Bill Sponsors
Acosta, Lawson, Gallo, DiPalma, Ciccone, McKenney, Mack, and Valverde
Committee
Senate Finance
Summary
Select
This bill transfers control of the Central Falls School District from the state government back to the local community by repealing the state-appointed board of trustees. It also updates the funding formula for the district by establishing the Central Falls Stabilization Fund. Starting in the 2027 fiscal year, the city of Central Falls will be required to contribute a specific portion of its tax revenue to the school district's budget and will be financially responsible for any school district deficits. The state will fund the remaining balance.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Restores local democratic control to the Central Falls community, empowering residents to have a direct voice in how their public schools are governed.
- Establishes a dedicated Central Falls Stabilization Fund to ensure consistent and adequate funding for a historically disadvantaged school district.
- Maintains significant state financial support for the district while gradually introducing a manageable local contribution, protecting the community's public education system.
Cons for Progressives
- Shifts the financial burden of any school district deficits entirely onto the city of Central Falls, which may severely strain the resources of a lower-income municipality.
- Mandates that the city allocate at least 1% of its prior year tax levy to the school fund, potentially forcing cuts to other vital local public services.
- Removing state oversight might lead to instability or resource mismanagement if the transition to local governance is not properly supported, potentially harming vulnerable students.
Pros for Conservatives
- Promotes decentralization by removing state government control over the Central Falls School District and returning authority to the local level.
- Mandates fiscal responsibility by requiring the city of Central Falls to assume full financial responsibility for any deficits incurred by its school district.
- Reduces the state's open-ended financial obligations by establishing a strict formula requiring local tax dollars to fund a portion of the school district's budget.
Cons for Conservatives
- Commits the state to continuing to fund the balance of the Central Falls Stabilization Fund, maintaining a heavy state taxpayer subsidy for a local municipality.
- Mandates a specific local tax allocation (1% of the prior year's tax levy), which infringes on the local government's freedom to set its own budget and tax priorities.
- Removes state oversight of the school district's management, which could lead to local administrative inefficiencies or mismanagement of state taxpayer funds without accountability.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely. This bill pertains to the governance structure and funding mechanisms of a public school district, which falls squarely within the administrative and legislative authority of the state government. It does not implicate free speech, due process, or unreasonable searches and seizures.
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Central Falls students
- Central Falls teachers and school staff
- Central Falls taxpayers
- Central Falls city government
- Rhode Island Department of Education
Towns Affected
Central Falls
Cost to Taxpayers
Amount unknown
Revenue Generated
None
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
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Public Services
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Regulatory
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Clarity of Bill Language
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Environmental Impact
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Privacy Impact
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 04/14/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance
• 04/25/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/28/2026)
• 04/28/2026 Committee recommends passage
• 04/29/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (05/07/2026)
• 05/07/2026 Senate read and passed
• 05/08/2026 Referred to House Finance
• 04/25/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/28/2026)
• 04/28/2026 Committee recommends passage
• 04/29/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (05/07/2026)
• 05/07/2026 Senate read and passed
• 05/08/2026 Referred to House Finance
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Section 16-2-34 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-2 entitled "School Committees and Superintendents [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby repealed.
16-2-34. Central Falls School District board of trustees.
(a) There is hereby established a seven (7) member board of trustees, which shall govern the Central Falls School District. With the exception of those powers and duties reserved by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, and the board of regents for elementary and secondary education, the board of trustees shall have the powers and duties of school committees. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, as the executive agent of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education, is authorized to exercise in whole or in part care, control, and management over the public schools of the Central Falls school district within the scope of authority of the board of trustees and board of regents, whenever the commissioner deems such intervention to be necessary and appropriate.
(b) The board of regents for elementary and secondary education shall appoint the members of the board of trustees from nominations made by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. The chairperson shall also be selected in this manner. The board of regents shall determine the number, qualifications, and terms of office of members of the board of trustees, provided however, that at least four (4) of the members shall be residents of the city and parents of current or former Central Falls public school students. The remaining three (3) shall be appointed at large.
(c) The board of regents shall provide parameters for overall budget requests, approve the budget, and otherwise participate in budget development.
(d) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall recommend parameters for overall budget requests, recommend a budget, and otherwise participate in budget development.
(e) The commissioner shall approve the process for selection of the superintendent.
(f) The board of trustees shall meet monthly and serve without compensation. The board of trustees shall have broad policy making authority for the operation of the school, as well as the following powers and duties:
(1) To identify the educational needs of the district;
(2) To develop educational policies to meet the needs of students in the school district;
(3) To appoint a superintendent to serve as its chief executive officer and to approve assistant and associate superintendents from nominations made by the superintendent;
(4) To provide policy guidance and otherwise participate in budget development; and
(5) To develop staffing policies which ensure that all students are taught by educators of the highest possible quality.
(g) The superintendent shall serve at the pleasure of the board of trustees with the initial appointment to be for a period of not more than three (3) years; provided, however, that the terms and conditions of employment are subject to the approval of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education.
(h) It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to manage and operate the school on a day-to-day basis. The superintendent's duties shall include the following:
(1) To be responsible for the care, supervision, and management of the schools;
(2) To recommend to the board of trustees educational policies to meet the needs of the district, and to implement policies established by the board of trustees;
(3) To present nominations to the board of trustees for assistant and associate superintendents and to appoint all other school personnel;
(4) To provide for the evaluation of all school district personnel;
(5) To establish a school based management approach for decision making for the operation of the school;
(6) To prepare a budget and otherwise participate in budget development as required, and to authorize purchases consistent with the adopted school district budget;
(7) To report to the board of trustees, on a regular basis, the financial condition and LC006319 - Page 2 of 8 operation of the schools, and to report annually on the educational progress of the schools;
(8) To establish appropriate advisory committees as needed to provide guidance on new directions and feedback on the operation of the schools;
(9) With policy guidance from the board of trustees and extensive involvement of the administrators and faculty in the school, to annually prepare a budget. The board of trustees shall approve the budget and transmit it to the commissioner. The board of regents for elementary and secondary education, upon recommendation of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, shall provide parameters for the overall budget request. Based on review and recommendation by the commissioner, the board of regents shall approve the total budget and incorporate it into its budget request to the governor and to the general assembly. Line item budgeting decisions shall be the responsibility of the superintendent; and
(10) To negotiate, along with the chairperson of the board of trustees and his or her appointed designee, all district employment contracts, which contracts shall be subject to the approval of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education with the concurrence of the board of regents.
(i) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to limit or otherwise interfere with the rights of teachers and other school employees to bargain collectively pursuant to chapters 9.3 and 9.4 of title 28, to exercise rights afforded under any statute including, but not limited to, Title 16, or to allow the commissioner, board of trustees or the superintendent to abrogate any agreement by collective bargaining.
(j) The appointment of the special state administrator for the Central Falls School District and the Central Falls School District Advisory Group, created by chapter 312 of the Rhode Island Public Laws of 1991, will no longer be in effect upon the selection and appointment of the board of trustees created in this section. All powers and duties of the special state administrator and the Central Falls School District Advisory Group are hereby transferred and assigned to the board of trustees created in this section, upon the selection and appointment of that board.
SECTION 2. Section 16-7.2-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7.2 entitled "The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
16-7.2-6. Categorical programs, state funded expenses.
In addition to the foundation education aid provided pursuant to § 16-7.2-3, the permanent foundation education-aid program shall provide direct state funding for:
(a) Excess costs associated with special education students. Excess costs are defined when an individual special education student's cost shall be deemed to be “extraordinary.” Extraordinary costs are those educational costs that exceed the state-approved threshold based on an amount LC006319 - Page 3 of 8 above four times the core foundation amount (total of core instruction amount plus student success amount). The department of elementary and secondary education shall prorate the funds available for distribution among those eligible school districts if the total approved costs for which school districts are seeking reimbursement exceed the amount of funding appropriated in any fiscal year; and the department of elementary and secondary education shall also collect data on those educational costs that exceed the state-approved threshold based on an amount above two (2), three (3), and five (5) times the core foundation amount;
(b) Career and technical education costs to help meet initial investment requirements needed to transform existing, or create new, comprehensive, career and technical education programs and career pathways in critical and emerging industries and to help offset the higher- than-average costs associated with facilities, equipment maintenance and repair, and supplies necessary for maintaining the quality of highly specialized programs that are a priority for the state. The department shall develop criteria for the purpose of allocating any and all career and technical education funds as may be determined by the general assembly on an annual basis. The department of elementary and secondary education shall prorate the funds available for distribution among those eligible school districts if the total approved costs for which school districts are seeking reimbursement exceed the amount of funding available in any fiscal year;
(c) Programs to increase access to voluntary, free, high-quality pre-kindergarten programs. The department shall recommend criteria for the purpose of allocating any and all early childhood program funds as may be determined by the general assembly;
(d)(1) Central Falls, Davies, and the Met Center Stabilization Fund is established to ensure that appropriate funding is available to support their students. Additional support for Central Falls is needed due to concerns regarding the city's limited capacity to meet the local share of education costs. This fund requires that education aid calculated pursuant to § 16-7.2-3 and funding for costs outside the permanent foundation education-aid formula, including, but not limited to, transportation, facility maintenance, and retiree health benefits, tuition payments for outplaced special education students, and tuition payments to other public schools, shall be shared between the state and the city of Central Falls. The fund shall be annually reviewed to determine the amount of the state and city appropriation. The state's share of this fund may be supported through a reallocation of current state appropriations to the Central Falls school district. At the end of the transition period defined in § 16-7.2-7, the municipality will continue its contribution pursuant to § 16-7-24.
(2) The total amount allocated to the Central Falls Stabilization Fund shall be equal to the sum of: LC006319 - Page 4 of 8
(i) The difference between Central Falls school district's foundation education aid, calculated pursuant to § 16-7.2-3(a), and the state's share of Central Falls school district's foundation education aid, calculated pursuant to § 16-7.2-4; and
(ii) Funding for all costs outside the permanent foundation education-aid formula, calculated according to the most recently published Universal Charter of Accounts (UCOA) expenditures data for Central Falls school district, with adjustments for inflation and the percentage change in the resident average daily membership for the city of Central Falls. Beginning in FY2027 and in every year thereafter, the city of Central Falls shall allocate to the Central Falls Stabilization Fund an amount at least equal to the sum of:
(A) One percent (1%) of the city's prior year total tax levy; and
(B) The city's prior year contribution to the Central Falls Stabilization Fund.
(3) Beginning in FY2027, there shall be a contribution from the school district's fund balance in an amount in accordance with the final report of the Special Joint Legislative Commission to Study the Return of Central Falls Schools to Local Governance with a target end point that meets GFOA standards and aligns with RIDE's fiscal accountability standards and annual reporting to ensure adequate funding of the foundation education aid for all Central Falls students. The state shall allocate the balance of the Central Falls Stabilization Fund. The city shall annually assume responsibility for any deficit incurred by the Central Falls school district. No later than September 2030, as preparation for the FY2032 budgeting process, this funding arrangement shall be reviewed and, if deemed necessary by mutual agreement of the state and city, amended.
(4) Davies and the Met Center Stabilization Fund is established to ensure that appropriate funding is available to support their students. Additional support for the Davies and the Met Center is needed due to the costs associated with running a stand-alone high school offering both academic and career and technical coursework. The department shall recommend criteria for the purpose of allocating any and all stabilization funds for Davies and the Met Center as may be determined by the general assembly;
(e) Excess costs associated with transporting students to out-of-district non-public schools. This fund will provide state funding for the costs associated with transporting students to out-of- district non-public schools, pursuant to chapter 21.1 of this title. The state will assume the costs of non-public out-of-district transportation for those districts participating in the statewide system. The department of elementary and secondary education shall prorate the funds available for distribution among those eligible school districts if the total approved costs for which school districts are seeking reimbursement exceed the amount of funding available in any fiscal year;
(f) Excess costs associated with transporting students within regional school districts. This LC006319 - Page 5 of 8 fund will provide direct state funding for the excess costs associated with transporting students within regional school districts, established pursuant to chapter 3 of this title. This fund requires that the state and regional school district share equally the student transportation costs net any federal sources of revenue for these expenditures. The department of elementary and secondary education shall prorate the funds available for distribution among those eligible school districts if the total approved costs for which school districts are seeking reimbursement exceed the amount of funding available in any fiscal year;
(g) Public school districts that are regionalized shall be eligible for a regionalization bonus as set forth below:
(1) As used herein, the term “regionalized” shall be deemed to refer to a regional school district established under the provisions of chapter 3 of this title, including the Chariho Regional School district;
(2) For those districts that are regionalized as of July 1, 2010, the regionalization bonus shall commence in FY 2012. For those districts that regionalize after July 1, 2010, the regionalization bonus shall commence in the first fiscal year following the establishment of a regionalized school district as set forth in chapter 3 of this title, including the Chariho Regional School District;
(3) The regionalization bonus in the first fiscal year shall be two percent (2.0%) of the state's share of the foundation education aid for the regionalized district as calculated pursuant to §§ 16-7.2-3 and 16-7.2-4 in that fiscal year;
(4) The regionalization bonus in the second fiscal year shall be one percent (1.0%) of the state's share of the foundation education aid for the regionalized district as calculated pursuant to §§ 16-7.2-3 and 16-7.2-4 in that fiscal year;
(5) The regionalization bonus shall cease in the third fiscal year;
(6) The regionalization bonus for the Chariho regional school district shall be applied to the state share of the permanent foundation education aid for the member towns; and
(7) The department of elementary and secondary education shall prorate the funds available for distribution among those eligible regionalized school districts if the total, approved costs for which regionalized school districts are seeking a regionalization bonus exceed the amount of funding appropriated in any fiscal year;
