Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates School Choice Week in Massachusetts

Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates School Choice Week in Massachusetts

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker released the following statement in recognition of School Choice Week in Massachusetts and the importance of ensuring all children, regardless of their zip code, are able to access high-quality, affordable education.

“Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in education with schools and teachers that are preparing our children for a successful future,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “By continuing to expand access to high-quality education, we can provide our parents and students across the Commonwealth with excellent choices and opportunities regardless of their zip code.”

Proclaimed by the Governor, School Choice Week in Massachusetts coincides withNational School Choice Week, which spotlights educational opportunities for children, including public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling.

“National School Choice Week is an opportunity to recognize all our schools, whether traditional, charter, public, private, vocational-technical, parochial or otherwise, and the opportunities for success they provide our families,” said Education Secretary Jim Peyser. “We are committed to ensuring, whatever a parents’ choice, the highest academic quality is available to all Massachusetts families.”

This week, Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito proposed increasing Chapter 70 education funding by $72.1 million as part of the administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget legislation. In addition, the governor has proposed adding over $20 million for a revised charter school reimbursement formula.

Governor Baker and his Workforce Skills Cabinet recently announced a series of new initiatives to support career vocational technical education, including $83.5 million to be proposed between the FY 2017 budget recommendation and new capital grant funding which was filed this week in the governor’s “Opportunities for All” economic development legislation.