R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7.1-15 (2026) – The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island student investment initiative

(a) Each locally or regionally operated school district shall receive as a base the same amount of school aid as each district received in fiscal year 1997-1998, adjusted to reflect the increases or decreases in aid enacted to meet the minimum and maximum funding levels established for FY 2000 through FY 2008. Each school district shall also receive school aid through each investment fund for which that district qualifies pursuant to §§ 16-7.1-8, 16-7.1-9, 16-7.1-10, 16-7.1-11, 16-7.1-12, 16-7.1-16 and 16-7.1-19. These sums shall be in addition to the base amount described in this section. For FY 2009 and FY 2010, the reference year for the data used in the calculation of aid pursuant to § 16-7.1-8, § 16-7.1-9, § 16-7.1-10, § 16-7.1-11, § 16-7.1-11.1, § 16-7.1-12, § 16-7.1-16, § 16-7.1-19 and 16-77.1-2(b) shall be FY 2004. Calculation and distribution of education aid under §§ 16-5-31, 16-5-32, 16-7-20, 16-7-20.5, 16-7-34.2, 16-7-34.3, 16-24-6, 16-54-4, and 16-67-4 is hereby suspended. Provided, however, calculation and distribution of education aid under § 16-7.1-10 is suspended for FY 2009 and FY 2010. School districts may continue to maintain professional development programs and may reduce other education programs to achieve savings during FY 2009 and FY 2010. The funding of the purposes and activities of chapter 67 of this title, the Rhode Island Literacy and Dropout Prevention Act of 1967, shall be the same amount of the base amount of each district funded for that purpose in fiscal year 1997-1998. In addition each district shall expend three percent (3%) of its student equity and early childhood funds under the provisions of chapter 67 of this title.
(b) Funding for full day kindergarten programs in accordance with § 16-7.1-11.1 shall be in addition to funding received under this section.
(c) Funding distributed under §§ 16-77.1-2(b) and 16-64-1.1 shall be in addition to funding distributed under this section.
(d) For FY 2009, aid to school districts shall be reduced by the equivalent savings that are realized due to a reduction of payments to the teachers’ retirement system. The reduction for the Chariho regional school district shall be prorated among the member communities. In addition, for FY 2009 aid to school districts shall be reduced by any amount of previously appropriated school housing aid determined to be ineligible for reimbursement in accordance with § 16-7-44.2. For FY 2009 aid shall also be reduced by the amount of projected revenue for the period December 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 from the permanent school fund. The projected revenue shall be determined by annualizing actual earnings from the period May 12, 2008 through November 30, 2008. The department of elementary and secondary education shall reduce aid in two equal installments, payable in May and June; provided however, that East Providence shall receive one payment of reduced aid in May.
For FY 2009, aid to school districts shall include thirty eight million, three hundred twenty-four thousand, eight hundred twenty-two dollars ($38,324,822) from federal fiscal stabilization funds offset by a like reduction from general revenues. The distribution shall be in the same proportion as general operating aid.
(e) Districts shall comply with the assurances and reporting requirements provided in the federal guidance for the (ARRA) allocation and by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

(f) There shall be an appropriation to ensure that total aid distributed to communities in FY 2010 under this section and §§ 16-7.1-11.1, 16-64-1.1 and 16-77.1-2(b) and excluding any FY 2009 Stabilization reappropriations shall be as follows:

			FY 2010
			Stimulus Fiscal
			Stabilization
General Revenues	Allocation
Barrington	1,629,678		170,513
Burrillville	12,220,612		948,730
Charlestown	1,590,767		134,864
Coventry	16,912,980		1,365,674
Cranston	29,622,695		2,410,080
Cumberland	11,066,294		900,586
East Greenwich	1,321,451		129,312
East Providence	23,047,872		1,833,360
Foster	1,208,609		96,527
Glocester	2,754,277		219,128
Hopkinton	5,323,835		425,441
Jamestown	356,229		35,124
Johnston	8,971,463		730,358
Lincoln	5,884,774		499,702
Little Compton	267,222		24,622
Middletown	8,937,990		715,319
Narragansett	1,314,267		125,872
Newport	10,104,222		808,465
New Shoreham	50,323		6,826
North Kingstown	9,922,498		813,392
North Providence	11,311,934		911,004
North Smithfield	4,055,880		328,814
Pawtucket	58,731,451		4,584,707
Portsmouth	5,571,674		454,416
Providence	168,378,347		13,241,031
Richmond	5,300,144		422,147
Scituate	2,712,604		229,942
Smithfield	4,635,136		388,414
South Kingstown	8,575,177		714,097
Tiverton	4,923,363		402,699
Warwick	31,261,607		2,554,650
Westerly	5,319,551		460,458
West Warwick	17,635,159		1,395,236
Woonsocket	41,636,569		3,244,945
Bristol-Warren	17,675,687		1,395,455
Exeter-West Greenwich 6,378,147.		515,945
Chariho	359,704		27,370
Foster-Glocester	4,878,574		390,339
Central Falls	40,233,714		3,021,611

In addition to the amounts listed above, the department of elementary and secondary education shall allocate monthly to each school district all funds received into the permanent school fund pursuant to § 42-61.2-7, as amended by chapter 13 of the 2008 Public Laws entitled “An Act Relating to State Affairs and Government”, up to $14.1 million, in the same proportion as the aid distribution in the FY 2009 enacted appropriations act.

