This bill introduces several amendments to the General Laws concerning the duties of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and the allocation of state funds for education. It adds new responsibilities for the commissioner, including the assignment of two individuals within the department to focus on career and technical education (CTE). One individual will work on increasing CTE enrollment and supporting new CTE programs, while the other will focus on employer outreach and program expansion to meet employer needs. The bill also amends funding provisions for special education and CTE, defining "extraordinary" costs for special education as those exceeding five times the core foundation amount and specifying criteria for allocating funds to maintain the quality of CTE programs.

The bill mandates a minimum 100% increase in categorical funding for CTE, starting from the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and allocates $2,000,000 each for infrastructure and tools for new CTE programs and for new middle school CTE elective/exploratory programs. It also establishes two new advanced manufacturing centers and addresses other educational funding issues, such as transportation costs, support for English learners, and the establishment of the Central Falls, Davies, and the Met Center Stabilization Fund. Furthermore, the bill requires school resource officers to have specialized training and provides state support for half the cost of their salaries and benefits, with provisions based on school enrollment. The bill would take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
6358: 16-1-5, 16-7.2-6