2026 -- H 8428

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LC003798

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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 -- ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Cortvriend, and McNamara

     Date Introduced: April 10, 2026

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-3-3.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-3 entitled "Establishment

of Regional School Districts [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education

Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-3-3.1. Creation of regional school district planning board.

     (a) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall order the creation of a

regional school district planning board for the purpose of conducting a study of the feasibility of

regionalization, shared services, or other cooperative ventures if any of the following conditions

are found to exist:

     (1) High school enrollments are below or are projected to be less than one hundred (100)

one hundred fifty (150) per grade;

     (2) Per pupil spending is sixty-six percent (66%) or less of the statewide average for three

(3) consecutive years;

     (3) The appropriating authority finds that the community does not have the fiscal and

economic capacity to provide educational programs consistent with law and regulations, based on

factors included but not limited to per pupil assessed valuation, and personal income;

     (4) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education determines that a school

district does not have the capacity to comply with the Basic Education Program (BEP).

     (b) In ordering the creation of a regional school district planning board the commissioner

shall determine which cities or towns will be required to participate.

     (c) In mandating a regionalization study, the commissioner should make certain that the

study address the following questions:

     (1) Will regionalization and shared services allow the cities or towns to offer a complete K

through 12 educational program (in particular, if the town or city currently “tuitions out” some of

its students)?

     (2) Will regionalization and shared services allow the school system to offer a more

comprehensive and/or diversified program for high school students (i.e., advanced language,

mathematics, etc., specialized and/or remedial courses)?

     (3) Will regionalization and shared services, by its size alone, allow savings through

“economies of scale”?

     (4) What effect will regionalization and shared services have on transportation costs for the

school district and transportation times for students?

     (5) What effect will regionalization and shared services have on class size and will that be

beneficial or detrimental to the students’ classroom performance, socialization skills, and/or

participation in school activities?

     (6) How will “spending per pupil” change with regionalization and shared services?

     (7) Are there weaknesses in the curriculum or programs within a district that can be

remedied by regionalization and shared services with a district with compensating strengths?

     (8) What effect will existing labor contracts and bargaining agreements have on

regionalization and shared services efforts?

     (9) What new or diverse facility requirements will be needed if regionalization and shared

services occurs and what are the costs of these facilities?

     (10) What effect will regionalization and shared services have on disadvantaged and

special populations within the districts?

     (11) Will extracurricular activities and/or the student support services (guidance, library,

etc.) be enhanced by regionalization and shared services?

     (12) Will regionalization and shared services permit sufficient “local control” for all

districts involved to assure parents that they have some influence on the education of their children?

     (13) Will regionalization and shared services take into effect the unique socio-economic

and cultural heritage of the participating cities and/or towns?

     (14) Will regionalization and shared services have any effect on the vocational education

program?

     (15) Do comparative studies of regionalization and shared services in similar areas show

improved school quality? and

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     (16) Do the regionalization and shared services plans take into effect projected

demographic trends?

     (d) The regional school district planning board shall report its findings within eighteen (18)

months of its creation.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 16-3 of the General Laws entitled "Establishment of Regional School

Districts [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-3-3.2. Creation of autonomous school district.

     A district may opt to become an autonomous school district, free from identified

regulations in a manner similarly described in §16-77.2-2. Such a district would not receive state

aid to education.

     SECTION 3. 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 -- ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS

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     This act would include shared services as one of the considerations in determining whether

to authorize the creation of a regional school district and would provide for the creation of an

autonomous school district.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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