The bill amends Section 16-7.2-3 of the General Laws under "The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act" to establish a permanent foundation education aid formula for local educational agencies. This formula will calculate foundation education aid based on a core instruction amount and additional support for high-need students. The student success factor for high-need students will increase from forty percent (40%) to forty-five percent (45%). Furthermore, if more than forty-five percent (45%) of resident children in a local education agency are classified as having a family income at or below one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of federal poverty guidelines, the student success factor will be adjusted to fifty percent (50%).

The bill also requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop a new poverty measure by October 1, 2022, which will not rely on school nutrition program participation. This measure will be used to determine the number of students qualifying as high-need and to inform funding calculations. Additionally, the department is required to report on the number of multilingual learners and their funding needs, as well as provide estimates of foundation education aid costs as part of its budget submissions. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5978: 16-7.2-3