PROVIDENCE - Providence Democratic mayoral candidate Angel Taveras today called for swift action by the General Assembly to create a fair, equitable and predictable funding formula for state education aid.

“Rhode Island is the only state in the nation without a state education funding formula,” Taveras notes.  “As recently as last March, 39 members of the House co-sponsored Representative Ajello’s bill for a funding formula, but the legislature has failed to get it done. This has to be the year.  Our children, our parents and our taxpayers can’t wait any longer.”

With 23,500 students, Providence is by far the largest school district, educating at least twice as many students as any other district in the state.  Over 85% of Providence students qualify for free or reduced lunch, over 14% are English Language Learners, and more than 18% have special learning needs [Providence Schools Data Dashboard March 1, 2010].  Yet although Providence students have tremendous need, they do not receive the share of State funding they need and deserve.

Taveras cites four key reasons why the passage of a funding formula is imperative:

• Providence students have gone without for far too long. Absent an equitable state funding formula, Providence has been underfunded by millions for at least a decade, making it impossible to ensure that Providence schools provide the support students need.  Academic achievement gaps persist between Providence’s students and their suburban peers.  And everyone who has explored the issue of a funding formula, including the General Assembly’s Joint Commission to Establish a Permanent Education Foundation Aid Formula, has reached the same conclusion:  it costs significantly more to educate children who live in poverty, require special educational services, or come to school as English Language Learners.  It is time to end these inequities now, provide fair funding, and give our students the support they deserve so they can be successful.
• Providence taxpayers can’t wait any longer for relief from an unfair tax burden. Because education aid is allocated based on last year’s funding amounts, and does not take into account student enrollment figures, student need, and the local district's ability to raise property taxes, districts with fewer students have been receiving disproportionately larger shares of the education funding based on programs put in place years ago. Allocating future funding based on last year’s subsidy means the inequities grow each year.  With school expenditures representing more than 50% of our city budget, cuts to state funding inevitably lead to increased property taxes.  Our taxpayers need relief now.
• Local governments deserve a predictable and equitable funding formula. Without a funding formula, our Superintendent, School Board, City Council, and Mayor are forced to develop Providence’s school budget based on guesswork, often hearing at the last minute what aid has been apportioned.  For the last few years, the net result has been cut after cut to Providence’s school aid.
• Rhode Island's "Race to the Top" application.  Just today, Rhode Island was selected as 1 of 15 states as finalists in the $4 billion federal Race to the Top competition, designed to reward states that embrace reforms to improve schools.  The lack of a funding formula,though, places Rhode Island at a disadvantage for winning this critical funding for our schools.

“Providence students and families deserve an adequate, equitable and predictable funding formula," Taveras asserted.  "I urge the General Assembly to enact one this session.  Rhode Island needs to join every other state with enactment of a fair funding formula, and join those states with best education practices in setting a goal of increasing the State share of education funding from its current 36% to closer to 50% in order to truly support our youth.  The state must pay their fair share."

“I support the Providence City Council’s efforts as they consider whether to authorize an expenditure to have Providence join Woonsocket and Pawtucket in bringing suit against the state for their failure to properly fund public education in Providence,” continued Taveras.  "As Mayor, I will use every tool at my disposal to ensure that a fair funding formula is implemented: for our children's sake and for our taxpayer's sake."