District overview
Lawrence Public Schools
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
Who makes districtwide decisions?
Lawrence Public Schools remains under state receivership. The receiver holds governing authority and reports to the Massachusetts education commissioner, while the elected School Committee meets publicly, develops governance capacity, and makes recommendations.
31 schools and programs
The FY27 budget describes a district serving more than 12,800 students across a large citywide school system.
Turnaround-plan renewal
The district launched family, student, educator, and community engagement to renew the plan guiding Lawrence through 2029.
Material budget pressure
The May record identifies a projected $17.4 million FY27 gap amid enrollment decline; the subsequent proposal requests $319.6 million.
The official agenda page currently exposes recent March–July 2026 records and the minutes page exposes four 2026 meetings; useful recent coverage is published even though the full prior-year archive is not available on those pages.
Where the district stands
Major projects
2026–29 turnaround-plan renewal
Community engagement and receiver reviewDistrict presented the bilingual stakeholder-engagement plan.
- Committee reviewed the renewal process while the district remains in receivership.
- District presented the bilingual stakeholder-engagement plan.
Funding
Lawrence Public Schools
FY27 district budget
Proposed budget publishedDistrict held a hearing and presentation on the $319.6 million proposal.
- Superintendent identified a projected $17.4 million deficit.
- District held a hearing and presentation on the $319.6 million proposal.
Funding
Primarily Chapter 70 state aid and local contribution
Official Lawrence School Committee agendas, meeting attachments, approved minutes, budget publications, and turnaround-plan materials collected from the district site.
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