reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-27. - School tax rate to be identified.

§ 16-7-27. School tax rate to be identified.
The taxing authority in every city and town of the state shall record upon the individual tax notices the tax rate which is apportioned for school purposes separate from the tax rate which is apportioned for municipal purposes and the total of these two (2) tax rates.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 27, § 10.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-28. - Separate revenue and expenditure records kept by school communities.

§ 16-7-28. Separate revenue and expenditure records kept by school communities.
The communities shall provide for the keeping of separate revenue and expenditure records for all school purposes including capital expenditures on any forms and in any manner that the commissioner of elementary and secondary education may prescribe.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 27, § 10.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-29. - Minimum salary schedule.

§ 16-7-29. Minimum salary schedule.
(a)
Every municipality and regional school district shall establish and put into full effect by appropriate action of its school committee in a municipality or regional school district where the school committee is elected, or by appropriate action of the chief executive officer, in a municipality where the school committee is appointed, a salary schedule recognizing years of service, experience, and training for all certified personnel regularly employed in the public schools and having no more than twelve (12) annual steps. The term “school year” as applied to the salary schedule means the ten (10) calendar months beginning in September and ending the following June.
(b)
Nothing in this section shall prohibit a freeze or reduction of the monetary value of the steps in the salary schedule through the collective bargaining process.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 27, § 10; P.L. 1988, ch. 84, § 74; P.L. 1992, ch. 173, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 189, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 246, art. 19, § 5; P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 21, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 265, § 4.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-30. - School attendance when high school not maintained by community.

§ 16-7-30. School attendance when high school not maintained by community.
A community not maintaining a high school shall make provision for the free attendance of its children at some high school or academy approved by the state board of regents for elementary and secondary education.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 27, § 12.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-31. - Failure of community to furnish funds — Withholding of state funds.

§ 16-7-31. Failure of community to furnish funds — Withholding of state funds.
If any community shall fail to maintain local appropriation or fail to appropriate or otherwise make available to the school committee the minimum sums provided in this chapter, including specifically but without limitation the minimum salary schedule as established in § 16-7-29, and the funds and funding levels required for voluntary participation as an EPSDT provider pursuant to § 40-8-18, all state education as provided in Title 16, and the minimum budget provision as established in § 16-7-23, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education may notify the general treasurer of the amount of any deficiency. The general treasurer, on being so informed in writing of the amount of the deficiency by the commissioner, shall withhold state funds otherwise due during the subsequent state fiscal year to the community for its general uses and purposes in an amount equal to the deficiency.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 27, § 11; P.L. 1983, ch. 200, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 289, § 2; P.L. 1992, ch. 399, § 2; P.L. 1994, ch. 70, art. 15, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-32. - Annual review of expenditures.

§ 16-7-32. Annual review of expenditures.
The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall annually review actual expenditures in each school year and in case any community fails to adequately support the programs shared by the state, as provided in §§ 16-7-15 to 16-7-34, the commissioner shall inquire into the cause or causes of this failure of the community to adequately support the programs shared by the state.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 27, § 11.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-33. - Evaluation of operations — Recommendations.

§ 16-7-33. Evaluation of operations — Recommendations.
The commissioner of elementary and secondary education is directed to evaluate the operation of this chapter, and at least once every three (3) years the state board of regents for elementary and secondary education shall review the findings of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and shall make its recommendations in writing to the governor and to the general assembly.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 27, § 11.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-34. - Appropriation of funds.

§ 16-7-34. Appropriation of funds.
The general assembly shall annually appropriate a sum that it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of §§ 16-5-31 and 16-7-15 to 16-7-34; and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of this sum, or so much of that sum as may be required from time to time, upon receipt by the controller of properly authenticated vouchers.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 27, § 13.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-34.1. - Repealed.

§ 16-7-34.1. Repealed.
History of Section.
P.L. 1967, ch. 160, § 4; P.L. 1968, ch. 170, § 4; P.L. 1988, ch. 84, § 44; Repealed by P.L. 1992, ch. 133, art. 11, § 1, effective July 1, 1992.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-34.2. - Appropriation of funds for education of children with disabilities.

