R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7.1-15

Current through 2024 Public Law 457
Section 16-7.1-15 - 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:

General Revenues

Allocation

FY 2010

Stimulus Fiscal Stabilization

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.
(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.
(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.
(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

FY 2011

General Revenues

Allocation

Stimulus Fiscal Stabilization

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

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.

(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.

R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7.1-15

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.