Please see the below information from DESE we received in reference to
Rural School Aid.
Erica
----- Forwarded message from "Reis, Jacqueline (DESE)"
<Jacqueline.Reis(a)mass.gov> -----
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2025 23:22:27 +0000
From: "Reis, Jacqueline (DESE)" <Jacqueline.Reis(a)mass.gov>
Subject: Rural School Aid
To: "Bourque, Mary M. - ext" <mbourque(a)massupt.org>, "Scott, Tom
- ext" <scott(a)massupt.org>, "Hedrick, Erica - ext"
<ehedrick(a)massupt.org>, Glenn Koocher <gkoocher(a)masc.org>,
Amartin(a)masc.org, Jenifer Handy <jhandy(a)masc.org>
Dear MASS and MASC leadership,
Today, DESE posted the FY2026 Rural School Aid distribution[1].
Consistent with the line-item language, we identified districts
eligible for Rural School Aid based on their student density (not more
than 35 students per square mile) and their per capita income (less
than $57,834 per capita according to 2022 data from the Department of
Revenue). Based on these criteria, there are 65 school districts that
are eligible to receive Rural School Aid in FY2026.
Rural School Aid can be used for a wide variety of purposes to
support district operations, with priority given to efforts to
increase regional collaboration, consolidation, or other strategies to
improve long-term operational efficiency and effectiveness.
We will make the first payment within the next week and distribute
the remaining funds later in the fiscal year. Once received, the funds
should be deposited in a separate account so that they can be spent
without further action on the part of the local appropriating
authority by June 30, 2026.
We will send districts a survey link in the coming weeks so that
they can report on how they plan to use these funds. Districts will
also be required to report Rural School Aid as a state grant
expenditure on their FY26 End of Year Reports (EOYR).
Please direct questions regarding Rural School Aid to _Michelle Griffin[2]_.
Best wishes,
Jackie
JACQUELINE REIS (/PRONOUNS: SHE, HER, HERS)/
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
/Serving pre-K through adult learners/
781-338-3115 (work)
781-605-4419 (mobile)
jacqueline.reis(a)mass.gov
135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
/YOUR PRESENCE IS POWERFUL[3]/
----- End forwarded message -----
Links:
------
[1]
https://www.doe.mass.edu/finance/chapter70/foundation/fy2026-rural-school-a…
[2] mailto:Michelle.L.Griffin@mass.gov
[3] https://www.doe.mass.edu/sfs/attendance/
--
----
Erica Hedrick
Director of Operations
Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (M.A.S.S.)
ehedrick(a)massupt.org
(T) 781-541-5098
(F) 781-541-5534
NEW ADDRESS EFFECTIVE 7/1/21:
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www.massupt.org
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