Patrick budget slated to include education boost

BOSTON – Gov. Deval L. Patrick’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2009 will include a $368 million increase in education funding, including a record level of school aid to cities and towns and significant increases in universal pre-K, full-day kindergarten and extended-learning-time programs.
Slated to be filed later this month, the administration’s budget proposal includes $3.9 billion to cities and towns through Chapter 70 state aid, a $223 million increase over FY08 that will result in additional funding for every school district in the Commonwealth, according to a news release from the governor’s office last week.
The proposal will also include a $51 million expansion for high-priority programs, including universal pre-K, kindergarten expansion grants and extended-learning-time grants.