Creating a Special Joint Legislative Commission to Study Rhode Island's Education Funding Formula and Education Finance System

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 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. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF JOINTRESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY RHODE ISLAND'S EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA AND EDUCATION FINANCE SYSTEM *** 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. ======== LC006182/SUB A ========