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Local politicians, athletes join hundreds to reform education funding

BOSTON — Four Patriots' stars joined hundreds on Beacon Hill on Friday to demand change to the education funding formula. They're hoping that their star power will lend weight to the voices of parents and teachers who have gone unacknowledged for years in struggling school districts that need millions of dollars to bring their students forward.

No referees or football in site – but for the McCourty twins, Matthew Slater and Duron Harmon, the limelight in front of lawmakers was still nerve wracking.

"We're in a different arena here," said Jason McCourty.

"For us, we were probably more nervous here than walking in for the Super Bowl."

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The quad was on Beacon Hill to demand change for the state’s education funding formula.

"We're here to try and lend our voices to the people standing in the gap," said Matthew Slater.

Legislators are mulling multiple proposals – including the Promise Act, a bill that would increase funding by up to $2 billion, funded in part by a tax increase on the wealthy.

All four of the players told Boston 25 that they would have no problem paying more on their tax bill if they knew it was going to help students in need.

"This is a long time coming that we need to update the funding formula so that our children have the education they deserve," said Maria Dominguez, a parent of two special needs children in Boston Public Schools.

"We're seeing the cuts happen to the services for our children."

Frank McLaughlin teaches in Lawrence, a district that has been underfunded by tens of millions of dollars. McLaughlin says that, just last year, the district lost more than 200 teachers.

"Our class sizes are too big, and our teachers are too tired," he said.

"They try to reform education on the cheap, what we need is adequate funds to do the programs that we know are proven best practices."

All of the players told us they would have no problem paying more on their tax bill- if they knew it was going to help students in need.