Senator Joyce Votes for Reform Legislation to End Abuses at State Education Collaboratives

Last week, the Senate took decisive action to end mismanagement and financial abuses at the Commonwealth’s education collaboratives, institutions which aim to provide special education services. With a unanimous vote, the Senate passed legislation that establishes strict oversight and accountability of the state’s 30 institutions.

“These financial abuses not only cheat taxpayers, they cheat our children,” said .  “After last year’s investigation, we vowed to take action.  I am glad that we have voted to end such shocking abuse.”

Both state officials and the public called for immediate action after investigations by the state auditor and inspector general uncovered a serious misuse of funds at the Merrimack Special Education Collaborative and other collaboratives around the state.

The legislation will improve the governance and fiscal accountability of the Commonwealth’s network of educational collaboratives by increasing transparency and setting clear standards to ensure that funding funnels directly to services to students.

-Press release contributed by the Office of Senator Joyce.