I'm pleased to forward the first edition of the Legislative Action Committee Newsletter. You're receiving this newsletter because you've expressed interest in participating in the Legislative Action Committee (and may or may not have been able to attend the group's first meeting on March 15th). The purpose of the newsletter is to provide information on legislative topics of particular importance to public education. While this issue of the newsletter is only being emailed to those who signed up for the Legislative Action Committee, we plan to expand access to the newsletter to anyone in the community who is interested in legislative advocacy. More details about that will be forthcoming in the next issue of Learning@arps.
Hopefully, many of you will be able to attend the next Legislative Action Committee meeting at 3:30 this Thursday, April 5th in the Middle School library. The main topic of the meeting will be what Superintendent Jere Hochman is labeling the "CB-3 Plan." CB-3 stands for "Circuit Breaker, Circuit Breaker, and Charter Balance." Here is how Dr. Hochman describes CB-3:
Circuit Breaker--Special Education: Advocate full funding to 100% or at least scaled higher funding for smaller districts
Circuit Breaker--Low Income: Support the Governor's plan for tax relief for seniors and those in low-income bracket (described in more detail below and in attachments)
Charter Balance--Advocate for funding charters at $5,000 per student rate, which is the same as school choice funding.
I'm looking forward to seeing many of you on Thursday!
Debbie Westmoreland
Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent
Tax Fairness Bill and the Homeowner's Circuit Breaker
On February 22nd, Governor Patrick announced plans to create a Homeowner Circuit Breaker that will apply to homeowners of all ages. Under the plan, which would take effect January 1, 2008, an estimated 100,000 families and individuals across the Commonwealth would qualify for a state tax credit that represents a nearly 25 percent offset to the average state-wide property tax bill of $3,800. Individuals earning up to $46,000 who are not head of household, heads of household earning up to $58,000 and married couples filing jointly earning up to $70,000 would qualify. The assessed value of a homeowners principal residence could not exceed $684,000. The credit will cover the amount by which a households property tax payment, including water and sewer charges, exceeds 10 percent of their income. This Homeowner Circuit Breaker is part of Governor Patrick's "Tax Fairness Bill" and will be accomplished by amending the current Senior Citizen Circuit Breaker law, as follows:
SECTION 17. Subsection (k) of said section 6 of said chapter 62 is hereby further amended by striking out paragraph (2), as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:
"Any owner regardless of age or any tenant who is 65 years of age or older of residential property located in the commonwealth, who is not a dependent of another taxpayer and who occupies the property as his principal residence, shall be allowed a credit equal to the amount by which the real estate tax payment or rent constituting real estate tax payment exceeds 10 per cent of the taxpayers total income, but the credit shall not exceed $750."
To fund the Homeowner Circuit Breaker, Governor Patrick has filed legislation to close a number of corporate tax loopholes that allow some companies to exploit the tax code and receive unintentional and unfair benefits. Attached is a primer outlining the proposed changes to the corporate tax laws and the full text of the Tax Fairness Bill.
Premiere of The Costs of Accountability: Teaching Under the No Child Left Behind Act
At the last legislative action meeting, Laura Wenk told us about a colleague of hers, Kristen Luschen, whose students made a video about the effects of NCLB and MCAS in some local schools. The video captures the experiences of teachers and is meant to be a vehicle for promoting discussion of these issues. There will be a screening of the video on Thursday, April 5th at 7:30 p.m. on the Hampshire College campus. The press release, which includes more details, is attached. It would be great if some of us were able to be there.
Massachusetts Education Media Coverage Newsletter
Mass Insight Education publishes a bi-weekly newsletter, Massachusetts Education Media Coverage, that contains articles of importance to Massachusetts public schools from state and national publications ranging from The Berkshire Eagle to Education Week. The newsletter is a service for the Great Schools Coalition and Friends of Mass Insight Education and the Great Schools Campaign. Attached is the full text of Massachusetts Education Media Coverage for March 12, 2007 through March 26, 2007.