Video & Transcript Research : 'declining enrollment'
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NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Dec 18th, 2025 at 01:07 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- declines in FY26.
- decline.
- So It's a both recognition of enrollment declines and how you do that in a measured and calculated way
- Senator Stewart, just for context, most states around the country are having declining enrollments.
- And so that's just a bit more context around the national context around declining enrollment.
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE Jun 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- steadily increased with enrollment.
- So starting with enrollment data for the past three school years.
- And within the total enrollment, enrollment from alternative programs is growing while enrollment from
- enrollment funding.
- As of 2023, there had been a 6% decline in charter salaries.
Summary:
The committee first approved the May 18 meeting minutes and then received a presentation from Legislative Audit on Arkansas Department of Education grant distributions. Auditors explained that the fiscal year 2025 report summarizes $4.6 billion in grants from state, federal, and miscellaneous sources, across school districts, charter schools, education cooperatives, and other entities, and that the report only shows amounts distributed, not how recipients ultimately used the money. Members asked about specific recipients and programs, including ClassWallet, Economics Arkansas, and CDC surveillance funding; department staff clarified that the Economics Arkansas grant is written into special language and that the CDC-related funding supports student surveys used by state agencies. Questions also focused on bonus and incentive programs such as master principal and National Board Certified teacher bonuses, with department staff saying the bonuses are generally tied to completion of the program or certification rather than classroom performance, though they would follow up on details.
The committee then heard a Bureau of Legislative Research update on Consumer Price Index projections from Moody’s Analytics and S&P Global. Dr. Carlos Silva explained the difference between CPI-U and core CPI and said the estimates show inflation slowing over the forecast period, with some near-term variation between the two data providers. Members asked about the historical accuracy of prior projections, and he said the forecasts generally tend to move toward about 2 percent over time, though recent shocks have caused earlier estimates to understate actual inflation.
The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the final adequacy report on teacher recruitment, retention, and salaries. BLR staff reviewed Arkansas teacher demographics, shortage areas, educator preparation pipelines, licensure exceptions, survey results from teachers and principals, and teacher support programs. They reported that Arkansas had about 32,800 teachers and 473,000 students in 2025, with an average of 11.9 years of experience and a slight increase in National Board Certified teachers. The report found shortages in multiple subject areas, especially special education, math, science, foreign language, and social studies, and identified 65 districts as high-need geographically. Survey results showed school leadership as the strongest positive factor in recruitment and retention, while workload and salary were the biggest negatives; 30 percent of responding teachers said they were considering leaving the profession. The committee also reviewed teacher salary data showing a statewide average salary of $60,254 in 2025, Arkansas ranking 45th nationally by NEA methodology, and a long-term inflation-adjusted decline in district salaries, though LEARNS Act increases improved the trend. Members asked for additional follow-up information on survey methodology, alternative licensure costs, coursework, incentives for ESL and special education endorsements, exit data, and how salary comparisons are calculated.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Public Higher Education Study Committee (11/12/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- Our enrollment is declining for three primary reasons.
- That is why enrollment is declining.
- Our enrollment is declining enrollment.
- Our enrollment is declining for<00:24:02.480>
three <00:24:02.960>primary <00:24:03.440> - enrollment is declining. enrollment is declining.
Summary:
The committee met to review the annual report on collaboration between the University System of New Hampshire and the Community College System of New Hampshire, and the meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and a gubernatorial proclamation recognizing the community college system’s 80th anniversary. Both chancellors praised the proclamation and described the report as a statutory follow-up to the public higher education task force. They said the two systems have built a close working relationship and that the collaboration is intended to continue, though progress may be limited by resources and staffing changes.
Much of the discussion focused on transfer pathways and new academic models. The chancellors said House Bill 1530 helped drive the creation of more than 100, and possibly about 130, “universal pathways” between the systems, with a reported 30% increase in community college associate-degree graduates transferring to the university system in the last academic year. They also discussed direct-admit outreach for community college graduates, early college and CTE-to-workforce pathways, and the development of three-year bachelor’s programs at Plymouth State and in some health-care fields. Members asked about nursing, allied dental health, and radiologic technology, and the chancellors said they are exploring whether some programs can be streamlined, while noting that nursing’s requirements may limit how short a pathway can be.
