2026 -- H 8131

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LC005782

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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 METHOD OF FUNDING CHARTER SCHOOLS

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Casey, Bennett, Diaz, Fellela, Potter, Cotter,
McNamara, Messier, and Furtado

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2026

     Referred To: House Education

     WHEREAS, On June 10, 2010, the General Assembly enacted major school funding

reform by creating the current education funding formula; and

     WHEREAS, The funding formula established the method of funding charter schools; and

     WHEREAS, The number of charter schools has increased over the past three decades to

24 charters encompassing 39 individual charter schools; and

     WHEREAS, The increase in the number of Local Education Agencies (LEAs) through

charter school expansion has increased expenditures for central office administration impacting

resources available for classroom instruction; and

     WHEREAS, The method of funding charter schools has not undergone a thorough review

in over a decade; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special joint legislative commission be and the same is hereby

created consisting of thirteen (13) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House,

not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House;

three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than two (2) from the same political

party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be the Executive

Director of the Rhode Island Mayoral Academies (RIMA), or designee; one of whom shall be the

Executive Director of the Rhode Island League of Charter Schools, or designee; one of whom

shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island School Superintendents' Association, or

designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, or

designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and

Health Professionals, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the National Education

Association Rhode Island, or designee; and one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode

Island Association of School Committees (RIASC), or designee.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and assess

Rhode Island's method of funding charter schools. The commission shall also conduct a

comprehensive study and assess the amount of administrative costs in district charter schools,

independent charter schools, mayoral academy charter schools, and traditional school districts.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the Speaker of the House and the President of

the Senate shall designate the chair of the commission, and at the call of the chair, the

commission shall meet not later than August 31, 2026.

     The commission shall meet regularly and may solicit input from stakeholders, including

community members, educators, and financial experts.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall submit a final report of its findings and

recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the

President of the Senate on or before April 1, 2027, and said commission shall expire on July 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 METHOD OF FUNDING CHARTER SCHOOLS

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     This joint resolution would create a thirteen (13) member special joint legislative

commission whose purpose it would be to study Rhode Island’s method of funding charter

schools, and who would report back to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before

April 1, 2027, and said commission would expire on July 1, 2027.

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LC005782

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