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SB 2826

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

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathon Acosta and 6 co-sponsors

The bill restructures foundation aid to boost funding for high-need students and multilingual learners using poverty and MLL weights, plus allows districts to expand after-school a

05/19/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 2826

Summary of SB 2826 (Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act)

Purpose and intent

  • This bill adopts and provisions related to the Education Equity and Property Tax Relief framework in Rhode Island. It modifies how foundation education aid is calculated for school districts, with a focus on increased support for high-need and multilingual learners, and for districts with higher concentrations of poverty. It also specifies data, reporting, and implementation measures intended to improve equity and transparency in education funding.

Key provisions and changes

  • Foundation education aid formula (per district)

    • Foundation aid equals: (core instruction amount) + (amount to support high-need students), multiplied by the district’s state-share ratio.
    • The core instruction amount is a per-pupil figure derived from regional (Northeast) expenditure data and NCES data, intended to fund basic instructional needs. It is updated annually and excludes charter/state-operated school students from the resident average daily membership for computation.
    • The high-need component is determined by two main factors:
    • Student success factor (SSF): A multiplier applied to the core per-pupil amount, targeting students in families at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines.
      • The base SSF is 40%, but the act adjusts to 45% (per the explanatory note, the bill text shows 40% but the explanatory section mentions 45%—the enacted text should be checked for final figures).
      • The distribution uses a poverty proxy measured by DESE, shifting from direct school-nutrition-based measures to a DESE-specified poverty measure starting FY2024, with SNAP participation used as part of the threshold for 185% poverty in certain computations.
      • The SSF is applied to residents below the 185% poverty line and is adjusted when districts have over 45% of resident children in poverty, potentially increasing the SSF to 50%.
    • Multilingual Learner (MLL) factor: 20% of the core per-pupil amount is targeted to each resident child identified as an MLL in the three lowest proficiency categories, based on WIDA-aligned assessments. Local districts must report annually on the use of these funds, and DESE will review for consistency with best practices.
    • In districts where more than 45% of resident children are in poverty, the SSF increases to 50%.

  • Poverty and MLL measures (implementation and updates)

    • DESE must develop and adopt a poverty measure by Oct 1, 2022 (budget submission for FY2024 onward) that serves as a proxy for poverty status and does not rely on school nutrition program data. Beginning FY2024, students eligible via 185% poverty threshold use SNAP participation as a proxy, with a multiplier of 1.6 applied to directly certified SNAP counts.
    • DESE is required to evaluate and report on MLL populations, levels of English proficiency (via WIDA), and funding needs for varying proficiency levels. This includes identifying potential weights or categorical funding approaches to address MLL needs.

  • Allowable use of funds by districts

    • Local educational agencies may reserve a portion of funds to expand learning opportunities (e.g., after-school, summer programs, full-day kindergarten, multiple pathways) so long as core programming and other required programs are funded.

  • Reporting and administrative provisions

    • DESE must provide budget-era estimates of foundation aid and update figures based on October 1 membership.
    • The department must report on local contributions to education aid, compliance with relevant statutes, and comparisons of local contributions to state aid, with communication to local school committees and councils.
    • Additional required reports include:
    • Matching human services program participation data with DESE enrollment data to improve funding accuracy.
    • Expansion of direct certification with Medicaid matching to identify students at or below 185% poverty.
    • High-cost special education data consistency and validity processes.

  • Regulatory authority and effective date

    • DESE shall promulgate regulations necessary to implement the act.
    • The act takes effect upon passage.

Affected entities and impact

  • Local education agencies (LEAs):

    • Changes to how foundation aid is calculated and the addition of MLL and poverty-related weights. Increased funding potential for districts with high poverty or significant MLL populations.
    • Ability to set aside funds for extended learning opportunities, given core and required program funding is met.

  • Students and families:

    • Greater support through higher weights for high-need and MLL students, particularly in districts with large poverty concentrations.
    • Potential for more targeted resources for multilingual learners, and more after-school/summer or early education options in participating districts.

  • State education and administration:

    • DESE responsible for annual updates to the core amount, poverty proxy, MLL funding framework, and extensive reporting and data-matching protocols.
    • Increased coordination with the Department of Administration, RI longitudinal data system, and the Rhode Island Department of Human Services.

Timeline and key dates

  • Effective date: Upon passage.
  • Data and measure development milestones:
    • By Oct 1, 2022: Develop a poverty measure proxy for use in formula computations (to be used for FY2024 and beyond).
    • FY 2024: Use the new poverty proxy and SNAP-based adjustments for determining eligibility/inclusion in the SSF.
    • Oct 1, 2023: DESE to evaluate MLL population data and required funding levels by proficiency levels (for FY2025 budget submission).
    • Oct 1, 2024: Develop alternatives to identify students below 185% poverty via state programs (SNAP, RIteCare, etc.) for budget FY2026.
    • Oct 1, 2025: Prepare a report on the process to match DHS program participation data with DESE enrollment records (for FY2027).
    • FY 2027: Include expanded direct certification with Medicaid matching in foundation-aid estimates.
    • Dec 31, 2025: Report on processes to ensure consistency and validity of high-cost special education data.

Overall assessment

SB 2826 codifies a more targeted, needs-based foundation aid system intended to promote equity by:
- Elevating funding for high-need students and multilingual learners.
- Incorporating a poverty-based adjustment with updated proxy measures and SNAP participation.
- Allowing districts to invest in extended-learning opportunities while maintaining core funding requirements.
- Establishing robust reporting, data-matching, and transparency requirements to improve accuracy and accountability in funding.

Note: Some details in the bill text show a 40% vs 45% SSF figure; the explanatory note references 45%, so the final enacted language should be verified to determine the exact SSF percentage.

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

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