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SR 3368

JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY RHODE ISLAND'S EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA AND EDUCATION FINANCE SYSTEM

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lou DiPalma and 1 co-sponsor

Creates a 15-member commission to study and modernize Rhode Island's education funding formula for equity, transparency, and a five-year transition plan.

06/22/2026 Signed by Governor
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SR 3368

Overview

  • Bill: SR 3368 (Joint Resolution)
  • Session: 2026
  • Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
  • Title: Joint Resolution creating a special joint legislative commission to study Rhode Island's education funding formula and education finance system
  • Introduced by: Senator Hanna M. Gallo
  • Referred to: Senate Finance
  • Date introduced: June 7, 2026
  • Effective date of commission: Immediate upon passage; chair to be designated by Speaker of the House and President of the Senate; first meeting by October 31, 2026
  • Duration: Commission expires December 1, 2027; final report due September 1, 2027; interim report due March 2, 2027

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish a special joint legislative commission to conduct a comprehensive study of Rhode Island’s education funding formula and education finance system.
  • Pursue modernization in line with prior recommendations from the Rhode Island Foundation’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Education Funding.
  • Explore equitable, fiscally responsible, and sustainable reforms to funding, with attention to student-centered approaches and transparency.

Key Provisions and Changes Proposed

  • Composition (15 members):
    • 3 state Senators (one must be from the minority party), appointed by the President of the Senate.
    • 3 state Representatives (one must be from the minority party), appointed by the Speaker of the House.
    • 11 additional members representing stakeholders and key agencies/organizations:
    • Executive Director of the National Education Association Rhode Island (or designee)
    • President of the American Federation of Teachers Rhode Island (or designee)
    • Commissioner of the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (or designee)
    • Director of the Rhode Island Office of Management and Budget (or designee)
    • Senior Advisor for Education to the Governor (or designee)
    • Executive Director of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees (or designee)
    • Executive Director of the Rhode Island School Superintendents Association (or designee)
    • President of the Rhode Island Association of School Business Officials (or designee)
    • President of the Rhode Island Government Finance Officers Association (or designee)
  • Scope of study:
    • Evaluate feasibility of implementing recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission Report, Equalizing Opportunity: Creating a Fair and Transparent Funding System for Rhode Island's Public Schools.
    • Assess statutory recommendations and consider additional measures and weights not specified in the report.
    • Compare total costs of the proposed system versus the current system using the most recent complete year of Uniform Charter of Accounts (UCOA) revenue and expenditure data.
    • Assess adequacy, equity, predictability, and long-term fiscal sustainability of the current funding formula, including impacts of declining enrollment, rising costs, and varying municipal fiscal capacity.
    • Develop recommendations for modifications to the funding formula aligned with educational and fiscal needs.
    • Propose a transition plan not exceeding five fiscal years, detailing annual state and municipal share adjustments to implement the recommendations.
  • Process and operations:
    • The Speaker and Senate President must designate the chair immediately after passage; the chair must schedule the first meeting by no later than October 31, 2026.
    • The Commission may hold regular meetings and solicit input from stakeholders, educators, community members, and financial experts.
    • All state departments and agencies must provide necessary information and assistance to the Commission.
    • Vacancies to be filled as original appointments; members do not receive compensation but may receive funding/support as needed.
    • Joint Committee on Legislative Services to provide suitable meeting quarters; funding and administrative support may be provided as necessary.

Who Would Be Affected

  • State government:
    • Rhode Island Senate and House of Representatives members serving on the Commission.
    • Various state agencies and offices (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Management and Budget, Governor’s Office, etc.) providing data and support.
    • Administrative resources and potential budget for supporting the Commission’s work.
  • Education stakeholders:
    • Teachers unions (NEA Rhode Island, AFT Rhode Island)
    • School committees, superintendents associations, school business officials, and government finance officers associations
  • School districts and municipalities:
    • The study would consider the impact on state and local shares of funding, potentially influencing future funding formulas and financial planning.

Timelines and Procedural Details

  • Interim report due: March 2, 2027
  • Final report due: September 1, 2027
  • Commission expiration: December 1, 2027
  • First meeting deadline: October 31, 2026
  • Report recipients: Governor, Speaker of the House, and President of the Senate

Potential Impacts and Implications

  • By examining and potentially modernizing the funding formula, the bill aims to enhance equity and transparency in how Rhode Island funds public schools.
  • A transition plan up to five years provides a structured pathway for phased implementation, balancing state and local financial responsibilities.
  • The involvement of a broad set of stakeholders, including teachers unions and school governance bodies, may help generate consensus and buy-in for potential reforms.
  • Outcomes could affect long-term state budget planning, municipal fiscal capacity, and enrollment-related funding dynamics.

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

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