2024-25 Resolution of the Council, re:

MIDDLETOWN TOWN COUNCIL RESOLUTION

Educational Funding Formula

SECTION I

WHEREAS: In 2011, Rhode Island implemented a Foundation-based Funding Formula. The new Formula followed years of arbitrary education funding. A key element of the Formula is the Core Instructional Amount (CIA). The CIA funds essential education costs required by Rhode Island’s Basic Education Program. The CIA is calculated using average expenditure and enrollment data from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. Under current law, the CIA will, in FY 2025, increase to $12,617, a 6.2% increase. The Governor’s proposed FY 2025 budget would index CIA funding to the Consumer Price Index and cap it to a 3.7% increase, or $12,335. As a result, Local Education Agencies would realize a $26 million reduction in formula aid, and Rhode Island’s per pupil expenditure average would fall further behind the other New England states.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Middletown Town Council urges the members of the General Assembly to maintain CIA funding at the existing level for FY 2025 and beyond.

SECTION II

WHEREAS: In FY2024, the Rhode Island General Assembly increased the categorical funding for Multi Language Learners (MLL) from 10% of the Core Instructional Amount (CIA) to 15%, increasing funding to $20 million, and also directed the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) to develop objective benchmarks consistent with the WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment) Consortium for determining student English proficiency by October 1, 2023, and

WHEREAS: Heretofore, RIDE has yet to develop WIDA-compliant benchmarks.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Middletown Town Council urges the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education to direct RIDE staff to develop English proficiency benchmarks as soon as possible.

SECTION III

WHEREAS: The Rhode Island General Assembly increased the High-Cost Special Education categorical fund to $15 million by lowering the reimbursement threshold from five times the Core Instructional Amount (CIA) plus the student success factor to four times. And reducing it to three times would provide an additional $25 million to LEAs to meet this critical need;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Middletown Town Council urges the members of the General Assembly to increase the High-Cost Special Education categorical fund by lowering the reimbursement threshold and the student success factor to three times the Core Instructional Amount (CIA) and provide full funding in the future, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the Town of Middletown State Legislators, the Honorable Daniel J. McKee, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Honorable K. Joseph Shekarchi, Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, the Honorable Dominick J. Ruggerio, President of the Rhode Island Senate, and the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education.

**SECTION IV

WHEREAS: The Governor’s FY2025 Budget includes a reduction of $641,533 in the calculation of State Education Aid due to many factors including a continuous drop in enrollment and a 19.8% increase in the Town’s adjusted property value;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Middletown Town Council urges the members of the General Assembly to transfer an additional $320,767 in State Education Aid from the increase to the public charter schools.

**Amended by Council

MAY 6, 2024

READ AND PASSED IN COUNCIL, AS AMENDED

Wendy J. W. Marshall, MMC
Town Clerk