Advocates of a funding formula for school districts across the state will be glad to know that the House Finance Committee is making headway.
Following the State Department of Education’s first formal education funding proposal in February, combined with Rhode Island’s rejection for federal funds from Race to the Top in April, the need for a funding formula continues to grow.
Earlier this week Steven M. Constantio, Chairman of the House Finance Committee and Providence mayoral candidate, introduced a bill to, “fundamentally change the way the state distributes hundereds of millions of dollars to local school districts.” More
Among many items decision makers are taking into consideration when it comes to how to distribute funding the following are notable:
-Student Enrollment
-Student Need
-Local Tax Capacity
As the ProJo outlines, the bill is identical to the Department of Education’s February proposal, so it goes without saying that the same issues surrounding the initial proposal may continue to be debated. Specifically, the fact that Central Falls, a district in constant conflict with teacher’s unions over salary and budget arguments, will be one of the districts to actually lose money as a result of this formula; whereas, Barrrington will see a 189.4% increase in funding from $1,990,843 to $5,761,510. By clicking the image you can see in more detail how the current plan will allocate funding.
ProJo commenters are skeptical of Constantio’s motivations, one writes, “I can’t help but think that Chairman Costantino will now try to take credit for this happening the year he is running for Mayor.”
Additionally, House Speaker, Gordon D. Fox is credited with labeling the creation of funding formula as a priority this year. Earlier on Daily Dose, Dave Segal asked nicely for work to be done on a funding formula.
To whomever’s credit, the urgency for this funding formula is finally being felt, but it will take more than constituent support to agree upon how funds will be allocated.