Advocate for METCO's funding!

In its 57 years of existence, 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

Here are three things you can do right now to help advocate for METCO funding:

Starting Wednesday, May 8th, call your State Senator. We have heard from legislators directly that this is the most important action to take right now. Use our Call Script to get started in just a few minutes.
Click here or use the widget below to email your State Senator with one click and make sure to add 1-2 sentences at the beginning of your email about why METCO matters to you.
Tell a friend or colleague about our email and call campaigns by sharing these two links: https://bit.ly/metcosenate2024 and https://bit.ly/metcocallcampaign with hashtag #METCOWorks.

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.

Boston Advocacy Day
Mon., May 13th from 1-2PM
Click here to register

Location: METCO HQ, 11 Roxbury Street, Boston

Open to all METCO districts

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

Sen. Liz Miranda (Boston) — METCO Champion
Rep. Christopher Worrell (Boston) — METCO Champion

North Shore Advocacy Day
Fri., May 17 from 11:30AM-12:30PM
Click here to register

Location: Forthcoming in the North Shore region

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.

Never underestimate the power of your voice!

There's a lot you can do to help advocate for METCO!

Contact your legislators: email, call, and/or send letters!
Click here to find your legislators!
Use this template to write your letter.
Set up individual appointments with your legislators to discuss the impact of the program

Tell your legislators that funding METCO will go towards:

supporting students with academic help and mental health professionals
deepening equity work with assessment tools and best practice systems
meeting increased expenses caused by inflation and staffing challenges
expanding enrollment in participating districts, who have expressed a desire for 116 additional seats

FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR