The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative
The proposed legislation outlines that if a school or district does not show improvement after a three-year period of support, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will take increasing levels of control over the school's governance, budget, and personnel decisions. This could lead to major changes in the management of failing schools, including potential reconstitution or restructuring of leadership and operations. The bill also requires that local school committees continue to fund these schools at least at the previous year's levels plus any incremental increases related to state funding.
House Bill 8117, known as 'The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative', aims to amend existing education laws to enhance intervention strategies for underperforming schools in Rhode Island. The bill proposes to provide a structured framework for the state's board of regents to engage in progressive support and intervention for schools and school districts that consistently fail to meet specified performance goals. It emphasizes technical assistance in areas like improvement planning, curriculum alignment, and community involvement to boost educational outcomes.
One of the notable points of contention surrounding HB 8117 is the change in the funding structure, particularly the provision to eliminate the requirement that local educational funding, or maintenance of effort, must increase at the same pace as state aid. Critics argue that this could undermine local control and lead to disparities in educational quality across districts. Supporters, however, believe that centralizing control during periods of underperformance is essential to ensure accountability and to drive improvements in education standards.