This special provision shall not limit entitlements as determined by application of other formula provisions in this section.

(g) For FY 2009 payments to charter public schools shall be reduced by the equivalent savings that are realized due to a reduction of payments to the teachers’ retirement system. The reduction for district sponsored charter schools shall be incorporated in the sponsoring school district’s aid as noted in subsection (f). Aid to charter public schools shall be reduced in the April quarterly payment. For FY 2009, charter public school funding is as follows:
Beacon Charter School                                          1,512,785
Blackstone Academy                                          1,469,349
Compass                                          614,485
Paul Cuffee                                          4,449,006
CVS Highlander                                          2,596,782
International                                          2,863,818
Kingston Hill Academy                                          736,784
Learning Community                                          3,669,529
NE Laborer's                                          1,508,866
Textron                                          2,361,370
Times 2 Academy                                          6,870,410
(h)(1) For FY 2010, payments to charter public schools shall be reduced by the equivalent savings that are realized due to a reduction of payments to the teachers’ retirement system. The reduction for district sponsored charter schools shall be incorporated in the sponsoring schools district’s aid as noted in subsection (f). For FY 2010, payments to charter public schools shall be reduced by one million four hundred sixty-three thousand three hundred sixty-seven dollars ($1,463,367) based on the charter schools’ share of total FY 2009 enacted education aid, including school districts and state schools. For FY 2010, a distribution of stabilization funds per the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) totaling one million four hundred seventy-one thousand eighty-seven dollars ($1,471,087) shall be allocated to charter public schools proportionately based on their share of total FY 2009 enacted education aid, including school districts and state schools.
1. (2) For FY 2010, payments to charter public schools shall be further reduced by one million one hundred fifty-eight thousand one dollars ($1,158,001) based on the charter schools’ share of total FY 2010 originally enacted education aid. For FY 2010, an additional distribution of stabilization funds per the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) totaling one hundred ninety-seven thousand seven hundred fifty-two dollars ($197,752) shall be allocated to charter public schools proportionately based on their share of total FY 2010 originally enacted education aid.
2. (3) Public charter schools shall comply with the assurances and reporting requirements provided in the federal guidance for the (ARRA) allocation and by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.
(i) There shall be deducted from the final aid payment to each school district any amounts owed to the state at the end of the fiscal year for transportation of the district’s students under the statewide transportation system established pursuant to R.I.G.L. 16-21.1-7 and 16-21.1-8. Districts shall receive monthly invoices summarizing the basis of the transportation fees charged. Any such deductions in aid shall be transferred to the statewide student transportation services restricted receipt account.
(j) The provisions of R.I.G.L. 16-26-7.1 notwithstanding, districts shall be assessed tuition to cover the costs of educational services that are additional to the core deaf and hard of hearing education program that is provided to resident students at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf. This tuition shall be based on a graduated tuition schedule that is based on the varying needs of students. The department of elementary and secondary education shall develop and implement the schedule. Districts shall receive monthly invoices summarizing the basis for the tuition charged. There shall be deducted from the final aid payment to each school district at the end of the fiscal year any amounts owed to the state for these additional educational services.
(k) Children with disabilities. (1) Based on its review of special education within the context of Rhode Island school reform, the general assembly recommends addressing the needs of all children and preventing disability through scientific research based, as described in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Title 1, Part B, Section 1208 [20 U.S.C. § 6368], reading instruction and the development of Personal Literacy Programs for students in the early grades performing below grade level in reading and implement a system of student accountability that will enable the state to track individual students over time. Additionally, the department of elementary and secondary education must provide districts with rigorous criteria and procedures for identifying students with learning disabilities and speech/language impairments. Additional study is required of factors that influence programming for students with low incidence disabilities; those with disabilities that severely compromise life functions; and programming for students with disabilities through urban special education. Alternatives for funding special education require examination.
1. (2) All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish any advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to the general assembly and its agents that is deemed necessary or desirable by the study to facilitate the purposes of this section.
(l) For FY 2011, aid to school districts shall be reduced by the equivalent savings that are realized due to a reduction of payments to the teachers’ retirement system. The reduction for the Chariho regional school district shall be prorated among the member communities. For FY 2011, aid to school districts shall be further reduced by twenty million four hundred ninety thousand one hundred thirty-seven dollars ($20,490,137) from the FY 2010 originally enacted level based on the school district’s share of total FY 2010 originally enacted education aid, including aid to state schools and charter schools. For FY 2011, a distribution of federal stabilization funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), in the amount of seventeen million four hundred thirty-one thousand nine hundred four dollars ($17,431,904), shall be allocated to school districts proportionately based on their share of total FY 2010 originally enacted education aid, including aid to state schools and charter schools.

