Rhode Island § 16-7-20 - Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]
Full text of Rhode Island Rhode Island General Laws § 16-7-20 — Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act], with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 16-7-20. Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7-20
§ 16-7-20. Determination of state’s share.
(a) For each community the state’s share shall be computed as follows: Let
| R | = | state share ratio for the community. | |
| v | = | adjusted equalized weighted assessed valuation for the community, as defined in § 16-7-21(3). | |
| V | = | sum of the values of v for all communities. | |
| m | = | average daily membership of pupils in the community as defined in § 16-7-22. | |
| M | = | total average daily membership of pupils in the state. | |
| E | = | approved reimbursable expenditures for the community for the reference year minus the excess costs of special education, tuitions, federal and state receipts, and other income. |
Then the state share entitlement for the community shall be RE where
R = 1 – 0.5vM/(Vm) through June 30, 2011, and R = 1 – 0.475 vM/(Vm) beginning on July 1, 2011 and thereafter.
Except that in no case shall R be less than zero percent (0%).
(b) Whenever any funds are appropriated for educational purposes, the funds shall be used for educational purposes only and all state funds appropriated for educational purposes must be used to supplement any and all money allocated by a city or town for educational purposes and in no event shall state funds be used to supplant, directly or indirectly, any money allocated by a city or town for educational purposes. The courts of this state shall enforce this section by writ of mandamus.
(c) Notwithstanding the calculations in subsection (a), the hospital school at the Hasbro Children’s Hospital shall be reimbursed one hundred percent (100%) of all expenditures approved by the council on elementary and secondary education in accordance with currently existing rules and regulations for administering state aid, and subject to annual appropriations by the general assembly including, but not limited to, expenditures for educational personnel, supplies, and materials in the prior fiscal year.
(d) In the event the computation of the state’s share for any local education agency as outlined in subsection (a) is determined to have been calculated incorrectly after the state budget for that fiscal year has been enacted, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall notify affected local education agencies, the senate president, and the speaker of the house within fifteen (15) days of the determination.
(e) Realignment of aid payments to the affected local education agencies pursuant to subsection (d) shall occur in the following fiscal year:
(1) If the determination shows aid is underpaid to the local education agency, any amounts owed shall be paid in equal monthly installments.
(2) If the determination shows aid was overpaid, the department of elementary and secondary education shall recapture some amount of the aid from the overpaid local education agency. The amount to be withheld shall be equal to the amount of the overpayment prorated to the number of full months remaining in the fiscal year when the notification required in subsection (d) was made.
(f) The above notwithstanding, in no event shall the total paid to a local education agency in the 2023 fiscal year pursuant to subsection (a) be reduced as a result of the implementation of subsection (e); provided, however, that for the 2022 fiscal year, the full amount of any payment due to an underpayment and realignment under subsection (e)(1) shall be made for fiscal year 2022.
(g) Data used for the calculation of the FY 2022 state share ratio shall also be used for the calculation of the FY 2023 state share ratio.
History of Section.
P.L. 1960, ch. 27, § 6; P.L. 1964, ch. 242, art. 7, § 1; P.L. 1967, ch. 160, § 3;
P.L. 1973, ch. 214, § 1; P.L. 1976, ch. 130, § 1; P.L. 1976, ch. 198, art. 6, § 1;
P.L. 1979, ch. 234, §§ 1, 2; P.L. 1980, ch. 152, § 5; P.L. 1980, ch. 264, § 1; P.L.
1981, ch. 23, § 1; P.L. 1981, ch. 367, § 1; P.L. 1982, ch. 305, § 1; P.L. 1982, ch.
344, art. 7, § 2; P.L. 1983, ch. 134, § 1; P.L. 1983, ch. 167, art. 7, § 1; P.L. 1984,
ch. 245, art. XII, § 2; P.L. 1986, ch. 198, § 9; P.L. 1987, ch. 270, § 1; P.L. 1988,
ch. 84, § 74; P.L. 1988, ch. 336, § 10; P.L. 1989, ch. 126, art. 39, § 1; P.L. 1989,
ch. 126, art. 53, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 487, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 44, art. 39, § 1; P.L.
1992, ch. 133, art. 43, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 70, art. 15, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 70, art.
28, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 331, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 370, art. 18, § 2; P.L. 1995, ch.
376, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 68, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 86, § 31; P.L. 2010, ch. 124, § 1;
P.L. 2010, ch. 125, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 88, art. 9, § 1; P.L. 2022, ch. 231, art.
10, § 1, effective June 27, 2022; P.L. 2023, ch. 79, art. 8, § 1, effective June 16,
2023.
Source: official Rhode Island text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Rhode Island § 16-7-20
What does Rhode Island General Laws § 16-7-20 cover?
Section 16-7-20 ("Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]") is part of the Rhode Island General Laws, the codified statutory law of Rhode Island. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Rhode Island § 16-7-20?
A common citation format is "Rhode Island General Laws § 16-7-20" (Rhode Island). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Rhode Island law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Rhode Island official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Rhode Island attorney.
How does Rhode Island § 16-7-20 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Rhode Island can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Rhode Island.