Members also raised concerns about whether transfer pathways could affect university enrollment, but the university chancellor said declining enrollment is more likely due to a smaller pool of college-age students and broader competition, not the transfer programs. Another topic was the ERP/technology platform recommendation from the task force: the university system is moving to Workday, while the community college system is working to align business practices and move from an on-premises system to a cloud-based solution. Officials said a shared enterprise system could create efficiencies in the future, but it is not expected in the short term; student-facing tools like Canvas are already shared. The committee also discussed House Bill 112, which would require passing a civics test for graduation, and the chancellors said they support civic education but see implementation challenges. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving the report.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- The second thing is local enrollment.
- I do want to highlight the issue of declining enrollment.
- Enrollment declines will reduce the number of educators employed and have implications on TRS.
- Since the 8.5 percent special education enrollment cap was lifted in 2018, enrollment in special education
- This was equal to $400.181 for each student that was enrolled that year, not ADA, but enrolled.
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE Feb 3rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- the language change in statute, while schools are required to offer these courses, if no students enroll
- If no students enroll in those courses, the class is still considered taught as far as a violation of
- So, so would it be, so with that almost 10% decline, it's safe to say that that's a reflection on.
- Students who are enrolled in public schools are required to take the statewide assessment unless they
- So the average percentage of teachers with a master's degree is highest in the A schools and declines
Summary:
The committee received a Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on Arkansas academic standards, accountability, and achievement as part of the adequacy study. Staff reviewed how state curriculum and standards have evolved from the 1997 Public Education Act, the 2003 Quality Education Act, and the 2017 Educational Support and Accountability Act, including required course offerings, graduation requirements, career and technical education pathways, and recent additions such as success-ready pathways, Arkansas history, firearm safety, and fetal growth and development instruction. Members asked for a comparative chart showing how the laws and requirements changed over time, and staff agreed to provide one.
The presentation then turned to the federal ESSA plan and Arkansas’s state accountability system. Staff explained the state’s long-term goals for 2030, including 80% proficiency in ELA and math, 52% of English learners on track to English proficiency, and 94%/97% four- and five-year graduation rates. They reviewed 2025 assessment results showing proficiency rates generally in the 30s, with English learners and students with disabilities performing lowest and white students highest. They also discussed school support and improvement categories, equitable access to educators, and report card/public reporting requirements, noting that some ESSA-related measures such as the school index, equity labs, and certain 2024 report card data were not currently available or not being calculated. Members questioned whether those ESSA commitments were being met and asked staff to follow up with DESE, including whether the legislature can revise the ESSA plan.
The committee also reviewed the Arkansas Accountability Act and related assessment data. Staff described the Atlas assessment system, alternate assessments for students with significant cognitive disabilities, ELPA 21 for English learners, ACT results, and NAEP comparisons. They reported that no student group met the 80% proficiency goal in 2025, Arkansas’s ACT composite score declined slightly over time, and Arkansas generally trailed national and SREB averages on NAEP. Members asked for additional data, including historical highs and lows, the number of assessments students take by grade, dropout data, and comparisons with other states. The meeting ended with agreement to invite the Department of Education to a future meeting to answer questions about missing data, equity labs, report cards, and ESSA compliance.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Because 45 of 67 of our school districts have declining enrollment.
- There used to be, back in the old days, something called the declining enrollment subsidy.
- buffer that declining enrollment by providing some funds for a year because you had one student less
- However, other school districts that are experiencing declining enrollment would get a 10% buffer for
- However, other school districts that are experienced declining enrollment, would get a 10% buffer for
Summary:
The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several gallery introductions before taking up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, on mental health. Senator Bradley explained that the bill is intended to divert clinically appropriate defendants with mental illness from jail to treatment, create pretrial mental health diversion programs, expand grant uses for mental health and substance abuse reinvestment, require evaluations and treatment follow-up in certain probation and prison settings, add Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, and establish a Florida Behavioral Health Data Repository. Senators from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing treatment over incarceration, public safety, and the Murphy family’s role in the bill. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 and then recorded 37 co-sponsors.
