2026 -- H 8351 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

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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

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island's public education system is essential to the economic vitality,

civic health, and long-term prosperity of the state;

     WHEREAS, Since the adoption of Rhode Island's current education funding formula in

2010, school districts and municipalities have experienced significant changes in enrollment

patterns and student needs;

     WHEREAS, Inflation, rising operational costs, and increasing expenditures related to

transportation, multilingual learner services, special education, pension obligations, and other

educational needs have placed significant fiscal pressures on school districts and municipalities

across Rhode Island;

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Foundation convened a Blue Ribbon Commission on

Education Funding, composed of educators, municipal leaders, policymakers, advocates,

researchers, and community stakeholders, to evaluate Rhode Island's education funding system

and develop recommendations for modernization;

     WHEREAS, The Commission recommended a student-centered system with an expanded

definition of educational costs within the funding formula, revised student weighting

mechanisms, increased state participation in certain education expenses, a required and defined

local share of costs, and expanded accountability and transparency measures; and

     WHEREAS, Modernization of the education funding formula must be pursued in a

manner that is equitable, fiscally responsible, and sustainable for both the State and local

communities; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of sixteen (16) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island

Senate, at least one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, to be appointed by the

President of the Senate; three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House of

Representatives, at least one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, to be appointed by

the Speaker of the House of Representatives; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the

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

the American Federation of Teachers Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the

Commissioner of the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, or

designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Office of Management and

Budget, or designee; one of whom shall be the Senior Advisor for Education to the Rhode Island

Governor, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island

Association of School Committees, 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 Association of School Business Officials, or designee; one of

whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Government Finance Officers Association, or

designee; and one of whom shall be the Director of the Division of Municipal Finance, or

designee.

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

Island's education funding formula and education finance system, including, but not limited to:

     (1) Studying the feasibility of implementing the recommendations contained in the Rhode

Island Foundation's Blue Ribbon Commission Report, Equalizing Opportunity: Creating a Fair

and Transparent Funding System for Rhode Island's Public Schools;

     (i) Evaluating the associated statutory recommendations and recommending measures

and weights not specified in the report; and

     (ii) Comparing the total costs of the proposed system to the current system, including

multiple total state share amounts as presented by the commission, using the most recent

complete year of finalized and validated Uniform Charter of Accounts (UCOA) revenue and

expenditure data;

     (2) Evaluating the adequacy, equity, predictability, and long-term fiscal sustainability of

Rhode Island's education funding formula, including the impact of declining enrollment, rising

educational costs, and differing levels of municipal fiscal capacity;

     (3) Developing recommendations for modifications to Rhode Island's education funding

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formula consistent with the educational and fiscal needs of the State and its municipalities; and

     (4) Proposing a transition plan not to exceed five (5) fiscal years, specifying annual

adjustments to state and municipal shares to achieve full implementation of the recommendations.

     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, shall meet not

later than October 31, 2026.

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

the Rhode Island Foundation, the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, Blue Ribbon

Commission members, community members, educators, and financial experts.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     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 commission may receive such funding and administrative support as may be

necessary to carry out the purposes of this resolution.

     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 an interim report of its findings and

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

President of the Senate no later than March 2, 2027; 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 no later than September 1, 2027, and said commission shall expire on

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

comprehensive study of Rhode Island's education funding formula and education finance system.

This commission would submit a final report of its findings no later than September 1, 2027, and

would expire on December 1, 2027.

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