§ 16-7-34.2. Appropriation of funds for education of children with disabilities.
The general assembly shall appropriate to the board of regents for elementary and secondary education the sums that it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this section for distribution to local and regional school districts on the basis of the ratio which the children with disabilities in that district bear to the state total of children with disabilities; provided however, that no school district receives less than twelve thousand five hundred dollars ($12,500) for the purpose of financially assisting school programs for the child with a disability currently in operation and those programs initiated by the district in the future, and as approved by the department of elementary and secondary education; and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the sum, or so much of that sum as may be from time to time required, upon receipt by the controller of properly authenticated vouchers approved by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. The department shall have the power to require that the programs shall be administered and supervised by the local districts in a manner that the department deems most feasible educationally and most sound economically.
History of Section.
P.L. 1967, ch. 160, § 5; P.L. 1968, ch. 170, § 5; P.L. 1976, ch. 130, § 9; P.L. 1988, ch. 84, § 44; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 24; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 24.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-35. - Foundation program for school housing — Declaration of policy.

§ 16-7-35. Foundation program for school housing — Declaration of policy.
Sections 16-7-35 to 16-7-47 are designed to:
(1)
Guarantee adequate school housing for all public school children in the state, and
(2)
Prevent the cost of school housing from interfering with the effective operation of the schools.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 26, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-37. - Reports from communities.

§ 16-7-37. Reports from communities.
The superintendent of schools in each community shall certify to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education by the dates designated in accordance with the regulations of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education any information that may be needed for the operation of §§ 16-7-35 to 16-7-47, in any form and upon any blanks that the commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall require.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 26, § 3; P.L. 1981, ch. 252, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-38. - Time for payments to communities.

§ 16-7-38. Time for payments to communities.
There shall be paid on September 15 and March 15 of each year one-half (½) of the amount to which each community is entitled in terms of the computation in § 16-7-41.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 26, § 4; P.L. 2012, ch. 241, art. 12, § 5.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-42. - Other aid for school housing projects — Effect.

§ 16-7-42. Other aid for school housing projects — Effect.
In the computations of §§ 16-7-35 — 16-7-47, only that portion of the cost of school housing projects for which no aid has been received from the federal government under the provision of any present or subsequent federal legislation shall be used. In the computations of §§ 16-7-35 — 16-7-47, the cost of a school housing project shall be reduced by the amount of federal aid and other private and public funding that is applied to the project.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 26, § 8; P.L. 2003, ch. 376, art. 9, § 3.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-43. - Repealed.

§ 16-7-43. Repealed.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 26, § 9; Repealed by P.L. 2003, ch. 376, art. 9, § 4, effective July 1, 2003.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-44.1. - Program restrictions.

§ 16-7-44.1. Program restrictions.
Housing aid shall not be provided for the purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment except in the case of a project to construct a new school or new school addition that is also supported by a general obligation or lease revenue bond. Housing aid shall not be provided for projects supported by capital lease agreements that: (1) are not lease purchase agreements; (2) do not demonstrate a direct benefit to the school nor are located on school property; and (3) do not exclude all non-capital costs such as maintenance costs prior to the request for reimbursement.
History of Section.
P.L. 2003, ch. 376, art. 9, § 6.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-44.2. - Repayment of school housing aid.

§ 16-7-44.2. Repayment of school housing aid.
(a)
If an audit or subsequent review by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education determines that a community was overpaid school housing aid, the community shall repay the determined amount over a number of years that is calculated by dividing the total amount of the overpayment by the total amount of revenues reported by the school district for the most recently completed fiscal year.
(b)
If the percentage derived from section (a) above is one-half percent (0.5%) or less, the community shall repay the entire amount of the overpayment in the same fiscal year in which the overpayment is determined.
(c)
If the percentage derived from section (a) above is greater than one-half percent (0.5%), the community shall repay the amount of the overpayment over a number of years that equals the percentage derived from section (a) divided by one-half percent (0.5%).
(d)
Repayments of more than one year shall be made in equal installments over the term derived from section (c) above. The department of elementary and secondary education will submit an invoice to the community on July 1st.
(e)
If the department of elementary and secondary education has not received the required amount by June 30 of the applicable fiscal year, education aid for the community calculated pursuant to § 16-7.1-15 shall be reduced by the amount due.
(f)
If the entire overpayment is not received in full in the first year, interest will be applied annually at a rate equal to the consumer price index.
History of Section.
P.L. 2009, ch. 5, art. 13, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-45. - Annual appropriations.

