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4/22/2024
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Rep. O’Brien stands with North Providence School Committee; calls for reversal of planned education funding cuts
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STATE HOUSE – Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence) is standing firmly behind a North Providence School Committee resolution that seeks to prevent state funding cuts for North Providence schools. The resolution, which was passed on Feb. 28, calls for changes to the state education funding formula, which would cost North Providence schools over $1 million.
“Now is not the time to cut education funding for our students and families. The current budget proposal by the administration will deprive North Providence students of significant and crucial funding that will jeopardize the progress we have seen following the devastating educational impacts of the pandemic. At a recent meeting of the House Finance Subcommittee on Education, I asked the commissioner how are we supposed to go back to our districts and tell our constituents that we are cutting education funding and I received no response. North Providence students deserve a change in this flawed budget proposal and I will be heavily advocating for their interests on the House Finance Committee,” said Representative O’Brien.
“I support Representative O’Brien’s position regarding state aid to education and I look forward to working with him to ensure future success for North Providence’s students,” said Dr. Frank Pallotta, chair of the North Providence School Committee.
The resolution calls for the General Assembly to maintain Core Instructional Amount funding, which calls for a 6.2 percent increase, after the governor proposed only a 3.7 percent increase. It also calls on the General Assembly to direct the Rhode Island Department of Education to develop English proficiency benchmarks and for the General Assembly to lower the High-Cost Special Education categorical fund to three times, which would provide more critical funding to North Providence schools for special education programs.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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