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H8351Aaa
2026 -- H 8351 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED
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LC006182/SUB A
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY RHODE
ISLAND'S EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA AND EDUCATION FINANCE SYSTEM
Introduced By:
Representatives McNamara, Cortvriend, Ackerman, Tanzi, Kislak,
Date Introduced:
March 25, 2026
Referred To:
House Finance
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WHEREAS, Rhode Island's public education system is essential to the economic vitality,
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civic health, and long-term prosperity of the state;
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WHEREAS, Since the adoption of Rhode Island's current education funding formula in
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2010, school districts and municipalities have experienced significant changes in enrollment
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patterns and student needs;
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WHEREAS, Inflation, rising operational costs, and increasing expenditures related to
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transportation, multilingual learner services, special education, pension obligations, and other
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educational needs have placed significant fiscal pressures on school districts and municipalities
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across Rhode Island;
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WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Foundation convened a Blue Ribbon Commission on
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Education Funding, composed of educators, municipal leaders, policymakers, advocates,
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researchers, and community stakeholders, to evaluate Rhode Island's education funding system
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and develop recommendations for modernization;
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WHEREAS, The Commission recommended a student-centered system with an expanded
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definition of educational costs within the funding formula, revised student weighting
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mechanisms, increased state participation in certain education expenses, a required and defined
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local share of costs, and expanded accountability and transparency measures; and
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WHEREAS, Modernization of the education funding formula must be pursued in a
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manner that is equitable, fiscally responsible, and sustainable for both the State and local
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communities; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created
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consisting of sixteen (16) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island
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Senate, at least one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, to be appointed by the
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President of the Senate; three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House of
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Representatives, at least one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, to be appointed by
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the Speaker of the House of Representatives; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the
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National Education Association Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of
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the American Federation of Teachers Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the
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Commissioner of the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, or
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designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Office of Management and
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Budget, or designee; one of whom shall be the Senior Advisor for Education to the Rhode Island
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Governor, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island
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Association of School Committees, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of
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the Rhode Island School Superintendents Association, or designee; one of whom shall be the
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President of the Rhode Island Association of School Business Officials, or designee; one of
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whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Government Finance Officers Association, or
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designee; and one of whom shall be the Director of the Division of Municipal Finance, or
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designee.
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The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of Rhode
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Island's education funding formula and education finance system, including, but not limited to:
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(1) Studying the feasibility of implementing the recommendations contained in the Rhode
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Island Foundation's Blue Ribbon Commission Report, Equalizing Opportunity: Creating a Fair
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and Transparent Funding System for Rhode Island's Public Schools;
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(i) Evaluating the associated statutory recommendations and recommending measures
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and weights not specified in the report; and
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(ii) Comparing the total costs of the proposed system to the current system, including
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multiple total state share amounts as presented by the commission, using the most recent
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complete year of finalized and validated Uniform Charter of Accounts (UCOA) revenue and
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expenditure data;
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(2) Evaluating the adequacy, equity, predictability, and long-term fiscal sustainability of
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Rhode Island's education funding formula, including the impact of declining enrollment, rising
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educational costs, and differing levels of municipal fiscal capacity;
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(3) Developing recommendations for modifications to Rhode Island's education funding
LC006182/SUB A - Page 2 of 4
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formula consistent with the educational and fiscal needs of the State and its municipalities; and
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(4) Proposing a transition plan not to exceed five (5) fiscal years, specifying annual
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adjustments to state and municipal shares to achieve full implementation of the recommendations.
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Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the Speaker of the House and the President of
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the Senate shall designate the chair of the commission, and at the call of the chair, shall meet not
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later than October 31, 2026.
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The Commission shall meet regularly and may solicit input from stakeholders, including
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the Rhode Island Foundation, the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, Blue Ribbon
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Commission members, community members, educators, and financial experts.
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All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,
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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or
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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.
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Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.
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The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.
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The commission may receive such funding and administrative support as may be
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necessary to carry out the purposes of this resolution.
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The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide
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suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the commission shall submit an interim report of its findings and
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recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
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President of the Senate no later than March 2, 2027; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the commission shall submit a final report of its findings and
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recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
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President of the Senate no later than September 1, 2027, and said commission shall expire on
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December 1, 2027.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY RHODE
ISLAND'S EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA AND EDUCATION FINANCE SYSTEM
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This Joint Resolution would create a special joint legislative commission to make a
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comprehensive study of Rhode Island's education funding formula and education finance system.
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This commission would submit a final report of its findings no later than September 1, 2027, and
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would expire on December 1, 2027.
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