§ 16-7-45. Annual appropriations.
The general assembly shall annually appropriate those sums that it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of §§ 16-7-35 to 16-7-47, and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the sum, or so much of it as may be required from time to time, upon the receipt by the controller of properly authenticated vouchers. In the event that the full amount of housing aid has not been appropriated in a particular fiscal year, school housing aid will not be ratably reduced. In such cases, aid computed for school housing costs for debt service which has been paid by the local community prior to project completion will be deferred. Such aid will be paid within three (3) equal installments beginning the fiscal year after project completion. This deferral provision shall only be applicable if the computed aid for debt service paid by the local community prior to project completion exceeds five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 26, § 11; P.L. 2010, ch. 23, art. 13, § 3.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-46. - Repealed.

§ 16-7-46. Repealed.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 26, § 13; Repealed by P.L. 1987, ch. 288, § 1, effective June 30, 1987. For present provision of law, see § 16-7-33.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-47. - Addition to existing aid.

§ 16-7-47. Addition to existing aid.
The provisions of §§ 16-7-35 to 16-7-47 shall be in addition to any and all state aid for education as provided in any other general or special law.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 26, § 14.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7-48, 16-7-49. - Repealed.

§ 16-7-48, 16-7-49. Repealed.
History of Section.
P.L. 1993, ch. 138, art. 77, § 5; Repealed by P.L. 1994, ch. 70, art. 15, § 2, effective July 1, 1994.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-1. - Legislative findings.

§ 16-7.1-1. Legislative findings.
(a) Legislative intent.
(1) The intent of this legislation is to enact a comprehensive state education aid funding program which addresses four (4) fundamental principles:
(i)
Closing the inequitable resource gaps among school districts and schools;
(ii)
Closing inequitable gaps in performance and achievement among different groups of students, especially those correlated with poverty, gender, and language background;
(iii)
Targeting investments to improve student and school performance; and
(iv)
Establishing a predictable method of distributing state education aid in a manner that addresses the over-reliance on the property tax to finance education.
(2)
This legislation is further designed to accelerate the implementation of the State Comprehensive Education Strategy. The strategy is an action plan for ensuring that all children achieve at high levels and become lifelong learners, productive workers, and responsible citizens. The standard for expected student achievement is currently being set at a high level both by the board of regents and in Rhode Island’s districts and schools. High standards must be supported and these expectations must now be reached by all our students. All the state’s children must enjoy the success that comes with proficiency in skill and knowledge.
(b) Evaluation of success.
Improved student and school performance is the key measure of the success of Rhode Island’s schools. This success cannot occur without investment based on the four (4) fundamental principles as stated in subsection (a) of this section. The success of these investments shall be evaluated based on: accountability for student and school performance; accountability in terms of whether the state’s investment is sufficiently adequate and equitable to support improvement in performance; and on accountability for district and school expenditures.
History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 31, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 31, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-3. - Accountability for district and school expenditures.

§ 16-7.1-3. Accountability for district and school expenditures.
All school districts shall implement a uniform program to track educational expenditures and investments. All school districts shall prepare annual reports of its programs which shall be submitted to the department of elementary and secondary education by July 31 of each year. The business office in each school district shall annually declare that the facts and figures presented in the district expenditure report are accurate to the best of their knowledge. In the event that a report is not submitted within thirty days of July 31, state educational aid to the school district may be withheld. In addition, each school committee shall annually ratify the district expenditure report and transmit the report to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education no later than September 30 of each year. Furthermore, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education in conjunction with the Rhode Island Association of School Business Officials shall determine the feasibility of and implement when appropriate a standard chart of accounts for all school districts. If implemented, the municipalities shall integrate use of this chart of accounts with municipal accounts as appropriate.
History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 31, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 31, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 117, art. 13, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-4. - Annual report by Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education.

§ 16-7.1-4. Annual report by Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education.
On or before March 31 of each year, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall annually publish a report detailing school district and individual school performance consistent with § 16-60-4(22). This report shall also set annual performance benchmarks. Also, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall report to the house of representatives and the senate, sitting as the grand committee, no later than March 31 of each year, the status of district and school performance, status of the level of the state’s investment in education, and the status of district and school expenditures.
History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 31, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 7, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-5. - Intervention and support for failing schools.