The chamber then moved into presentations on SB 2500, the 2025-26 General Appropriations Act. Chair Hooper said the Senate budget totals $117.4 billion, reduces overall spending from the prior year, maintains reserves, keeps employee health contributions level, and includes major investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and nearly $1 billion in education capital outlay. Committee chairs outlined their portions of the budget, including increased funding for K-12 schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, Medicaid and health services, corrections and courts, transportation and housing, and environmental restoration such as Everglades and water quality projects.
Members then asked extensive questions, especially about education funding, school choice, AP/IB and accelerated programs, the Family Empowerment Scholarship, and the FEFP calculations. Senator Burgess repeatedly explained that scholarship funding is being moved “below the line” to improve tracking and that the Senate position is to preserve funding while giving districts more flexibility. Senators also questioned the APD wait list for disability services, opioid settlement spending, arts funding, the My Safe Florida Home condo pilot, and proposed IT and agency restructuring. Several chairs said some issues would be resolved in conference, and no final vote on the budget was taken in the portion provided.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-02-20 (9:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We're providing $25 million to assist districts that have a decline in student enrollment during the
- is declining.
- Senator Burgess, we have funding to help our school districts with the decline in enrollment supplement
- For the declining student enrollment, so thank you for highlighting that.
- Specifically, the bill re-establishes the declining enrollment supplement we discussed earlier, as well
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance Apr 22nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- While nationally you have all read about demographic cliffs and declining enrollments, UC has been growing
- While nationally you have all read about demographic cliffs and declining enrollments, UC has been growing
- enrollment at our community colleges and declining enrollment at our local universities within that
- San Francisco State has suffered enrollment declines.
- So I don't see the, because the enrollment declines have been uneven.
Summary:
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held an extended hearing focused primarily on University of California budget issues, enrollment, housing, and Title IX. Chair David Alvarez opened by noting the governor’s proposed 8% ongoing General Fund reduction to UC, the deferral of compact funding, and the College of the Law budget item, while emphasizing that no votes would be taken that day. Public commenters, including UC Davis employees and lecturers, urged restoration of UC funding and opposed the hiring freeze, saying cuts would worsen staffing shortages, reduce research capacity, and harm students and patients.
On UC core operations, the Department of Finance said the governor’s budget maintains the compact but defers $240.8 million in ongoing support and continues a planned 7.95% reduction, while the LAO recommended rejecting the deferrals and instead making any changes in the budget year. UC San Diego’s chancellor and UC Office of the President argued the cuts and deferrals would create major campus shortfalls, force hiring freezes, larger class sizes, fewer course offerings, delayed projects, and possible layoffs. Committee members questioned whether cuts could be shifted away from students and toward administration, discussed UCOP reserves and bond debt, and noted that UC’s budget structure makes the campus-level impact larger than the headline reduction.
The committee also reviewed enrollment trends and nonresident replacement. The LAO said UC resident enrollment has grown and recommended revisiting 2026-27 targets and pausing the nonresident replacement plan if state funding does not improve. UC said it has exceeded California undergraduate enrollment and nonresident replacement goals, but warned that continued growth without funding would force enrollment reductions and harm quality. Members discussed the role of nonresident and international students, tuition rates, and the value of UC as a pathway for California students and a source of talent for the state.
A separate housing item covered the state’s Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program. UC reported that recent bond savings could support additional affordable beds at UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara, but the LAO and Finance noted the Legislature would need to decide how to use the $6.2 million in savings from the original projects. The committee also heard a Title IX update from UC’s systemwide civil rights office, which described campus Title IX structures, training, and policy enforcement, and said the system has been working to improve confidentiality guidance and streamline complaint processes after survey feedback showed confusion and lengthy procedures.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Chamber Meeting Mar 21st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Speaker, your Enrolling and Engrossing Committee to which has been referred House Bill 352 as amended
- Reports the same have been duly enrolled and engrossed preparatory to signing by the officers of the
- Independent voters declined to state sure they're leaning one way or another, but Mr.
- Speaker and gentleman. 40% of young voters identify as independents or declined to state.
