Revises the calculation for the student success factor in the education-aid formula by adding an additional multiplier for twenty-five percent (25%) for each resident child who is identified as a multilingual learner.

Plain-English Summary

This bill proposes a change to how Rhode Island calculates state education funding for local school districts. Currently, the state uses a formula that includes something called a "student success factor," which gives extra funding to schools based on certain student characteristics — like students from low-income families or those with disabilities. This bill would add a new piece to that formula, giving schools an additional 25% funding boost for each student who is identified as a multilingual learner (a student who is still developing their English language skills and speaks another language at home).

In practical terms, this means that school districts with more multilingual learners — often called English Language Learners or ELL students — would receive more state education aid than they currently do. The idea is that these students often require additional resources, such as specialized teachers, translated materials, and extra instructional support, which can cost more than educating students who are already proficient in English.

This bill would directly affect Rhode Island school districts that serve multilingual learner populations, potentially increasing the funding they receive from the state. It would also affect multilingual learner students and their families, as more funding could mean better language support services and educational resources. The bill has been introduced and referred to the House Finance Committee, where members will review its potential cost to the state budget before it can move forward.