§ 16-7.1-5. Intervention and support for failing schools.
(a)
The board of regents shall adopt a series of progressive support and intervention strategies consistent with the Comprehensive Education Strategy and the principles of the “School Accountability for Learning and Teaching” (SALT) of the board of regents for those schools and school districts that continue to fall short of performance goals outlined in the district strategic plans. These strategies shall initially focus on: (1) technical assistance in improvement planning, curriculum alignment, student assessment, instruction, and family and community involvement; (2) policy support; (3) resource oversight to assess and recommend that each school has adequate resources necessary to meet performance goal; and (4) creating supportive partnerships with education institutions, business, governmental, or other appropriate nonprofit agencies. If after a three (3) year period of support there has not been improvement in the education of students as determined by objective criteria to be developed by the board of regents, then there shall be progressive levels of control by the department of elementary and secondary education over the school and/or district budget, program, and/or personnel. This control by the department of elementary and secondary education may be exercised in collaboration with the school district and the municipality. If further needed, the school shall be reconstituted. Reconstitution responsibility is delegated to the board of regents and may range from restructuring the school’s governance, budget, program, personnel, and/or may include decisions regarding the continued operation of the school. The board of regents shall assess the district’s capacity and may recommend the provision of additional district, municipal and/or state resources. If a school or school district is under the board of regents’ control as a result of actions taken by the board pursuant to this section, the local school committee shall be responsible for funding that school or school district at the same level as in the prior academic year increased by the same percentage as the state total of school aid is increased.
(b)
For FY 2007, the department shall dedicate one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) from funds appropriated to support progressive support and intervention and SALT visits to support the Rhode Island Consortium for Instructional Leadership and Training. This consortium is engaged in training school leaders to be more effective instructional leaders in the standards based instruction environment.
History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 31, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 31, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 65, art. 18, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 376, art. 9, § 7; P.L. 2004, ch. 595, art. 23, § 5; P.L. 2005, ch. 117, art. 13, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 246, art. 19, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-5.2. - State intervention in the Providence public school district — Additional requirements.

§ 16-7.1-5.2. State intervention in the Providence public school district — Additional requirements.
For the duration of the effective period of the order of reconstitution and control, any collective bargaining agreement entered into on behalf of the Providence public school district shall not take effect until ratified by the council on elementary and secondary education at a public hearing held no earlier than seven (7) days after the terms of a tentative agreement ratified by the union are made public.
History of Section.
P.L. 2023, ch. 185, § 1, effective June 22, 2023; P.L. 2023, ch. 186, § 1, effective June 22, 2023.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-7. - Repealed.

§ 16-7.1-7. Repealed.
History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 31, § 1; Repealed by P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 31, § 2, effective July 1, 1998.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-8. - Student equity investment fund.

§ 16-7.1-8. Student equity investment fund.
The general assembly recognizes the need to improve fourth grade performances in mathematics, reading, and writing. Therefore, the general assembly establishes the Student Equity Investment Fund to target students identified as those requiring additional educational services. The general assembly shall annually appropriate some sum and distribute it based on each district’s proportion of resident children eligible for USDA reimbursable school meals relative to the total number of eligible students statewide. For the purposes of this section, the date as of eligibility for USDA reimbursable meals shall be determined by the June report of the reference year as defined in § 16-7-16. These resources shall be used to close student performance gaps in accordance with the district’s strategic plan pursuant to § 16-7.1-2. Beginning in FY 2003, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education may require a district to use up to five percent (5%) of the funds allocated by this section to increase student and school performance. The five percent (5%) set aside funds shall only be spent with the prior approval of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.
History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 31, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 65, art. 18, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 373, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 374, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 376, art. 9, § 7.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-9. - Student language assistance investment fund.

§ 16-7.1-9. Student language assistance investment fund.
The general assembly recognizes the strength Rhode Island’s growing cultural diversity brings to the overall economic and social health of the state. Therefore, the general assembly establishes the Student Language Assistance Investment Fund to target state resources to assist students who require additional language educational services. The general assembly shall annually appropriate some sum and distribute it based on each district’s proportion of limited English proficiency students statewide in the reference year as defined in § 16-7-16. These resources shall be used to close student performance gaps in accordance with the district’s strategic plan pursuant to § 16-7.1-2.
History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 31, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 117, art. 13, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-11.1. - Full day kindergarten investment fund.

