Chapter 70 formula

Earth’s oldest living social compact, the Massachusetts Constitution, calls us to cherish the public schools. For state politicians, providing adequate public education is an unavoidable duty. Only voters can render judgment.

Adequate education opportunity, according to state statute, is formulaic. It’s been so since 1993, when the Education Reform Act was passed within a week of the Supreme Judicial Court’s McDuffy ruling. The enforceable duty to “cherish the … public schools” was fulfilled by billions allocated annually in Chapter 70 aid.