The bill amends "The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act" by revising state-funded categorical programs and expenses. It provides direct state funding for special education, career and technical education, pre-kindergarten programs, and transportation for students to out-of-district non-public schools and within regional school districts. The amendment removes the requirement for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to prorate funds among school districts if approved costs exceed the appropriated amount for certain educational expenses. It also establishes the Central Falls, Davies, and the Met Center Stabilization Fund, introduces a regionalization bonus for public school districts, and increases state support for English learners with a fifteen percent factor applied to the core-instruction per-pupil amount.

The bill also addresses the funding and employment of school resource officers (SROs) in public middle and high schools. It defines SROs, requires them to complete specialized training, and provides state support covering half the cost of salaries and benefits for SRO positions established after July 1, 2018. The support is contingent on the number of students in the school and is limited to new SRO positions. The bill removes the requirement for prorating funds for categorical programs and eliminates the transition plan funding in § 16-7.2-7. The act will be effective upon passage.

Statutes affected:
2951: 16-7.2-6