- What happens if they enroll in law enforcement and DACA gets terminated?
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education Apr 24th, 2025
S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education
Transcript Highlights:
- And it will also increase funding for P-Tech campuses from $50 to $150 per student enrolled in the program
- The long-term effects of the pandemic have revealed startling impacts, including significant declines
- A school district with an enrollment of 8000 or higher may adopt a 4 day school week as long as all the
- And Senator Nichols added the amendment which capped the enrollment for smaller school districts to be
- The committee substitute ensures that this bill does not apply to school districts with an enrollment
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- And that meant if you were a school district and you had declining enrollment, the Legislature would
- buffer that declining enrollment by providing some funds for a year because you had one student less
- Fiscally constrained school districts, if they have declining enrollment, we are proposing that for each
- However, other school districts that are experiencing declining enrollment would get a 10% buffer for
- However, other school districts that are experienced declining enrollment, would get a 10% buffer for
Summary:
The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, doctor and guest introductions, and then took up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, on mental health. Senator Bradley described the bill as a major criminal justice and behavioral health reform measure that would expand pretrial mental health diversion, strengthen treatment-based probation conditions, broaden grant uses for mental health and substance abuse programs, add Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, require certain DOC mental health evaluations, and create a Florida Behavioral Health Data Repository. Senators from both parties spoke in strong support, emphasizing treatment over incarceration, public safety, data collection, and the Murphy family’s role in advancing the bill. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 and then approved 37 co-sponsors.
The chamber then received the Senate’s 2025-26 General Appropriations Bill, SB 2500, with Chair Hooper outlining a $117.4 billion budget that he said reduces spending, preserves reserves, and includes major investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and reporting requirements. Committee chairs summarized their portions: K-12 funding at $34.7 billion with increases for FEFP, scholarships, VPK, school hardening, and school safety; higher education at $11.5 billion with workforce, nursing, reading, autism, and student aid investments; health and human services with a $1.8 billion increase for Medicaid, mental health, opioid response, disability services, and veterans programs; criminal and civil justice at $7.6 billion for corrections, juvenile justice, law enforcement, courts, and judgeships; transportation/tourism/economic development at about $18 billion including roads, housing, Visit Florida, and cultural grants; and agriculture/environment/general government with major Everglades, water quality, citrus, food bank, and agency IT funding.
Members then questioned several budget items, especially education funding formulas, the shift of scholarship dollars below the line, the impact on public school districts, AP/IB and other accelerated program funding, the APD wait list, opioid settlement spending, arts grants, and the My Safe Florida Home and condo pilot programs. Chairs generally said scholarship and accelerated-program dollars were being restructured for transparency and flexibility rather than cut, that school districts would still receive funding based on enrollment, and that APD and other human services issues would continue to be worked out in conference. The budget discussion concluded with remarks praising staff and noting a 4% across-the-board pay raise for state employees and targeted increases for law enforcement and firefighters, followed by a recognition for FAMU Day at the Capitol.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 21st, 2026 at 01:58 pm
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- In the 2024-2025 school year, almost 15,000 children were enrolled.
- This is how we grew the workforce by 64% while the rest of the nation declined.
- This is how we grew the workforce by 64 while the rest of the nation declined.
- They're doing the enrollment and eligibility.
- And with you know we know We have the declining birth rate.
Bills:
SB2
Keywords:
SB 2, State Highway Project Bonds, highway funding, transportation bonds, state road fund, motor vehicle fees, vehicle registration fees, electric vehicle fee, EV surcharge, plug-in hybrid fee, weight distance tax, road construction, infrastructure financing, Department of Transportation, State Transportation Commission, bonding authority, county road funds, municipal road funds, transportation improvement program, state highways
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance Apr 22nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- While nationally, you have all read about demographic cliffs and declining enrollments, UC has been growing
- And also, additionally, are we looking at it in aggregate with declining enrollment at our community
- colleges, which is declining enrollment at our local universities within that geographic area?
- San Francisco State has suffered enrollment declines.
- So I don't see the enrollment declines have been uneven.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 02/25/26
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Enrollment in the small group market is continuing to decline.
- Enrollment in the small group market is continuing to decline.
- Enrollment in the small group market is continuing to decline.
- Enrollment in the small group market is continuing to decline. unique trends in each of those that unique
- and with projected new enrollment and with projected new enrollment restrictions.<00:03:52.400>
Enrollment
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services and Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance Apr 23rd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- But four-year-old enrollment declined in part-day settings by about 9 percent.
- Based on enrollment patterns in the last few years, we anticipate the number of children enrolled in
- of programs or enrollment of children, and supporting families' enrollment in UPK mixed delivery programs
- And even for enrollment, we enroll year-round, so it's hard even to be 100% enrolled.
- We still have to pay teachers every day, even if we're 85% enrolled or 90% enrolled.
Summary:
The joint hearing focused on California’s child care, preschool, and transitional kindergarten oversight, with chairs emphasizing the state’s Master Plan for Early Learning and Care and the need to break down silos between programs. CDSS and CDE reported progress toward the plan’s goals, including universal access to TK for all four-year-olds next school year, expanded access for low-income three-year-olds, and more children with disabilities being served in state preschool. They also noted ongoing work on quality rating/review reform, funding structure changes, and the need to address rates, workforce shortages, and federal uncertainty around Head Start.
Testimony from advocacy groups and providers largely supported expanding access while simplifying the system. Children Now, Every Child California, and the California Budget and Policy Center argued that California still has uneven access, especially for infants, toddlers, and three-year-olds, and urged investments in mixed delivery, inclusion, full-day options, and a cost-of-care rate methodology. Every Child California recommended consolidating part-day and full-day contracts, streamlining eligibility priorities, making the two-year-old option permanent, and funding staffing incentives. Parent testimony highlighted how child care gaps and county-to-county transfer delays can disrupt work, safety, and children’s stability, and providers described low reimbursement rates, the need for health and retirement benefits, and support for delinking subsidy rates from private pay.
The second panel addressed universal transitional kindergarten. The Learning Policy Institute reported rapid TK expansion, with most districts now offering TK, but said access still depends on facilities, staffing, and whether programs are available at all school sites. The Department of Finance said the governor’s budget would fully implement TK by adding funding for all eligible four-year-olds and lowering the adult-to-child ratio from 12:1 to 10:1. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the administration’s enrollment and cost assumptions were optimistic and estimated lower TK enrollment growth and lower costs for the ratio change. CDE supported the expansion and urged continued funding for UPK coordinators, teacher development, and mixed-delivery planning grants. Members questioned facilities shortages, staffing competition, and how to ensure TK expansion does not displace CSPP or Head Start classrooms. No formal votes or actions were taken in the hearing.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama Joint Legislative Budget Hearings Feb 5th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The Community College Fund is for dual enrollment.
- and not assuming the revenues were going to decline as fast as they did. going to decline as fast as
- receipts decline of 1.65%.
- We will also focus on dual enrollment enhancements and funding.
- Enrollment enhancements and funding are crucial.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Nov 20th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- declines.
- for those potential cost savings for enrollment decline.
- So I was hearing the conversations about the enrollment decline.
- So why is it steady if we have an enrollment decline? Mr.
- But from my understanding around school meals, yes, there has been a decline in enrollment, but there's
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division II (03/03/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- in that gross because our enrollment is declining.
- in that gross because our decline in that gross because our enrollment<00:11:24.760>
is enrollment - We've already talked about our enrollment decline.
- But even to get there, with enrollment declining, we need to make changes.
- <00:35:50.440>
declining <00:35:51.359>we get there with enrollment declining we get
Summary:
The committee heard a presentation from the University System of New Hampshire chancellor on the system’s budget, enrollment, finances, workforce role, and response to federal policy changes. The chancellor said the governor’s recommended budget would reduce university system funding by about $16.5 million over the biennium, or roughly 8.3%, and asked that state funding be held at the governor’s level. She described planned cost reductions already underway, including lower headcount, reduced benefits and retirement contributions, property sales, and lease reductions, and said the system expects to remove about $20 million from its cost structure in fiscal year 2026.
A large portion of the discussion focused on enrollment and finances. The chancellor said fall 2024 enrollment was about 23,000, with New Hampshire enrollment increasing for the first time since 2013, and noted that the system remains a major workforce pipeline, with about 3,000 graduates entering the state workforce each year. She explained that net tuition has fallen over time because of declining enrollment and increased financial aid, while research grants and contracts have grown significantly. She also walked through endowment funding, explaining that payouts are based on a 12-quarter rolling average and are intentionally smoothed to reduce volatility; members asked for follow-up information on payout comparisons, administrative salaries, headcounts, and compensation per student.
Members questioned the university about the relationship between state support, tuition, endowments, and research spending. The chancellor said the system has used state capital support to leverage major investments, including the UNH Life Sciences building, Plymouth’s Hyde Hall, and the Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, and described partnerships with businesses such as Lonza and regional manufacturers. She also explained a long-running New Hampshire 529-related revenue stream that has built endowment support for scholarships, and said the system’s endowment now totals about $988 million. In response to questions about possible cuts, she said the system is considering academic program sharing, consolidation of specialties, online delivery, AI-assisted administrative efficiencies, and footprint reductions, but declined to name specific programs.
The committee also discussed DEI-related issues and federal grants. The chancellor said the system is reviewing executive orders and a U.S. Department of Education Dear Colleague letter, and that general counsel is working through websites, programs, and more than 1,200 federal grants to ensure compliance. She said the system spends about $3 million on what it calls DEI-related offices and services, but emphasized that these services include disability support, veteran support, Title IX, ADA, and employment-law compliance, and that the system does not have race-based programs, separate housing, or separate graduation ceremonies. She reported that the system had received stop-work orders on four federal grants totaling about $700,000 and warned that reductions in federal direct or indirect costs could affect research, jobs, and innovation.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- ... ...students, but who have experienced a 10% or more enrollment decline between last school year and
- Part of the issue that we've experienced this year is that we had huge enrollment declines in a couple
- became enrolled...
- They also got enrollment growth that year, but because there was so much enrollment decline...
- They also got enrollment growth that year, but because there was so much enrollment decline from the
Keywords:
general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, higher education, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, appropriation, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We must pass legislation that implements the many urgent recommendations for rural and declining-enrollment
- We must pass legislation that implements the many urgent recommendations for rural and declining-enrollment
- And that is trying to reconcile the reality that all across this Commonwealth we have declining enrollment
- All across this Commonwealth, we have declining enrollment and increasing cost.
- to declining.
Summary:
The Senate first handled a House petition from John H. Rawlers and others seeking eminent domain authority for a parcel in Norwood; Joint Rule 12 was suspended and the matter was referred to the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. The chamber then resumed debate on the literacy bill, with Senator Tarr offering a series of amendments focused on school district funding, teacher competency, reporting, waivers, and curriculum implementation. Most of Tarr’s amendments were rejected, but one requiring written, appealable denials of district waivers was adopted by roll call, and another amendment on reporting from the Early Literacy Fund, including provisions for English language learners and special education educators, was also adopted. A separate amendment extending the timeline for DESE to publish high-quality curricula was adopted, while several other amendments were withdrawn or defeated.
The Senate also considered and adopted an amendment from Senator Comerford addressing rural and regional equity in education funding. That amendment expanded eligible uses of the Early Literacy Fund to include screening assessments, required DESE to prioritize geographic and funding equity, mandated a public hearing in Western Massachusetts before final grant criteria were finalized, and directed technical assistance to rural districts. Senators from across the chamber spoke in support, emphasizing chronic underfunding, declining enrollment, minimum-aid pressures, and the need for a broader review of the Chapter 70 formula and a Foundation Budget Review Commission. The amendment passed unanimously.
Later, the Senate took up an amendment from Senator Moore on children’s vision care, which would have created a registry for vision screening and expanded eye exam requirements, but it was withdrawn after supportive debate. The chamber then adopted the Ways and Means redraft, ordered the bill to third reading, and passed An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy to be engrossed by a unanimous roll call. Final passage was also achieved for a separate House land-taking bill allowing the town of Hingham to use municipal property for a center for active living, which passed by the required two-thirds vote and was enacted. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Monday and adjourned in memory of Donna Goldstein.