The bill amends Section 16-7.2-6 of the General Laws under "The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act" to revise the calculation of state funding provided to local education agencies for special education services. It introduces new provisions for calculating extraordinary special education costs, specifically adjusting the thresholds for fiscal years 2027 and 2028. For fiscal year 2027, extraordinary costs are defined as those exceeding three and one-half times the core foundation amount, and for fiscal year 2028, the threshold is set at three times the core foundation amount.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will appropriate funds in the following fiscal year for approved excess costs associated with special education students who move into a district after the district has approved its fiscal year budget. The department is also required to collect data on educational costs that exceed the state-approved thresholds based on amounts above two times the core foundation amount.

This act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
109: 16-7.2-6