Budget Amendment ID: FY2026-S3-670

EDU 670

Increasing Special Education Circuit Breaker Reimbursements for Municipalities

Messrs. O'Connor and Tarr and Mrs. Dooner moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following section:-

"SECTION XX. Section 5A of chapter 70 is hereby amended by striking out subsection (c) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(c) Instructional and transportation costs eligible for reimbursement under the program shall be reported by a school district to the department in a form and manner as prescribed by the commissioner. For each such school district, the department shall review the report and approve those per pupil instructional and transportation costs that are eligible for reimbursement pursuant to the program not less than 30 days after the date of submission. Based upon the approved costs, the department shall calculate the reimbursement due to a municipality. The costs of programs shall be reimbursed at 80 per cent of all the instructional and transportation costs that exceed the approved costs threshold in fiscal year 2026.

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, the reimbursement rate for students who have no parent or guardian living in the commonwealth and for any school age child placed in a school district other than a home town by, or under the auspices of, the department of transitional assistance or the department of children and families shall be 100 per cent of all instructional and transportation costs that exceed the approved costs threshold."