§ 16-7.1-11.1. Full day kindergarten investment fund.
(a)
Beginning in fiscal year 2001, the general assembly shall appropriate and distribute to each locally or regionally operated district a sum equal to the number of full-time kindergarten students reported as a member of each district as of the reference year as defined in § 16-7-16(11) times a per pupil amount, which shall be:
(1)
Fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) for those districts with a tax effort index of below 0.6 as calculated pursuant to § 16-7.1-6;
(2)
One thousand dollars ($1,000) for those districts with a tax effort index of below 1.0 as calculated pursuant to § 16-7.1-6; and
(3)
Five hundred dollars ($500) for all other districts.
(b)
Funding under this section shall be in addition to any and all other aid received by the district, including aid received under this chapter, chapter 77.1 of this title, and any minimum increase of aid provided for under § 16-7.1-15.
(c)
For fiscal year 2007, aid received pursuant to this section shall be equal to aid received in the fiscal year 2006 enacted budget by the 2005 general assembly.
History of Section.
P.L. 2000, ch. 55, art. 20, § 2; P.L. 2001, ch. 77, art. 22, § 2; P.L. 2005, ch. 117, art. 13, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 246, art. 19, § 7.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-12. - Student technology investment fund.

§ 16-7.1-12. Student technology investment fund.
The general assembly establishes the Student Technology Investment Fund to provide schools and teaching staff with up-to-date educational technology and training to help students meet the demands of the 21st century. Rhode Island’s Comprehensive Education Strategy calls for providing support to all schools for educational technology. The funds may be used for: curriculum development to improve teaching and learning, in-service professional development to support the effective use of technology in schools; and infrastructure requirements such as equipment, technology related instructional materials, software and networking of systems. These resources shall be used to close student performance gaps in accordance with the district’s strategic plan pursuant to § 16-7.1-2 and be consistent with the technology plan of the Rhode Island Comprehensive Strategy. The general assembly shall annually appropriate some sum and distribute it based on each district’s proportion of their average daily membership in the reference year as defined in § 16-7-16. For purposes of this section, average daily membership shall be defined in § 16-7-22. School districts may use funds received under this category of education aid to replace up to, but no more than, thirty five percent (35%) of the amount the school district spent for technology related expenditures in the previous fiscal year. District plans for the use of technology shall be reviewed by the legislative technology task force.
History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 31, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 31, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-13. - Repealed.

§ 16-7.1-13. Repealed.
History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 31, § 1; Repealed by P.L. 2014, ch. 336, § 2, effective July 3, 2014; P.L. 2014, ch. 337, § 2, effective July 3, 2014.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-14. - Joint commission.

§ 16-7.1-14. Joint commission.
The special joint commission established in § 16-79-2 supports the funding program established in § 16-7.1-15 and shall continue to assess its effectiveness as a comprehensive state education aid funding program. The commission will examine the needs of pre-kindergarten aged children and adult education programs. The commission will also examine compensation and benefit programs of persons employed in public education.
History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 31, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 31, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-16. - Targeted school aid.

§ 16-7.1-16. Targeted school aid.
(a)
In addition to those funds described in § 16-7.1-15, each district with a tax effort index below 1.0 as calculated pursuant to § 16-7.1-6 and with a free and reduced lunch count in grades K-3 greater than forty percent (40%) shall receive targeted school aid. Districts shall be eligible for aid based on the proportion that their average daily membership bears to the total average daily membership of districts eligible for aid under this section. The local school district shall determine the amount it proposes to spend on the program priorities referred to in this section and the programs and proposed expenditures shall be a part of the district’s strategic plan and/or annual updates required under § 16-7.1-2.
(b)
The commissioner may require a school district to reserve up to five percent (5%) of its targeted aid for intervention remedies. These five percent (5%) set-aside funds shall only be spent with the prior approval of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. If however by March 1, the amount reserved is not expended or expected to be spent in the academic year, then the district may expend the funds in accordance with the priorities of this section and with the approval of the commissioner. In addition, there shall be an appropriation for comprehensive on-site school reviews and other accountability measures that the commission deems appropriate in accordance with policies and procedures to be determined by the commissioner and to carry out the purposes of § 16-7.1-2. The commissioner may give priority to districts receiving targeted funds for the use of this appropriation.
(c)
Districts may use targeted funds in new or expanded programs for:
(1)
Early childhood education;
(2)
Helping schools to improve instruction to meet high standards;
(3)
Reducing class size at the elementary level;
(4)
After school programming for middle schools, junior, and senior high schools in accordance with § 16-7.1-17;
(5)
Establishing and implementing innovative organizations and methods of instruction at the middle, junior high, and/or high school levels;
(6)
Child opportunity zones;
(7)
Teacher mentoring;
(8)
Curriculum revision to meet new standards;
(9)
School and district intervention; or
(10)
Other programs which the commissioner believes will result in increased student performance.
History of Section.
P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 31, § 3; P.L. 2002, ch. 65, art. 18, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-17. - Urban after-school programs.

