JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY RHODE ISLAND S EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA AND EDUCATION FINANCE SYSTEM, the official text

S3368 2026 -- S 3368 ======== LC006588 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ 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: Senators Gallo, and DiPalma Date Introduced: June 07, 2026 Referred To: Senate Finance 1 WHEREAS, Rhode Island s public education system is essential to the economic vitality, 2 civic health, and long-term prosperity of the state; 3 WHEREAS, Since the adoption of Rhode Island s current education funding formula in 4 2010, school districts and municipalities have experienced significant changes in enrollment 5 patterns and student needs; 6 WHEREAS, Inflation, rising operational costs, and increasing expenditures related to 7 transportation, multilingual learner services, special education, pension obligations, and other 8 educational needs have placed significant fiscal pressures on school districts and municipalities 9 across Rhode Island; 10 WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Foundation convened a Blue Ribbon Commission on 11 Education Funding, composed of educators, municipal leaders, policymakers, advocates, 12 researchers, and community stakeholders, to evaluate Rhode Island s education funding system 13 and develop recommendations for modernization; 14 WHEREAS, The Commission recommended a student-centered system with an expanded 15 definition of educational costs within the funding formula, revised student weighting 16 mechanisms, increased state participation in certain education expenses, a required and defined 17 local share of costs, and expanded accountability and transparency measures; and 18 WHEREAS, Modernization of the education funding formula must be pursued in a 19 manner that is equitable, fiscally responsible, and sustainable for both the State and local 1 communities; now, therefore be it 2 RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created 3 consisting of fifteen (15) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island 4 Senate, at least one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, to be appointed by the 5 President of the Senate; three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House of 6 Representatives, at least one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, to be appointed by 7 the Speaker of the House of Representatives; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the 8 National Education Association Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of 9 the American Federation of Teachers Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the 10 Commissioner of the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, or 11 designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Office of Management and 12 Budget, or designee; one of whom shall be the Senior Advisor for Education to the Rhode Island 13 Governor, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island 14 Association of School Committees, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of 15 the Rhode Island School Superintendents Association, or designee; one of whom shall be the 16 President of the Rhode Island Association of School Business Officials, or designee; and one of 17 whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Government Finance Officers Association, or 18 designee. 19 The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of Rhode 20 Island s education funding formula and education finance system, including, but not limited to: 21 (1) Studying the feasibility of implementing the recommendations contained in the Rhode 22 Island Foundation s Blue Ribbon Commission Report, Equalizing Opportunity: Creating a Fair 23 and Transparent Funding System for Rhode Island s Public Schools; 24 (i) Evaluating the associated statutory recommendations and recommending measures 25 and weights not specified in the report; and 26 (ii) Comparing the total costs of the proposed system to the current system, including 27 multiple total state share amounts as presented by the commission, using the most recent 28 complete year of finalized and validated Uniform Charter of Accounts (UCOA) revenue and 29 expenditure data; 30 (2) Evaluating the adequacy, equity, predictability, and long-term fiscal sustainability of 31 Rhode Island s education funding formula, including the impact of declining enrollment, rising 32 educational costs, and differing levels of municipal fiscal capacity; 33 (3) Developing recommendations for modifications to Rhode Island s education funding 34 formula consistent with the educational and fiscal needs of the State and its municipalities; and LC006588 - Page 2 of 4 1 (4) Proposing a transition plan not to exceed five (5) fiscal years, specifying annual 2 adjustments to state and municipal shares to achieve full implementation of the recommendations. 3 Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the Speaker of the House and the President of 4 the Senate shall designate the chair of the commission, and at the call of the chair, shall meet not 5 later than October 31, 2026. 6 The Commission shall meet regularly and may solicit input from stakeholders, including 7 community members, educators, and financial experts. 8 All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, 9 documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or 10 desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. 11 Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. 12 The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. 13 The commission may receive such funding and administrative support as may be 14 necessary to carry out the purposes of this resolution. 15 The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide 16 suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further 17 RESOLVED, That the commission shall submit an interim report of its findings and 18 recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the 19 President of the Senate no later than March 2, 2027; and be it further 20 RESOLVED, That the commission shall submit a final report of its findings and 21 recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the 22 President of the Senate no later than September 1, 2027, and said commission shall expire on 23 December 1, 2027. ======== LC006588 ======== LC006588 - Page 3 of 4 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 *** 1 This Joint Resolution would create a special joint legislative commission to make a 2 comprehensive study of Rhode Island s education funding formula and education finance system. 3 This commission would submit a final report of its findings no later than September 1, 2027, and 4 would expire on December 1, 2027. ======== LC006588 ======== LC006588 - Page 4 of 4