Anonymous wrote:Not helpful to OP, but actually MA funding mechanisms (no real county structure) means the local schools are funded only by that towns tax base and whatever federal money. And run by the School Committee. Depending on the size of the town and frankly culture of the town/politics of the town, special services can be limited or very very poorly implemented with no significant oversight.
Most schools are great for NT kids, but I’m from there and know several families in towns with “good schools” who are really struggling w/ the SPED teams etc
Massachusetts is similar to Virginia in that the state funds some, the Feds fund less, and the local property taxes fund the rest. The school districts tend to be smaller as they are based on towns and not counties; but it is similar. Massachusetts doesn’t really have county only residents, everyone is in a town or city. Whereas in Virginia you are either in a city or a County. Massachusetts is leagues above Virginia in terms of special education. Yes, some towns do better than others, just as some counties/cities in Virginia do better than others, but overall Massachusetts does it much better. Better not necessarily great.