Chapter 70 - State Education Funding

The Town of Dunstable joined Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, and Westford, in sending a letter to the Chairs of the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees regarding the need to reform the Chapter 70 education funding formula and requesting additional education funding through the state’s supplemental budget. The Groton Dunstable Regional School District’s “hold harmless” designation has resulted in the District’s state education funding being essentially level funded year over year. Over the last 15 years, the Town has received an average annual increase of .48% in Chapter 70 funding. Groton Dunstable Regional School District is not alone. This system has left a total of 232 school districts, including many in our region, with funding that is not keeping up with rising costs, shifting the financial burden further and further onto municipalities.

Earlier this year, the Dunstable Town Administrator and Select Board sent similar letters to the state legislature as did the Groton Dunstable Regional School Committee. For more information on Chapter 70 and District trends, view the GDRSD Superintendent's presentation given January 22, 2025.