AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COOPERATIVE SERVICE AMONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS

HB 7271 amends Rhode Island law to establish a board of trustees governing the urban collaborative, a cooperative group of school districts including Providence. The bill requires each participating district to appoint board members based on student enrollment (one per district plus one additional per 30 students), with non-binding candidate suggestions from the collaborative board. It shifts funding so state education aid flows directly to the collaborative, while requiring local districts to cover any shortfall until funding transitions are complete. The bill also ensures Providence Public Schools cannot terminate their participation in the collaborative during state oversight without approval from the Providence school board, protecting existing student access.