Bill
HB 5746
The bill reallocates responsibility for funding education for foster care and group-home students to the school district of origin, and in particular removes East Providence from B
HB 5746 – Summary
Overview
HB 5746 amends the Rhode Island statute governing the residence of children for school purposes, clarifying who pays for and how education is provided to children placed in foster care, group homes, or other DCYF-related residential facilities. A notable provision shifts or clarifies responsibility for students in the Bradley Hospital CRAFT program in East Providence, reallocating costs to the student’s school district of origin.
Purpose and intent
- Ensure education for children in state placements is provided and funded appropriately.
- Clarify how education costs are paid for children in group homes, residential facilities, or foster care.
- Address longstanding responsibilities of East Providence in relation to Bradley Hospital’s CRAFT program.
Key provisions and changes
a) Foster care placements (licensed agencies or state agencies)
- Children placed in foster care are entitled to the same free, appropriate public education as other residents.
- The city or town where the child is placed is responsible for paying educational costs during the time in foster care.
b) Group homes or residential facilities (DCYF placements without on-site education)
- Children placed in such facilities are educated in the community where the facility is located and receive the standard public education.
- “Beds” in facilities without on-site education are counted for funding purposes. Funding is distributed through state aid to education with detailed bed-count-based calculations:
- Annual bed counts (as of December 31) determine funding allocations.
- Initial bed-based increases (using a formula tied to bed counts) and special per-bed amounts (notably a base $15,000 per bed, with special higher rates for the CRAFT program at Bradley Hospital: $22,000 per bed, later referenced as $26,000 in subsequent years).
- The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) must adjust aid in equal payments across March–June; budget recommendations must reflect the increased aid.
c) Residential facilities with on-site education (DCYF placements, including out-of-state facilities)
- If the facility provides educational services (on-grounds or equivalent), per-pupil costs are handled under the defined methods, with cost-sharing determined by the school district of responsibility.
d) DCYF-paid education under certain conditions
- If the facility is state-operated or under contract with DCYF and operates an approved on-grounds educational program, DCYF pays the entire cost of education (subject to state rules).
e) Bradley Hospital’s CRAFT program and East Providence
- Effective June 30, 2025, East Providence public schools and the city shall have no responsibility to provide or reimburse for educational services to students in the CRAFT program or Bradley Hospital programs.
- The school district of origin (where the student was last registered) bears responsibility for such services and funding.
- East Providence shall not receive reimbursement for these students under this act.
Effective date
- The act takes effect upon passage.
Fiscal and procedural status
- Status: 04/29/2025 – Committee recommended measure be held for further study.
- Introduced: February 26, 2025; referred to the House Finance committee.
- Additional actions: Scheduled hearings and timeline notes in late April 2025.
Impact
- Shifts or codifies funding responsibilities primarily to the school district of origin for Bradley/Craft placements.
- Establishes per-bed funding mechanisms for group homes without on-site education and requires annual bed-count reporting by DCYF.
- Affects DCYF placements, foster-care educational funding, and DESE’s budgeting processes.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
