Creating a Special Joint Legislative Commission to Study Rhode Island's Method of Funding Charter Schools

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. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF JOINTRESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY RHODE ISLAND'S METHOD OF FUNDING CHARTER SCHOOLS *** 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.