Advocate for METCO's funding!

Since 1966, METCO is proud to remain a national and historic model for voluntary school integration. METCO communities are opening doors of opportunities for Boston urban students while also embarking on a transformative journey of racial equity and integration (REI). We have a shared singular vision called METCO 2.0 “where every student in a METCO district receives an inclusive, equitable, and antiracist education.”

Recent independent research spanning 20 years of data confirms that METCO works. But this study also identified critical areas of growth. Now is the time to invest in METCO. For the first time in five years, METCO was level funded in FY24. As both an education and transportation program eligible to receive funding from the Fair Share Amendment, METCO seeks an increase equivalent to 0.28% of the $1.3 billion projected FY25 Fair Share Amendment revenue.

Please help us secure full funding in the amount of $33 million (a $3.6 million increase over FY24) so we can respond to inflationary increases, continue to support students, and deepen our equity work.

DOWNLOAD FY25 FUNDING REQUEST

Current Status of METCO Budget as of May 22, 2024

In the House Budget, METCO received a $1M increase over FY24.
In the Senate Ways & Means Budget, METCO was level-funded for FY25 at $29.4M.
METCO Senate Co-Champions Senators Liz Miranda and Jason Lewis have filed Amendment #635 to fully fund METCO at $33M and include needed language to spend that funding through December 31, 2025. This amendment was redrafted and language for full funding was not included.
On May 22, 2024, the State Senate voted to adopt Amendment #635 which does not include an increase for FY25, but does include needed PAC (prior authorization continued) language.

How the State Budget Is Made

The state budget is drafted by the Governor, House, and Senate.
The Governor submits her budget proposal.
It is then reviewed by the House and Senate.
The House Ways and Means Committee files its budget and State Representatives file amendments.
METCO advocates for State Representatives to co-sponsor favorable METCO-related amendments.
The House then submits its budget.
After the House files its budget, the Senate Ways and Means Committee files its budget and State Senators file their amendments.
METCO advocates for State Senators to co-sponsor any favorable METCO-related amendments.
The Senate then submits its budget.
The Joint Conference Committee then meets to reconcile both the House and Senate budgets to present a final budget.

What is METCO's Budget Ask?

The METCO budget ask is $33 million for FY25; see our FY25 METCO Funding Request one-pager with all the information. Most critically, we seek a $3.6 million increase over FY24. This increase is equivalent to 0.28% — only one-third of a percent! — of the $1.3 billion projected FY25 revenue from the Fair Share Amendment (a.k.a. the Millionaire’s Tax designated to fund both education and transportation).

What will the METCO Budget Cover?

Respond to inflationary pressures from skyrocketing transportation costs and rising special education costs at the district level
Support student services and close achievement gaps
Deepen our racial equity and integration work through METCO 2.0

New for 2024: Advocacy Days Are Coming to the Suburbs

Regional Advocacy Days Flyer - PLEASE SHARE!

Advocacy Day gets a new model for 2024 as we prepare our FY25 State Budget Line Item ask. Instead of one Advocacy Day at the State House where legislators may or may not be in the building and able to attend, our METCO districts will host multiple local Advocacy Days with other districts in their region; these individual meetings have been scheduled around legislators’ availability to ensure their presence. The goal is to empower METCO districts with the tools they need to advocate for METCO’s funding and have advocates meet with legislators in a more personal setting outside of the State House. As a result, METCO is more likely to gain the funding we need in FY25 and less likely to be left out of critical state budget conversations at the House and Senate conference committees.

Attending in-person makes a huge difference. By meeting with your legislators in-person, you get the chance to share your personal stories and experiences about METCO, speak to issues relevant to your district, and emphasize METCO’s impact on your life.

North Shore Advocacy Day
Fri., May 17 from 11:30AM-1:00PM
Click here to register

Location: MELROSE HIGH SCHOOL; 360 Lynn Fells Parkway; in the Auditorium (follow signs)

METCO Districts: Lynnfield, Marblehead, Melrose, Reading, Swampscott, Wakefield

You’ll have the opportunity to meet with these state legislators:

Sen. Jason Lewis (Melrose, Reading, Wakefield) Chair of Joint Education Committee
Sen. Brendan Crighton (Lynnfield, Marblehead, Swampscott)
Rep. Jennifer Armini (Marblehead, Swampscott)
Rep. Bradley Jones (Lynnfield, Reading)

South Shore Advocacy Day
Date/Time TBD
Click here to register

Location: Forthcoming in the South Shore region

METCO Districts: Braintree, Cohasset, Foxborough, Hingham, Scituate, Sharon, Walpole, Westwood

Legislators are still being confirmed at this time.

Metrowest South: Brookline, Dover, Dover-Sherborn, Natick, Needham, Sherborn, Wayland

Our Regional Advocacy Day was a success! Thank you to these legislators for joining us and showing your support:

Rep. Dave Linsky (Natick, Wayland) — METCO Champion
Rep. Bill MacGregor (Brookline, Boston)
Rep. Kay Khan (Newton)
Office of Sen. Karen Spilka (Natick)—Senate President
Office of Sen. Becca Rausch (Dover, Needham, Sherborn)
Office of Rep. Kevin Honan (Brookline, Boston)

Metrowest North: Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Concord, Concord-Carlisle, Lexington, Lincoln, Lincoln-Sudbury, Newton, Sudbury, Wellesley, Weston

Our Regional Advocacy Day was a success! Thank you to these legislators for joining us and showing your support:

Rep. Simon Cataldo (Carlisle, Concord)
Rep. Alice Hanlon Peisch (Lincoln, Wellesley, Weston) — Asst. House Majority Leader
Rep. Carmine Gentile (Concord, Lincoln, Sudbury, Wayland)
Rep. Kenneth Gordon (Bedford, Lexington)
Rep. David Rogers (Arlington, Belmont)
Office of Sen. Jamie Eldridge (Sudbury, Wayland)
Office of Sen. Michael Barrett (Bedford, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, and Weston)

Thanks for helping support METCO and we can’t wait to see you there!

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Keiko Zoll, Executive Relations Manager, at [email protected] or at 617-427-1545, x114.

FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR