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<p>Whereas, free public schools available to all students without exception are foundational to our democracy and are required by the state constitution; and</p> <p>Whereas, all of our students, no matter where they live, deserve high-quality public schools that teach the whole child and provide them with a rich school experience that addresses their academic, social and emotional needs;</p> <p>Whereas, the state;s foundation budget formula, which determines state aid to each district, has been woefully out of date for years, thereby underfunding our districts by more than $1 billion a year for essential educational services; and</p> <p>Whereas, an updated foundation budget formula would bring Cambridge Public Schools up to $15,633,144 in additional state aid each year, allowing this district to move closer to providing all students with the education to which they are entitled as residents of the Commonwealth; and</p> <p>Whereas, the Legislature failed to pass any foundation budget legislation in the last session, leaving districts, educators and students without the funds necessary to support the schools our students deserve in every district in the state;</p> <p>THEREFORE, be it resolved that the School Committee for the Cambridge Public Schools urges the Legislature to approve and fully fund a new foundation budget formula by May 1, 2019.</p> <p>WHY? In 2014, the MA state legislature convened a bipartisan Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBCR). In 2015, the commission found that public schools in MA are underfunded. A subsequent study was conducted with respect to the items the commission deemed under-funded showing public schools in Massachusetts are in a funding crisis. FBCR found underfunding was worst in the following areas: 1. Special Education 2. Low Income Students 3. English Language Learners 4. Healthcare</p>