§ 16-7.1-17. Urban after-school programs.
(a)
There is hereby established an after-school program for middle schools and junior and senior high schools to be administered by the department of elementary and secondary education.
(b)
Each district receiving targeted funds under this section must use a portion of these funds to establish programs as defined in this section at the middle or junior high school level and may establish a program at the senior high school level. Each program shall be located in or near middle schools or junior or senior high schools in school districts identified as “at risk” by the legislature in accordance with § 16-7.1-16 and which have an equity index below one. The purpose of the programs is to provide students an opportunity to engage in a gainful activity, such as an athletic, cultural, arts, academic, community service, remediation, and/or career exploration activity after-school or during the time the schools are not in session. Districts may contract for services with programs that meet board of regents standards. The commissioner may require that districts that receive targeted funds establish these programs either district-wide or at an individual school within the district. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the commissioner from interpreting middle or junior high school to mean middle or junior high school age.
(c)
The department of elementary and secondary education is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for the administration and monitoring of the programs for providing any assistance to plan and design the programs, and for annually performing an evaluation of the overall quality of the after-school programs. Qualifying school districts will be required to submit a plan and other reports as may be requested relating to the use of the after-school program funds to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.
History of Section.
P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 31, § 3; P.L. 1998, ch. 383, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-18. - Investment funds — Funding.

§ 16-7.1-18. Investment funds — Funding.
Funding of the investment funds enumerated in § 16-7.1-6, 16-7.1-8, 16-7.1-9, 16-7.1-10, 16-7.1-11, and 16-7.1-12 shall be by funds set aside from the state operations aid to be provided to school districts in the same manner as funds set aside and provided to school districts pursuant to chapter 67 of this title for literacy programs. The amount to be set aside will be that amount designated for each investment fund in the state budget as enacted. The funds thus set aside and provided to school districts shall be used for the purposes required by the terms of §§ 16-7.1-6, 16-7.1-8, and 16-7.1-9. The fund thus set aside and provided to school districts shall be restricted to be used for the purposes required by the terms of §§ 16-7.1-10, 16-7.1-11, and 16-7.1-12. The full set aside amount will be available for use by the school district. Use of this set aside amount must be based on the strategic plan required to be submitted by local school districts to the department of elementary and secondary education by chapter 7.1 of this title.
History of Section.
P.L. 1999, ch. 31, art. 23, § 5; P.L. 1999, ch. 159, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 370, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 77, art. 22, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] › Section 16-7.1-19. - Vocational technical equity fund.

§ 16-7.1-19. Vocational technical equity fund.
(a)
The general assembly recognizes the need to support the academic instruction component of vocational education for students enrolled in career and technical education programs. To accomplish this, the general assembly shall appropriate some sum per student for each student who attends a locally operated career and technical center based on the enrollments reported to the department of elementary and secondary education for the reference year as defined in § 16-7-16. The sum shall be five hundred dollars ($500) per student. Funding under this section will be limited to those students enrolled in programs that are part of the career and technical education system as approved by the department of elementary and secondary education.
(b)
For fiscal year 2007, aid received pursuant to this section shall be equal to aid received in the fiscal year 2006 enacted by the 2005 general assembly.
History of Section.
P.L. 2000, ch. 55, art. 20, § 2; P.L. 2001, ch. 77, art. 22, § 2; P.L. 2002, ch. 65, art. 18, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 376, art. 9, § 8; P.L. 2006, ch. 246, art. 19, § 9.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.2 - The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act › Section 16-7.2-1. - Legislative findings.