(m) There shall be an appropriation to ensure that total aid distributed to communities in FY 2011 under this section and §§ 16-7.1-11.1, 16-64-1.1 and 16-77.1-2(b), excluding any FY 2009 and FY 2010 Stabilization reappropriations, shall be as follows:

			FY 2011
			Stimulus Fiscal
	FY 2011	Stabilization
General Revenues	Allocation
Barrington	1,712,863		64,829
Burrillville	12,736,916		312,396
Charlestown	1,661,061		47,203
Coventry	17,646,066		460,504
Cranston	30,913,084		816,662
Cumberland	11,548,713		304,926
East Greenwich	1,280,422		47,289
East Providence	23,918,627		613,330
Foster	1,260,670		32,351
Glocester	2,872,692		73,308
Hopkinton	5,553,441		142,447
Jamestown	373,817		13,029
Johnston	9,362,199		247,456
Lincoln	6,147,563		173,114
Little Compton	279,764		8,806
Middletown	9,323,001		239,745
Narragansett	1,377,507		46,177
Newport	10,540,392		271,661
New Shoreham	53,292		2,789
North Kingstown	10,356,579		276,550
North Providence	11,800,998		306,546
North Smithfield	4,231,887		110,796
Pawtucket	61,226,793		1,516,531
Portsmouth	5,828,378		154,719
Providence	175,422,098		4,405,942
Richmond	5,528,422		140,975
Scituate	2,833,854		79,668
Smithfield	4,765,663		133,614
South Kingstown	8,953,748		244,944
Tiverton	5,138,483		136,740
Warwick	32,626,231		867,483
Westerly	5,560,097		161,207
West Warwick	18,390,194		465,058
Woonsocket	43,284,016		1,072,017
Bristol-Warren	18,431,734		464,709
Exeter-West Greenwich 6,534,833.		174,116
Chariho	374,768		8,899
Foster-Glocester	5,089,030		130,915
Central Falls	39,893,956		971,688

This special provision shall not limit entitlements as determined by application of other formula provisions in this section.

(n) For FY 2009 payments to charter public schools shall be reduced by the equivalent savings that are realized due to a reduction of payments to the teachers’ retirement system. The reduction for district sponsored charter schools shall be incorporated in the sponsoring school district’s aid as noted in subsection (g). Aid to charter public schools shall be reduced in the April quarterly payment. For FY 2009, charter public school funding is as follows:
Beacon Charter School                                          1,512,785
Blackstone Academy                                          1,469,349
Compass                                          614,485
Paul Cuffee                                          4,449,006
CVS Highlander                                          2,596,782
International                                          2,863,818
Kingston Hill Academy                                          736,784
Learning Community                                          3,669,529
NE Laborer's                                          1,508,866
Textron                                          2,361,370
Times 2 Academy                                          6,870,410
(o) For FY 2011, payments to charter public schools shall be reduced by the equivalent savings that are realized due to a reduction of payments to the teachers’ retirement system. The reduction for district sponsored charter schools shall be incorporated in the sponsoring schools district’s aid as noted in subsection (g). For FY 2011, payments to charter public schools shall be further reduced by one million seventy-six thousand nine hundred forty-one dollars ($1,076,941) from the FY 2010 originally enacted education aid based on the charter schools’ share of total FY 2010 enacted education aid, including aid to school districts and state schools. For FY 2011, a distribution of federal stabilization funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), in the amount of one million forty-eight thousand six hundred dollars ($1,048,600), shall be allocated to charter public schools proportionately based on their share of total FY 2010 originally enacted education aid, including aid to school districts and state schools.

History of Section.
P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 31, § 3; P.L. 1999, ch. 31, art. 23, § 3; P.L. 2000, ch. 55, art. 20, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 77, art. 22, § 2; P.L. 2002, ch. 65, art. 18, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 376, art. 9, § 7; P.L. 2004, ch. 595, art. 23, § 2; P.L. 2005, ch. 117, art. 13, § 6; P.L. 2006, ch. 246, art. 19, § 2; P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 21, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 38, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 151, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 182, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 5, art. 13, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 68, art. 3, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 23, art. 13, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 151, art. 5, § 1.