[Rurals] Fwd: Rural School Aid

[Erica Hedrick]

Please see the below information from DESE we received in reference to  
Rural School Aid.

Erica
----- Forwarded message from "Reis, Jacqueline (DESE)"  
<Jacqueline.Reis at mass.gov> -----
   Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2025 23:22:27 +0000
   From: "Reis, Jacqueline (DESE)" <Jacqueline.Reis at mass.gov>
Subject: Rural School Aid
     To: "Bourque, Mary M.  - ext" <mbourque at massupt.org>, "Scott, Tom  
- ext" <scott at massupt.org>, "Hedrick, Erica - ext"  
<ehedrick at massupt.org>, Glenn Koocher <gkoocher at masc.org>,  
Amartin at masc.org, Jenifer Handy <jhandy at 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 at 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-aid.html
[2] mailto:Michelle.L.Griffin at 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 at massupt.org
(T) 781-541-5098
(F) 781-541-5534
NEW ADDRESS EFFECTIVE 7/1/21:
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Bedford, MA 01730
www.massupt.org

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