AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (Provides the department of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with a workgroup composed of various stakeholders, develops a funding formula for school districts sending students to career and technical programs outside their district.)

S2088

2026 -- S 2088
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LC003780
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Introduced By:
Senators Gallo, Tikoian, Ciccone, Gu, DiPalma, Burke, LaMountain, and
Murray

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 16-45.1 of the General Laws entitled "Career and Technical
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Education [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following section:
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16-45.1-4. Career and technical education tuition formula.

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(a) The department of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with a
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workgroup as described in subsection (c) of this section, shall develop a formula for calculating
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tuition to career and technical education programs to be paid by the sending district. Said formula
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shall be developed and a copy provided to the chairs of the senate committee on education and the
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house committee on education no later than December 31, 2027.
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(b) The tuition of all career and technical programs shall be posted on the school district's
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website if the district operates a program or school that receives tuition for a career and technical
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program. The sending school district shall remit tuition to the district that operates the career and
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technical program. The provisions of § 16-45-10 shall be applicable to this section.
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(c) The department shall convene a workgroup, including, but not limited to,
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representatives from career and technical schools, the Rhode Island School Superintendents'
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Association, the Rhode Island Association of School Committees, the National Education
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Association, the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, and the Rhode
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Island Career and Technical board of trustees. The purpose of the workgroup shall be to assist the
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department in creating a formula for calculating tuition to career and technical education programs.

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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
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This act would provide that the department of elementary and secondary education, in
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consultation with a workgroup composed of various stakeholders, would develop a funding formula
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for school districts sending students to career and technical programs outside their district.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003780 - Page 3 of 3