SOS for Rural Schools – Your Advocacy Needed

To my Urban and Suburban Colleagues,

On Friday at the MASC/MASS Conference Keynote Panel, many of you heard me call on all advocates for Massachusetts Public Schools to stand with the Rural Schools of the Commonwealth. This is an SOS for our rural schools. Just as We united for the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) in 2019, when every legislator voted yes, including those from rural districts, we must come together again.

I now ask my urban and suburban allies to contact their Legislators, and the Governor, to urge support for these critical rural priorities:

  • Restore the $4 million cut from FY26 Rural Aid through a supplemental budget
  • Fully fund Rural Aid at $60 million in FY27
  • Reopen the Chapter 70 foundation formula
  • Pass H.517/S.314, An Act to Provide a Sustainable Future for Rural Schools (the rural schools bill)

For two years as MASC Legislative Chair, and now as MASC President, I have declared the fiscal and operational situation facing our rural schools an emergency. Please help provide this financial lifeline to the 67 districts, and their students, that depend on it.

United, we can get this done—and strengthen our coalitions for future advocacy.

Thank you for amplifying this SOS for Rural Schools.

Jason Fraser

President, MASC