2009 Rhode Island Code
Title 16 - Education
CHAPTER 16-7.1 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative
§ 16-7.1-15 - The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island student investment initiative. [Effective July 1, 2010.].

SECTION 16-7.1-15

   § 16-7.1-15  The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island student investment initiative. [Effective until July 1, 2010.]. – (a) Each locally or regionally operated school district shall receive as a base the same amount of school aid as each district received in fiscal year 1997-1998, adjusted to reflect the increases or decreases in aid enacted to meet the minimum and maximum funding levels established for FY 2000 through FY 2008. Each school district shall also receive school aid through each investment fund for which that district qualifies pursuant to §§ 16-7.1-8, 16-7.1-9, 16-7.1-10, 16-7.1-11, 16-7.1-12, 16-7.1-16 and 16-7.1-19. These sums shall be in addition to the base amount described in this section. For FY 2009, the reference year for the data used in the calculation of aid pursuant to § 16-7.1-8, § 16-7.1-9, § 16-7.1-10, § 16-7.1-11, § 16-7.1-11.1, § 16-7.1-12, § 16-7.1-16, §§ 16-7.1-19 and 16-77.1-2(b) shall be FY 2004. Calculation and distribution of education aid under §§ 16-5-31, 16-5-32, 16-7-20, 16-7-20.5, 16-7-34.2, 16-7-34.3, 16-24-6, 16-54-4, and 16-67-4 is hereby suspended. Provided, however, calculation and distribution of education aid under § 16-7.1-10 is suspended for FY 2009. School districts may continue to maintain professional development programs and may reduce other education programs to achieve savings during FY 2009. The funding of the purposes and activities of chapter 67 of this title, the Rhode Island Literacy and Dropout Prevention Act of 1967, shall be the same amount of the base amount of each district funded for that purpose in fiscal year 1997-1998. In addition each district shall expend three percent (3%) of its student equity and early childhood funds under the provisions of chapter 67 of this title.

   (b) Funding for full day kindergarten programs in accordance with § 16-7.1-11.1 shall be in addition to funding received under this section.

   (c) Funding distributed under §§ 16-77.1-2(b) and 16-64-1.1 shall be in addition to funding distributed under this section.

   (d) For FY 2009, aid to school districts shall be reduced by the equivalent savings that are realized due to a reduction of payments to the teachers' retirement system. The reduction for the Chariho regional school district shall be prorated among the member communities. In addition, for FY 2009 aid to school districts shall be reduced by any amount of previously appropriated school housing aid determined to be ineligible for reimbursement in accordance with § 16-7-44.2. For FY 2009 aid shall also be reduced by the amount of projected revenue for the period December 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 from the permanent school fund. The projected revenue shall be determined by annualizing actual earnings from the period May 12, 2008 through November 30, 2008. The department of elementary and secondary education shall reduce aid in two equal installments, payable in May and June; provided however, that East Providence shall receive one payment of reduced aid in May.

   For FY 2009, aid to school districts shall include thirty eight million, three hundred twenty-four thousand, eight hundred twenty-two dollars ($38,324,822) from federal fiscal stabilization funds offset by a like reduction from general revenues. The distribution shall be in the same proportion as general operating aid.

   (e) There shall be an appropriation to ensure that total aid distributed to communities in FY 2009 under this section and §§ 16-7.1-11.1, 16-64-1.1 and 16-77.1-2(b) shall be as follows:

   SEE THE BOOK FOR THE PROPER TABLE.

   In addition to the amounts listed above, the department of elementary and secondary education shall allocate monthly to each school district all funds received into the permanent school fund pursuant to § 42-61.2-7, as amended by chapter 13 of the 2008 Public Laws entitled "An Act Relating to State Affairs and Government", up to $14.1 million, in the same proportion as the aid distribution in the FY 2009 enacted appropriations act.

   This special provision shall not limit entitlements as determined by application of other formula provisions in this section.

   (f) For FY 2009 payments to charter public schools shall be reduced by the equivalent savings that are realized due to a reduction of payments to the teachers' retirement system. The reduction for district sponsored charter schools shall be incorporated in the sponsoring school district's aid as noted in subsection (e). Aid to charter public schools shall be reduced in the April quarterly payment. For FY 2009, charter public school funding is as follows:

   Beacon Charter School 1,512,785

   Blackstone Academy 1,469,349

   Compass 614,485

   Paul Cuffee 4,449,006

   CVS Highlander 2,596,782

   International 2,863,818

   Kingston HillAcademy 736,784

   Learning Community 3,669,529

   NE Laborer's 1,508,866

   Textron 2,361,370

   Times 2 Academy 6,870,410

   (g) Children with disabilities. (1) Based on its review of special education within the context of Rhode Island school reform, the general assembly recommends addressing the needs of all children and preventing disability through scientific research based, as described in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Title 1, Part B, Section 1208 [20 U.S.C. § 6368], reading instruction and the development of Personal Literacy Programs for students in the early grades performing below grade level in reading and implement a system of student accountability that will enable the state to track individual students over time. Additionally, the department of elementary and secondary education must provide districts with rigorous criteria and procedures for identifying students with learning disabilities and speech/language impairments. Additional study is required of factors that influence programming for students with low incidence disabilities; those with disabilities that severely compromise life functions; and programming for students with disabilities through urban special education. Alternatives for funding special education require examination.

   (2) All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish any advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to the general assembly and its agents that is deemed necessary or desirable by the study to facilitate the purposes of this section.