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HB 8270

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

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jose Batista and 9 co-sponsors

The bill expands Rhode Island’s education aid formula to boost funding for high-need students by adding larger weights for multilingual learners and low-income students.

05/19/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 8270

Overview

  • Bill: HB 8270 (Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act)
  • Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
  • Session: 2026
  • Meant to revise the Education Aid formula by expanding the “student success factor” to include multilingual learners (MLLs) and low-income students, with added funding triggers and reporting requirements. The act focuses on education funding adequacy and targeted support for high-need students, funded through the state’s foundation education aid system. Takes effect upon passage.

Main purpose and intent

  • To modify the permanent foundation education aid formula to better fund high-need students and multilingual learners.
  • To incorporate additional multipliers (student success factors) that increase aid for specific student groups below certain income thresholds or proficiency levels.
  • To improve transparency and administration of funding, including reporting requirements and inter-agency data matching to support funding decisions.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Foundation education aid structure (16-7.2-3)

    • The foundation aid for each district equals:
      • Core instruction amount (a per-pupil core investment) plus
      • Amount to support high-need students beyond core instruction,
      • All multiplied by the district state-shareratio (state share ratio) per § 16-7.2-4.
    • Core instruction amount (a) details:
      • Based on a statewide per-pupil amount derived from NEESC regional expenditure data (RI, MA, CT, NH) to fund instructional needs, multiplied by district average daily membership (excluding charter/state-operated students for the calculation).
      • Updated annually.
    • High-need supplement (a)(2) details:
      • Original calculation components include:
      • A 40% student success factor applied to the core amount, for resident students at or below 185% of federal poverty guidelines (poverty status).
      • A 20% multilingual learner (MLL) factor applied to the core amount for resident students who are in the three lowest proficiency categories (per standard measures).
      • New enhancement effective July 1, 2026:
      • The high-need supplement shall include a 25% student success factor for each resident child identified as a multilingual learner or as below 185% of poverty guidelines, in addition to the existing components.
      • By Oct 1, 2022 (and onward), the DESE must develop a poverty proxy measure that does not rely on school nutrition programs; beginning for FY 2024, SNAP participation is used to identify students at or below 185% of poverty, with a 1.6 multiplier for directly certified SNAP counts.
      • MLL provisions specify applying the 20% MLL factor to core amounts for students in the lowest proficiency levels, as identified via WIDA and DESE regulations; annual reporting by LEAs on MLL funding usage starting September 1 (for planning/implementation).

  2. Additional reporting, data, and budget integration

    • DESE must provide foundation aid cost estimates in its annual budget submission, with recent data and membership changes.
    • Updated figures by October 1 based on October 1 membership data.
    • LEAs may reserve funds to expand learning opportunities (e.g., after-school, summer programs, full-day kindergarten) as long as core and other legal requirements are funded.

  3. Specific future planning and evaluation milestones (further sections)

    • By Oct 1, 2023/2024/2025, DESE must undertake several evaluations and reporting tasks:
      • Evaluate and segment MLL populations by proficiency levels using WIDA, and develop recommended funding solutions (could include integrating MLL needs into core formula or new weights).
      • Develop alternative poverty identification (other than direct 185% threshold) through state-administered programs and certification processes.
      • Report local contributions to education aid and compliance with related statutes, and compare to state aid by community; inform local government bodies.
      • Coordinate with the Rhode Island longitudinal data system and the Department of Administration for data matching processes to improve funding matching and accuracy.
      • Provide estimates of foundation aid using expanded direct certification with Medicaid matching (FY 2027 submission), to identify students below 185% poverty threshold.
      • Develop processes to ensure consistency and validity of high-cost special education data, with a report due by Dec 31, 2025.

Who would be affected

  • Public school districts in Rhode Island (through changes to foundation education aid and the state share ratio).
  • Multilingual learners (MLLs) and students living at or below 185% of federal poverty guidelines (as they would receive increased weighting under the student success factor).
  • Local education agencies (LEAs) and school committees, which would be responsible for reporting on use of funds for MLL services and other high-need supports.
  • Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), which would implement data collection, reporting, and regulatory actions to support the new formula.
  • State agencies involved in data sharing and program participation (e.g., DHS, RI Longitudinal Data System, RI Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner) due to new data matching and reporting requirements.

Timelines and procedural aspects

  • Effective date: Upon passage.
  • Core formula updates: Effective with the updated statute, and annual updates to core instruction amounts.
  • Poverty measure: Adopted for FY 2024 calculations (SNAP-based direct certification multiplier).
  • MLL adjustments: Effective, with ongoing reporting and future adjustments starting July 1, 2026.
  • Reporting requirements: Ongoing annual requirements beginning in the mid-2020s (e.g., September 1 planning reports; October 1 membership updates; December 1 updates; December 31 high-cost data reporting plan).
  • Budget submissions: DESE must incorporate these changes into its annual budget submissions and provide updated foundation aid estimates.

Summary of potential impact

  • Increased funding emphasis on high-need students, especially MLLs and low-income students, through augmented student success factors.
  • Potential shifts in district funding levels depending on MLL populations, poverty metrics, and local student demographics.
  • Greater emphasis on data-driven budgeting and interagency data sharing to improve accuracy and consistency of funding allocations.
  • Expanded opportunities for after-school, summer, and other extended-learning programs if districts allocate portions of the funds accordingly.

Note: The act introduces a broader framework for targeting foundation aid to high-need student groups, with several phased reporting and data integration steps to support ongoing adjustments and transparency.

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

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