970.2 million for transportation. The proposed $100 million school allocation would be an additional request, not a change already included in the enacted budget.

Districts could use the aid flexibly

Healey’s proposal is intended to give districts and Commonwealth charter schools flexibility to address local budget pressure. Potential uses include preserving teachers, paraprofessionals, mental health counselors and other student services.

The proposal does not guarantee that any particular position, class, program or service will be retained. Local school committees and charter operators would still decide how to use any funds that are ultimately appropriated.

WBUR reported that districts have faced pressure from rising health care and special-education costs, along with limits on local revenue growth under Proposition 2½. Some communities have been weighing tax increases against reductions in school funding.

Supporters say the money may still fall short

The Massachusetts Teachers Association called the proposed supplemental funding significant but said it would not fully offset the fiscal challenges facing communities.

Kassandra Gove, the mayor of Amesbury and president of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, also said cities and towns face structural budget problems caused by rising costs and limited revenue options.

Healey said districts were making real-time decisions for the fall and called on lawmakers to act within the month. The administration has framed the request as a way to prevent cuts to educators, programs and services, but those outcomes are not assured unless the Legislature approves the money and districts receive it.

What happens next

The next formal step is consideration by the House Ways and Means Committee. Until the committee and the full Legislature act, districts must plan around existing approved funding.

Families, school employees and local taxpayers should watch for committee action and any changes to the bill. If enacted, the enrollment-based allocation would provide one-time aid for the 2026-27 fiscal year, not a permanent increase to the state’s recurring school-finance formula.

Sources

• Massachusetts Legislature: Bill H.5586
• WBUR: Healey seeks $100M more for public schools
• MassBudget: FY2027 General Appropriations Act analysis

Look for updates to this story

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