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SB 2548

AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathon Acosta and 9 co-sponsors

Expands state funding beyond core education to address special education excess costs, regionalization, transportation, early childhood, CTE, and SROs, aiming for equity and stabil

05/19/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 2548

Overview

SB 2548, introduced in Rhode Island’s 2026 session, creates the Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act. The bill expands and reorganizes state funding for various education-related costs beyond the core foundation aid, with a focus on special education excess costs, career and technical education, early childhood programs, regionalization, transportation to non-public and regionalized districts, and school resource officers. It also establishes targeted stabilization funds for certain districts (Central Falls, Davies, and the Met Center) and outlines how funds are to be prorated if appropriations fall short.

Main purpose and intent

  • To enhance state support for diverse education costs that extend beyond core instruction.
  • To promote equity by addressing extraordinary costs in special education, regionalization, transportation, pre-K expansion, and CTE investments.
  • To stabilize funding for districts with unique financial challenges (notably Central Falls, Davies, and the Met Center).
  • To provide state backing for school safety personnel (school resource officers).

Key provisions and changes

a) Special education excess costs

  • Establishes funding for “excess costs” of special education students that exceed a threshold based on the core foundation amount.
  • Fiscal thresholds:
    • FY 2028: costs exceeding 3.5 times the core foundation amount.
    • FY 2029: costs exceeding 3.0 times the core foundation amount.
  • DESE to prorate funds if total requests exceed appropriations and to carry forward funds for late-moving students.
  • Collect data on costs exceeding thresholds at 2x, 3x, and 5x of the core foundation amount.

b) Career and technical education (CTE)

  • Provides state funding for initial investment needs to transform/expand CTE programs and facilities.
  • DESE to develop criteria and prorate funds if costs exceed available funding.

c) Early childhood / pre-kindergarten

  • Funds or supports to increase access to voluntary, free, high-quality pre-K programs.
  • DESE to recommend criteria for allocating early childhood funds.

d) Central Falls, Davies, and the Met Center Stabilization Fund

  • Creates a stabilization fund to ensure adequate funding for these districts, given concerns about capacity to meet local cost share.
  • State and city contributions to be determined/retained through a transition period.
  • Post-transition, the city’s contribution continues; Davies and Met Center receive ongoing support due to standalone high school operations.
  • DESE to set criteria for allocating stabilization funds.

e) Transportation for out-of-district non-public schools

  • State funding to cover excess costs for transporting students to out-of-district non-public schools.
  • Funds prorated if costs exceed available funding.

f) Transportation within regional school districts

  • State funding for the excess costs of transporting students within regional districts.
  • State and regional districts share costs equally (net of federal revenue); funds prorated if costs exceed allocations.

g) Regionalization bonus

  • Provides a phased regionalization bonus for regionalized districts (including Chariho):
    • 2% of the state share of foundation aid in the first eligible year.
    • 1% in the second year.
    • Bonus ceases in the third year.
  • Chariho’s bonus applied to the state share for member towns.
  • Funds prorated if costs exceed appropriations.

i) State support for School Resource Officers (SROs)

  • From FY 2019 onward, for three years, districts/municipalities receive direct state reimbursement for 50% of salaries/benefits for qualifying SROs.
  • SRO placement rules:
    • 1 SRO for schools with <1,200 students; 2 SROs for schools with ≥1,200 students.
    • No reimbursement for positions beyond required counts or for positions created by shifting from existing roles.

j) Funding of categorical programs

  • Categorical programs (subsections a–g) are funded under a transition plan in § 16-7.2-7.

Who would be affected

  • Local education agencies (LEAs) and school districts, particularly those with high special education costs, regionalized structures, or unique transportation needs.
  • Students with disabilities receiving special education services (and districts serving them).
  • Districts investing in or expanding CTE programs and early childhood initiatives.
  • Central Falls, Davies, and the Met Center, which face stabilization and transition considerations.
  • Schools and communities utilizing SROs.
  • Regionalized districts and towns participating in regionalization.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: upon passage.
  • On an ongoing basis, DESE to:
    • Prorate funds when appropriations are insufficient.
    • Collect and report data on costs exceeding thresholds (2x, 3x, 5x).
    • Develop criteria for allocating CTE and early childhood funds.
    • Establish criteria for stabilization and regionalization funds and oversee transition provisions.
  • Regionalization bonuses and stabilization fund allocations are subject to annual appropriations and prorating if funding is insufficient.

Potential impact

  • Increased state commitments to cover higher-than-average education costs, potentially reducing local property tax pressures.
  • Targeted support for districts facing structural challenges (Central Falls, Davies, Met Center) and for regionalization efforts.
  • Expanded access to pre-K and enhanced CTE offerings, aligning with workforce development goals.
  • Additional costs and administrative requirements for DESE to monitor, report, and allocate funds across multiple programs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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