(h) [Deleted by P.L. 2024, ch. 117, art. 8, § 1.] (i) State support for school resource officers. For purposes of this subsection, a school resource officer (SRO) shall be defined as a career law enforcement officer with sworn authority who is deployed by an employing police department or agency in a community-oriented policing LC006319 - Page 6 of 8 assignment to work in collaboration with one or more schools. School resource officers should have completed at least forty (40) hours of specialized training in school policing, administered by an accredited agency, before being assigned. Beginning in FY 2019, for a period of three (3) years, school districts or municipalities that choose to employ school resource officers shall receive direct state support for costs associated with employing such officers at public middle and high schools. Districts or municipalities shall be reimbursed an amount equal to one-half (½) of the cost of salaries and benefits for the qualifying positions. Funding will be provided for school resource officer positions established on or after July 1, 2018, provided that:
(1) Each school resource officer shall be assigned to one school:
(i) Schools with enrollments below one thousand two hundred (1,200) students shall require one school resource officer;
(ii) Schools with enrollments of one thousand two hundred (1,200) or more students shall require two school resource officers;
(2) School resource officers hired in excess of the requirement noted above shall not be eligible for reimbursement; and
(3) Schools that eliminate existing school resource officer positions and create new positions under this provision shall not be eligible for reimbursement; and
(j) Categorical programs defined in subsections (a) through (g) shall be funded pursuant to the transition plan in § 16-7.2-7.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
SECTION 2. Section 16-7.2-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7.2 entitled "The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
16-7.2-6. Categorical programs, state funded expenses.
In addition to the foundation education aid provided pursuant to § 16-7.2-3, the permanent foundation education-aid program shall provide direct state funding for:
(a) Excess costs associated with special education students. Excess costs are defined when an individual special education student's cost shall be deemed to be “extraordinary.” Extraordinary costs are those educational costs that exceed the state-approved threshold based on an amount LC006319 - Page 3 of 8 above four times the core foundation amount (total of core instruction amount plus student success amount). The department of elementary and secondary education shall prorate the funds available for distribution among those eligible school districts if the total approved costs for which school districts are seeking reimbursement exceed the amount of funding appropriated in any fiscal year; and the department of elementary and secondary education shall also collect data on those educational costs that exceed the state-approved threshold based on an amount above two (2), three (3), and five (5) times the core foundation amount;
(b) Career and technical education costs to help meet initial investment requirements needed to transform existing, or create new, comprehensive, career and technical education programs and career pathways in critical and emerging industries and to help offset the higher- than-average costs associated with facilities, equipment maintenance and repair, and supplies necessary for maintaining the quality of highly specialized programs that are a priority for the state. The department shall develop criteria for the purpose of allocating any and all career and technical education funds as may be determined by the general assembly on an annual basis. The department of elementary and secondary education shall prorate the funds available for distribution among those eligible school districts if the total approved costs for which school districts are seeking reimbursement exceed the amount of funding available in any fiscal year;
(c) Programs to increase access to voluntary, free, high-quality pre-kindergarten programs. The department shall recommend criteria for the purpose of allocating any and all early childhood program funds as may be determined by the general assembly;
(d)(1) Central Falls
(2) The total amount allocated to the Central Falls Stabilization Fund shall be equal to the sum of: LC006319 - Page 4 of 8
(i) The difference between Central Falls school district's foundation education aid, calculated pursuant to § 16-7.2-3(a), and the state's share of Central Falls school district's foundation education aid, calculated pursuant to § 16-7.2-4; and
(ii) Funding for all costs outside the permanent foundation education-aid formula, calculated according to the most recently published Universal Charter of Accounts (UCOA) expenditures data for Central Falls school district, with adjustments for inflation and the percentage change in the resident average daily membership for the city of Central Falls. Beginning in FY2027 and in every year thereafter, the city of Central Falls shall allocate to the Central Falls Stabilization Fund an amount at least equal to the sum of:
(A) One percent (1%) of the city's prior year total tax levy; and
(B) The city's prior year contribution to the Central Falls Stabilization Fund.