§ 16-7.2-1. Legislative findings.
(a)
The general assembly recognizes the need for an equitable distribution of resources among the state’s school districts, property tax relief and a predicable method of distributing education aid. The general assembly finds that there is a need to reform the way public education is financed because:
(1)
All children should have access to an adequate and meaningful education regardless of their residence or economic means;
(2)
A school funding system should treat property taxpayers equably, limit the portion of school budgets financed by property taxes, and establish sufficient cost controls on school spending;
(3)
The state should ensure that its school funding structure adequately reflects the different needs of students, and closes the educational inequities among the state’s school districts; and
(4)
The state education funding system should provide a predicable amount and source of funding to ensure stability in the funding of schools.
(b)
The intent of this chapter is to promote a school finance system in Rhode Island that is predicated on student need and taxpayer ability to pay. A new school funding system in the state should promote educational equity for all students and reduce the reliance on the property tax to fund public education. This legislation is intended to ensure educational opportunity to each pupil in each city or town on substantially equal terms. Adequate per pupil support will be provided through a combination of state school aid and local education property tax levies.
History of Section.
P.L. 2004, ch. 393, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 491, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.2 - The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act › Section 16-7.2-4. - Determination of state’s share.

§ 16-7.2-4. Determination of state’s share.
(a)
For each district, the state’s share of the foundation education aid calculated pursuant to § 16-7.2-3(a) shall use a calculation that considers a district’s revenue-generating capacity and concentration of high-need students. The calculation is the square root of the sum of the state share ratio for the community calculation, pursuant to § 16-7-20, squared plus the district’s percentage of students in grades PK-6 in poverty status squared, divided by two.
If this calculation results in a state share ratio that is less than the state share ratio for the community calculated pursuant to § 16-7-20(a) and that district’s poverty status percentage as defined in § 16-7.2-3(a)(2) is greater than fifty percent (50%), the state share ratio shall be equal to the state share ratio for the community calculated pursuant to § 16-7-20(a).
(b)
For purposes of determining the state’s share, school district student data used in this calculation shall include charter school and state school students. These ratios are used in the permanent foundation education aid formula calculation described in § 16-7.2-5.
(c)
There shall be a poverty loss stabilization fund for districts that experience a decline in the state share ratio calculated pursuant to subsection (a) of this section from the prior year of more than 2.0 percent (2%). The amount shall be equal to fifty percent (50%) of the difference in the amount of permanent foundation education aid received pursuant to § 16-7.2-3 received in the prior year.
History of Section.
P.L. 2010, ch. 124, § 4; P.L. 2010, ch. 125, § 4; P.L. 2013, ch. 501, § 23; P.L. 2016, ch. 142, art. 11, § 2; P.L. 2023, ch. 79, art. 8, § 2, effective June 16, 2023.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 16-7.2 - The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act › Section 16-7.2-7. - Transition plan.

§ 16-7.2-7. Transition plan.
(a)
The general assembly shall annually determine the appropriation of education aid pursuant to this chapter using a transition plan to begin in fiscal year 2012, not to exceed seven (7) years for LEA’s for whom the calculated education aid pursuant to § 16-7.2-3 is more than the education aid the LEA is receiving as of the effective date of the formula, and ten (10) years for LEA’s for whom the calculated education aid pursuant to § 16-7.2-3 is less than the education aid the LEA is receiving as of the effective date of the formula.
(b)
The local share of funding pursuant to § 16-7.2-5 shall be transitioned proportionately over a period not to exceed five (5) years. The transition shall provide a combination of direct aid to districts, funds for the categorical programs, and district savings through state-assumed costs, as determined by the general assembly on an annual basis. Updates to any components of the permanent foundation education aid formula, such as student data, property values, and/or median family income, that result in an increase or decrease in state education aid that impacts the total state and local contribution by more than three percent (3%) shall be transitioned over a period of time not to exceed three (3) years.
(c)
Districts that experience a reduction in enrollment from the prior fiscal year shall receive forty percent (40%) of the amount of state aid pursuant to § 16-7.2-3 associated with that enrollment decline and will receive twenty-five percent (25%) of that amount in the next preceding year.
(d)
For districts that are converting from a half-day to a full-day kindergarten program for the 2014-2015 school year and after, as defined by § 16-99-4, the increase in aid provided pursuant to the formula for the increased reference average daily membership due to the conversion of the kindergarten students from 0.5 full-time equivalent to 1.0 full-time equivalent is not subject to the transition plan in subsection (a); instead, the increased kindergarten full-time equivalents will be funded at the fully transitioned value of the formula beginning in FY 2017.
History of Section.
P.L. 2010, ch. 124, § 4; P.L. 2010, ch. 125, § 4; P.L. 2013, ch. 501, § 23; P.L. 2014, ch. 431, § 2; P.L. 2014, ch. 456, § 2; P.L. 2023, ch. 79, art. 8, § 2, effective June 16, 2023.