[complete report]

LAW

Year Passed

1995; last amended in 2008.

Rank

8th weakest of the nation's 40 charter laws.

Grade

D

GENERAL DATA

• Traditional contracts and rules apply to all charters limiting any freedom to innovate

• Limitations on the number of remaining charters hinders growth

• Cumbersome approval process

MULTIPLE AUTHORIZERS - NO

Approval

State Board of Regents, after the charter has been approved by the local school committee or the state commissioner of elementary and secondary education. Mayoral academies apply directly to Regents.

Appeal

None

NUMBER OF SCHOOLS ALLOWED

Cap

Yes. 20 charters allowed in state, serving no more than 4 percent of students statewide.

OPERATIONAL AUTONOMY

State

No. Waiver requests considered on a case-by-case basis. Virtual schools are not allowed. Contracts or ESP partnerships limited to mayoral academies.

Local

No. Waiver requests considered on a case-by-case basis. Fiscal autonomy dependent on negotiation with school district. Mayoral academies have more freedoms than other charter schools regarding personnel.

Teacher Freedom

No. Teachers are covered by district bargaining agreement, unless otherwise negotiated and approved (this has yet to happen). Charter schools must participate in state's retirement system.

EQUITY

Student Funding

• Funding follows students based on district of residence.

• State deducts 5 percent from the formula and gives that money to the school district as impact aid.

• No additional funding for educating special needs students.

• Funds pass through the district and state.

• Average per pupil revenue - $12,077

"It is the intent of the general assembly that funding pursuant to this chapter shall be neither a financial incentive nor a financial disincentive to the establishment of a charter school. Funding for each charter public school shall consist of state revenue and municipal or district revenue in the same proportions that funding is provided for other schools within the school district in which the charter public school is located. (b) The amount of funding which shall be allocated to the charter public school by the school district shall be equal to a percentage of the total budgeted expenses of the district which is determined by dividing the number of students enrolled in the charter public school by the total resident average daily number of students in the school district." [§ RI 16-77-6]

Facilities Funding

None