METCO FUNDING UPDATE
Monday, January 30, 2006
Prepared for METCO Families

WHERE DO WE STAND? 

Governor Romney recommended level-funding METCO again this year. 

40 years after METCO was founded to provide access to educational opportunity for urban children and increased diversity in suburban classrooms, METCO families still struggle to achieve equitable funding for their children.  Despite funding increases in the last two years, METCO communities still receive less than half the educational funding legislated by the Massachusetts Educational Reform Act.   

WHY is this IMPORTANT to METCO FAMILIES?

Decreased state educational funding and aid to cities and towns has created a crisis in most METCO communities in the last few years.  Many are facing overrides to raise more money for their schools or have initiated fees for sports participation and/or bus transportation.  Some have cut programs and increased class size.  This means METCO families need to increase their efforts to raise more state funding to protect their children’s education and preserve the METCO program. 

WHAT can YOU DO to MAKE A DIFFERENCE! 

1. Call or write your Senator and Representative this week to ask them to support a $5 million increase for the METCO program in FY 2007.  Ask them to talk to House Ways and Means Chair, Robert DeLeo and Senate Ways and Means Chair Therese Murray about a funding recommendation of $22,615,313 for the METCO program next year (budget item 7010-0012).
   Click here to view a sample letter in Microsoft Word format.
   Click here to view a sample letter in .pdf format (you must have the free Adobe Reader program on your computer to access .pdf files).
   
    

2. Ask a friend from your community (insert name here) to also call or send a letter to their Senator and Representative requesting a $5 million increase next year.  Legislator names and contact information is available at www.WHEREDOIvoteMA.com
    

3. Mark you calendar to attend the METCO Parent Rally on February 15^th and take the morning off to participate at METCO Lobby Day on March 16^th.

METCO Parent Power has kept the METCO program alive and strong these last 40 years.  

Act now to preserve your child’s future!!