BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate is debating a series of budget amendments that would increase public education funding.
Senators adopted a handful of the 98 education amendment proposals during their Thursday morning debate.
Measures passing the Senate include new funding for the Metco grant program and for community colleges to develop a degree auditing and transfer system as well as a standard core of course offerings.
It also dedicates funding for schools to implement suicide and violence prevention efforts for gay and lesbian students.
An $11.3 million proposal to reimburse cities and towns for providing school transportation for non-resident homeless children did not pass, despite support from multiple senators. It would've funded a school transportation mandate.
The state's House of Representatives included the measure in its budget proposal.