Education (School Funding)

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 22, 2026

HR 8351: JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY RHODE ISLAND'S EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA AND EDUCATION FINANCE SYSTEM

Creates a special joint legislative commission to make a comprehensive study of Rhode Island's education funding formula and education finance system.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates a commission to study and improve education funding, indicating intent to strengthen the finance system.75% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 22, 2026

SR 3368: JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY RHODE ISLAND'S EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA AND EDUCATION FINANCE SYSTEM

Creates a special joint legislative commission to make a comprehensive study of Rhode Island's education funding formula and education finance system.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates a commission to study and improve the education funding formula, indicating intent to strengthen the education finance system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

died · Rhode Island · House May 19, 2026

HB 8511: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

Amends the school funding formula to ensure that local education authorities do not lose funding due to disruptions in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill protects school funding from SNAP disruptions, ensuring stable appropriations for essential education services.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects school funding by preventing losses due to SNAP disruptions, ensuring financial stability for local education authorities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget School Funding Student Health

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died · Rhode Island · House May 26, 2026

HB 8581: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

HB 8581 amends the Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act to remove a cap that previously limited how much local funding for charter schools could be reduced starting in fiscal year 2026. Under the current law, local districts pay charter schools a reduced per-pupil amount, but this bill would eliminate the restriction that keeps that reduction at no more than 14%. The legislation directly affects local school districts and charter public schools, including specific career and technical centers, by altering the calculation of local financial contributions. If passed, the change would allow local districts to apply a larger reduction to the per-pupil funding they provide to these schools, though the specific reduction formula remains unchanged.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill removes a cap on funding reductions for charter schools, effectively allowing local districts to pay charter schools less per-pupil, which restricts funding for these public services.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill removes a funding cap on charter schools, allowing local districts to reduce per-pupil payments by more than 14%, thereby increasing financial resources for these institutions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax School Funding

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 19, 2026

SB 3276: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

This bill modifies the Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act by removing the cap that limits reductions to local per-pupil funding for charter schools at 14% starting in fiscal year 2026. It directly affects charter public schools, the William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School, and the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, as well as the school districts that host their students. Under the current law, districts can reduce funding by up to 14% to offset costs like non-public textbooks and retiree health benefits, but this measure would allow for reductions exceeding that percentage once the fiscal year 2026 limit expires. The legislation also outlines how enrollment changes and state share calculations are handled and specifies that districts failing to make required payments could face withholding of state aid.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill removes a funding cap, allowing districts to reduce per-pupil funding for charter schools by up to 14%, effectively defunding these essential programs.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill removes a funding cap for charter schools, allowing districts to reduce per-pupil funding less, thereby increasing financial resources for these schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax K-12 Education School Funding

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 8, 2026

SB 3214: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS

This bill creates a new seven-member board of trustees to govern the Central Falls School District, replacing the current special state administrator and advisory group. The board members will be appointed by the state Board of Regents, with at least four required to be local residents and parents of current or former students in the district. Under this structure, the state commissioner of education retains significant oversight, including the power to intervene in school management if deemed necessary, while the new board handles policy-making, budget approval, and superintendent appointments. Additionally, the legislation amends state funding rules to provide direct state support for high-cost special education students and career and technical education programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill restores local governance by creating a board of trustees with parent representation, aiming to improve school district management and oversight.75% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Special Education

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 19, 2026

SB 2826: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

Provides that in local education agencies when over 45% of the children have a family income that is at or below 185% of federal poverty guidelines, then the student success factor will be 50% by the core instruction per-pupil amount.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides tax relief for low-income families by adjusting education funding based on poverty levels, supporting fiscal equity and protecting essential education services.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases funding for low-income schools by adjusting student success factor, expanding educational access and resources for disadvantaged students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget School Funding

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 19, 2026

SB 2849: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TRANSPORTATION OF SCHOOL PUPILS BEYOND CITY AND TOWN LIMITS

Allows an individual school district that can utilize its own buses or vendors at a lower cost than the statewide system, to obtain reimbursement for these costs from state funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allows school districts to access state funds for transportation costs when cheaper than statewide system, increasing funding for essential public services.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables school districts to access state reimbursement for transportation costs, reducing financial burden and improving educational access for students.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enables school districts to use their own transportation resources and receive state reimbursement, supporting local transportation solutions for school pupils.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding School Transportation

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in committee · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SR 2837: SENATE RESOLUTION FORMALLY REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT ALL PROVISIONS OF THE STATE FUNDING FORMULA FOR EDUCATION

This Senate resolution asks the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to fully implement all parts of the state's education funding formula as required by law. The bill specifically targets areas where the department has not yet fully applied statutory funding rules, particularly for students with the greatest needs, multilingual learners, and poverty index calculations. It directs the department to review and ensure complete compliance with existing funding statutes, including how permanent foundation aid is distributed and how local and state shares are calculated. The resolution formally requests this action and authorizes the Secretary of State to send copies to key education officials and the Governor.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill ensures full implementation of state education funding formula, protecting essential funding for students with greatest needs and multilingual learners.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates full implementation of state education funding formula, ensuring equitable funding for students with greatest needs, multilingual learners, and accurate poverty index calculations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 3015: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND EDUCATION FUNDING AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

Establishes the Rhode Island education funding and accountability act, which would include a totally revised and revamped formula for funding all levels of public education in Rhode Island.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes revised funding formula for public education, indicating increased state funding allocation for essential public services.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes revised funding formula for all public education levels, indicating clear intent to strengthen and fund education system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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