Gallo, All-Day K Champion, Appointed to Gov's School Funding Commission

Cranston stood to gain and doesn’t want to lose if changes are made to the statewide school funding formula.

When the formula changed in 2010, Cranston was on the receiving end of millions more in state supplemental aid for education, thanks in part to Sen. Hannah M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick) who introduced the legislation that created the Fair Funding Formula.

Now, the formula is under review again and Gallo will once again have a key seat at the table.

Gallo, who has focused on all-day kindergarten across the state in recent years, among other issues, has been appointed serve on the Education Funding Formula Review Commission.

Governor Gina Raimondo announced the appointment on Friday.

“A significant part of jumpstarting our economy and creating opportunity for everyone is making sure our kids have access to the best education,” Raimondo said. “Rhode Island has a strong formula and it is a model for other states. However all key public policies benefit from regular review. After five years, it is time for a fresh look to review our education funding structure.”

In a statement, Gallo said that the formula was passed in 2010 with an understanding it would be reviewed. She said she’s honored to serve and eager to identify and fix problems that may have arisen.

The formula allocates state aid to public schools based on student enrollment, student poverty levels, and community wealth.

“All the state’s children must enjoy the success that comes with proficiency in skill and knowledge,” Gallo said. “We must continue to close the inequitable resource gaps among school districts and schools and we must close the inequitable gaps in performance and achievement among the different groups of students, especially those correlated with poverty, gender, special needs and language background.”

The Governor has asked the Working Group to explore several themes:

• Fairness across school types: Our funding formula must be fair and supported by data.
• Flexibility and sufficiency: Our funding formula must enable prudent and sustainable flexibility at the district, school, and student levels.
• Responsiveness to unique needs: Our families, communities, and schools have unique needs, and the funding formula needs to account for and accommodate these unique needs.
• Fiscal responsibility: Our funding formula needs to direct resources to the areas in which they are needed most and the funding formula must encourage savings and efficiency whenever possible
• Improved Outcomes: Our funding formula needs to invest these resources wisely to ensure improved outcomes.

The group will provide the Governor with a draft report of its initial findings and recommendations by Jan. 1. In order to engage the public and to ensure transparency, the group will meet in public session at locations across Rhode Island.