Introduction

Each year, the U.S. Census Bureau releases education spending data on all 50 states. Using this data, MassBudget reports annually on the state of education spending in Massachusetts. The report provides information on the source and level of education funding in each state and nationally and covers the 2006-2007 school year (Fiscal Year 2007). This MassBudget Brief examines the 2007 report data and compares education spending in Massachusetts over time and to that of other states. While this FY 2007 data is helpful for examining long-term trends in education spending, the budget crisis that faced Massachusetts heading into the current fiscal year, FY 2010, means that the 2007 Census data does not shed much light on the education funding situation at present.

In light of the current state fiscal crisis, this brief begins with a summary of the education finance situation in Massachusetts in FY 2010 and a discussion of the choices the state faces for how to continue its support for public education in FY 2011 and beyond. Following the examination of present public school funding issues, the second part of this brief examines the FY 2007 education finance data from the Census report to see how Massachusetts spending compares to other states and over time.