To the editor:
As a West Stockbridge Select Board member and a member of the Berkshire Hills Regional School Committee, I have seen firsthand how the state’s outdated school-choice funding model continues to strain local budgets. With town meetings approaching and school budgets under scrutiny, it is imperative that the Massachusetts Legislature take action to modernize the school-choice tuition formula—a system that has been left unchanged for over 30 years.
The $5,000 tuition cap per student, established when the program began in the early 1990s, is woefully out of step with today’s education costs. The average per-pupil expenditure in Massachusetts now exceeds $15,000, yet school districts accepting choice students are still expected to provide a quality education at a fraction of that cost. This outdated cap makes it financially unsustainable for some districts to participate in school choice, limiting opportunities for students and destabilizing the program’s original intent.
At the same time, sending districts—particularly in rural areas—rightfully worry about budget shortfalls when students leave. While competition can encourage innovation, an unchecked financial drain on struggling districts can undermine local schools. We need a balanced solution that protects both sending and receiving districts, ensuring that school choice remains a viable and fair option for students across the Commonwealth.
For many receiving districts, school choice is like selling an empty airline seat: If there is room on the plane, it makes sense to fill it. The marginal cost of educating one more student is often far less than the full per-pupil cost, making school choice an important tool to sustain programs, preserve staffing levels, and maintain financial stability in districts experiencing enrollment declines. But no airline could operate if it were forced to sell tickets at 1991 prices. We must adjust school-choice tuition to reflect modern realities so that districts can continue to offer a seat to students seeking a better educational fit.
A prime example of how school choice is essential to a district’s financial health is Lenox, where approximately 40 percent of the student body consists of choice students. This brings in nearly $2 million annually, a critical component of the district’s budget, allowing Lenox to manage year-over-year increases in operating costs while maintaining strong academic programming. Without these choice revenues, Lenox—and other districts in similar positions—would face difficult decisions about cutting programs, increasing class sizes, or shifting the financial burden further onto local taxpayers. In this sense, school choice is not just an enrollment policy—it is a strategic financial tool for sustaining high-quality public education.
Legislators must act by:
- Gradually increasing the tuition cap from $5,000 to $8,000 over four years, tied to inflation thereafter.
- Establishing a state-funded reimbursement program to stabilize budgets in sending districts, preventing excessive financial losses.
- Providing additional state aid for high-demand programs, particularly in rural districts that rely on school-choice revenue.
Without reform, school choice will continue to be a financial burden rather than an opportunity for our communities. As we approach town meeting season, I urge residents to contact their state legislators and demand action. A fair and sustainable school-choice funding model will ensure that our schools remain strong, our students have real options, and our communities do not have to choose between financial stability and educational opportunity.
Andy Potter
Member of the West Stockbridge Select Board
Member of the Berkshire Hills Regional School Committee
West Stockbridge
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