(3) Beginning in FY2027, there shall be a contribution from the school district's fund balance in an amount in accordance with the final report of the Special Joint Legislative Commission to Study the Return of Central Falls Schools to Local Governance with a target end point that meets GFOA standards and aligns with RIDE's fiscal accountability standards and annual reporting to ensure adequate funding of the foundation education aid for all Central Falls students. The state shall allocate the balance of the Central Falls Stabilization Fund. The city shall annually assume responsibility for any deficit incurred by the Central Falls school district. No later than September 2030, as preparation for the FY2032 budgeting process, this funding arrangement shall be reviewed and, if deemed necessary by mutual agreement of the state and city, amended.
(4) Davies and the Met Center Stabilization Fund is established to ensure that appropriate funding is available to support their students. Additional support for the Davies and the Met Center is needed due to the costs associated with running a stand-alone high school offering both academic and career and technical coursework. The department shall recommend criteria for the purpose of allocating any and all stabilization funds for Davies and the Met Center as may be determined by the general assembly;
(e) Excess costs associated with transporting students to out-of-district non-public schools. This fund will provide state funding for the costs associated with transporting students to out-of- district non-public schools, pursuant to chapter 21.1 of this title. The state will assume the costs of non-public out-of-district transportation for those districts participating in the statewide system. The department of elementary and secondary education shall prorate the funds available for distribution among those eligible school districts if the total approved costs for which school districts are seeking reimbursement exceed the amount of funding available in any fiscal year;
(f) Excess costs associated with transporting students within regional school districts. This LC006319 - Page 5 of 8 fund will provide direct state funding for the excess costs associated with transporting students within regional school districts, established pursuant to chapter 3 of this title. This fund requires that the state and regional school district share equally the student transportation costs net any federal sources of revenue for these expenditures. The department of elementary and secondary education shall prorate the funds available for distribution among those eligible school districts if the total approved costs for which school districts are seeking reimbursement exceed the amount of funding available in any fiscal year;
(g) Public school districts that are regionalized shall be eligible for a regionalization bonus as set forth below:
(1) As used herein, the term “regionalized” shall be deemed to refer to a regional school district established under the provisions of chapter 3 of this title, including the Chariho Regional School district;
(2) For those districts that are regionalized as of July 1, 2010, the regionalization bonus shall commence in FY 2012. For those districts that regionalize after July 1, 2010, the regionalization bonus shall commence in the first fiscal year following the establishment of a regionalized school district as set forth in chapter 3 of this title, including the Chariho Regional School District;
(3) The regionalization bonus in the first fiscal year shall be two percent (2.0%) of the state's share of the foundation education aid for the regionalized district as calculated pursuant to §§ 16-7.2-3 and 16-7.2-4 in that fiscal year;
(4) The regionalization bonus in the second fiscal year shall be one percent (1.0%) of the state's share of the foundation education aid for the regionalized district as calculated pursuant to §§ 16-7.2-3 and 16-7.2-4 in that fiscal year;
(5) The regionalization bonus shall cease in the third fiscal year;
(6) The regionalization bonus for the Chariho regional school district shall be applied to the state share of the permanent foundation education aid for the member towns; and
(7) The department of elementary and secondary education shall prorate the funds available for distribution among those eligible regionalized school districts if the total, approved costs for which regionalized school districts are seeking a regionalization bonus exceed the amount of funding appropriated in any fiscal year;
(h) [Deleted by P.L. 2024, ch. 117, art. 8, § 1.] (i) State support for school resource officers. For purposes of this subsection, a school resource officer (SRO) shall be defined as a career law enforcement officer with sworn authority who is deployed by an employing police department or agency in a community-oriented policing LC006319 - Page 6 of 8 assignment to work in collaboration with one or more schools. School resource officers should have completed at least forty (40) hours of specialized training in school policing, administered by an accredited agency, before being assigned. Beginning in FY 2019, for a period of three (3) years, school districts or municipalities that choose to employ school resource officers shall receive direct state support for costs associated with employing such officers at public middle and high schools. Districts or municipalities shall be reimbursed an amount equal to one-half (½) of the cost of salaries and benefits for the qualifying positions. Funding will be provided for school resource officer positions established on or after July 1, 2018, provided that:
(1) Each school resource officer shall be assigned to one school:
(i) Schools with enrollments below one thousand two hundred (1,200) students shall require one school resource officer;
(ii) Schools with enrollments of one thousand two hundred (1,200) or more students shall require two school resource officers;
(2) School resource officers hired in excess of the requirement noted above shall not be eligible for reimbursement; and
(3) Schools that eliminate existing school resource officer positions and create new positions under this provision shall not be eligible for reimbursement; and
(j) Categorical programs defined in subsections (a) through (g) shall be funded pursuant to the transition plan in § 16-7.2-7.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.