Education (School Funding)

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 19, 2026

SB 2548: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

Amends State funding calculations for special education, revising extraordinary cost calculations for FY 2028-2029, and providing additional funds for excess costs when special education students move into a district after the budget is approved.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides property tax relief and increases special education funding, aligning with tax relief and public service investment indicators.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides additional funds for special education student cost coverage, directly increasing educational funding for districts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget School Funding Special Education

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in committee · Rhode Island · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 8158: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

HB 8158, titled "The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act," requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to review how funding formulas calculate aid for high-need students. This review focuses on the specific components used to determine support levels, aiming to ensure equitable resource allocation. The bill directly affects the state education department and the students designated as high-need under current funding formulas. As referenced in its title, the bill connects to broader education equity efforts, though its core mechanism is the mandated formula review process. The bill was introduced on February 27, 2026, and referred to the House Finance Committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExplicitly titled 'Property Tax Relief Act' providing tax relief to homeowners, directly aligning with support indicators for tax relief measures.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates review of funding formulas to ensure equitable resource allocation for high-need students, advancing educational equity through fairer funding distribution.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget School Funding

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 7680: AN ACT RELATING EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

Specifies that pre-k programs for three (3) – and four (4) – year olds be added to programs to increase access to voluntary, free, high-quality pre-kindergarten programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill title explicitly includes 'Property Tax Relief,' directly aligning with tax relief indicators for homeowners, supporting fiscal management.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands access to free pre-K programs for 3-4 year olds, increasing educational access and equity as stated in the bill's summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Early Childhood K-12 Education School Funding

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 11, 2026

SB 2555: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE SUPPORT AND ACCESS TO BILINGUAL EDUCATION ACT

This bill establishes a new fund within the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to support bilingual education programs in public schools. The primary mechanism is a grant program that provides financial assistance to school districts, community organizations, and universities for planning and implementing dual language instruction models, particularly in areas with high numbers of multilingual learners. Additionally, the legislation creates a strategy to increase the number of certified bilingual teachers by streamlining certification processes and funding professional development. Eligible recipients must adhere to specific high-quality standards and focus on developing curricula and staffing plans that serve students in both English and their home languages.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $950,000 for bilingual education support fund, increasing public education funding under state budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $950,000 to establish bilingual education support fund, directly funding access to language programs in K-12 schools per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 7456: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

Mandates public schools (K-12) have one full-time certified social worker for every 250 students and allocates $2 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for school districts and municipalities to hire additional social workers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $2M in FY2025 budget for school social workers, increasing public service funding per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $2M for social worker hiring with 1:250 student ratio mandate, directly enhancing K-12 student support services and funding.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds school social workers for mental health services, directly advancing student mental health care access per bill's allocation and mandate.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllocates $2M to hire school social workers, directly funding employment positions in education sector per mandate.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax K-12 Education School Funding Student Health

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 7318: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

Increases the state’s regionalization bonus to six percent (6.0%) of the state’s fiscal year share of foundation education aid. This bonus would be ongoing and continuing so long as the district remains a regional school district.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly provides property tax relief via increased state education funding (6% regionalization bonus), directly reducing local property tax burdens for regional school districts.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases state funding for regional school districts via 6% regionalization bonus, directly advancing educational funding for K-12 districts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax School Funding

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signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 18, 2026

SB 2139: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- FOUNDATION LEVEL SCHOOL SUPPORT

Prohibits participation in federal school voucher tax credit for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations unless both the general assembly and the governor approve such participation.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesProhibits federal school voucher tax credit participation without legislative approval, restricting tax incentives for private education funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill blocks state participation in federal voucher program without legislative/governor approval, preventing potential diversion of public school funds to private options and protecting public school funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice School Funding Student Financial Aid

in committee · Rhode Island · Senate Jan 23, 2026

SB 2233: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

SB 2233 establishes specific new funding categories to support school districts across Rhode Island. It provides state reimbursement for excess costs in special education (above a set threshold), career and technical education programs, pre-kindergarten access, and transportation for students attending out-of-district non-public schools. The bill also creates stabilization funds for Central Falls, Davies, and the Met Center schools, and offers regionalized school districts a temporary bonus (2% then 1% of state funding share) for their first two fiscal years. School districts seeking these funds must meet criteria set by the Department of Education, and funds are prorated if demand exceeds available appropriations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides state reimbursement for education costs, reducing local property tax burden. Explicitly titled 'Property Tax Relief Act'.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides state reimbursement for special ed, CTE, pre-K, and transportation; creates stabilization funds for specific schools - clear funding support for education access and equity.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds transportation for students attending out-of-district non-public schools, explicitly listing it as a reimbursable category under education equity funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax K-12 Education School Funding Special Education

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 19, 2026

SB 2239: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

Provides that a school district could elect and choose to not spend money on any mandate that is not fully funded through the state education aid formula.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides property tax relief by allowing school districts to opt out of unfunded mandates, reducing local tax burden and ensuring state funding for education.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows school districts to opt out of unfunded mandates, preventing financial strain and promoting equitable resource allocation in education funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget School Funding

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 7454: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

Provides that a student's enrollment in Medicaid would be included in calculating and determining the student success factor for use in the foundation education-aid formula.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill includes Medicaid enrollment in education-aid formula's student success factor, increasing funding for schools serving low-income students to advance educational equity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Student Financial Aid Student Health

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