The bill amends Section 16-7.2-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7.2 entitled "The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act" to establish a permanent foundation education aid formula starting in the 2012 fiscal year. The formula includes a core instruction amount based on regional expenditure data and a student success factor to support high-need students, defined as those with family incomes at or below 185% of federal poverty guidelines. The bill introduces a new method for determining these high-need students using participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and a multiplier of 1.6. It also requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide estimates of foundation education aid costs, report updated figures based on average daily membership, and allows local education agencies to allocate funds for expanded learning opportunities.

The bill includes provisions for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to evaluate the number of multilingual learner (MLL) students and recommend funding solutions to meet their needs. It also mandates the development of alternatives to identify students from low-income families through state-administered programs. Additionally, the bill requires an annual report on local contributions to education aid and compliance with relevant sections. A new insertion mandates the department to review the student success factor of 40% by October 1, 2024, to ensure it meets students' instructional needs and report the findings to the governor and legislative leaders. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
7908: 16-7.2-3