Report: Education funding disparities hitting some Rhode Island districts

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — An extensive, deep dive report into the state of education in Rhode Island highlights some concerning discrepancies between charter schools and traditional schools in the Ocean State. 

“Students with additional learning needs require additional resources and additional investments in education to support those additional learning needs to ensure they have the same outcomes as the other peers here,” according to the report. 

The 11-page report published Wednesday morning by the Rhode Island League of Charter Schools focuses on five major discrepancies found in an analysis of schools in the state. 

The first, a major disconnect between student needs and funding made available by the state, as well as student success factors.  

“The current system on an output perspective provides fewer resources on a per student basis for students in charter districts compared to traditional students statewide,” said the report. 

The report by the League of Charter School claims students attending charter schools receive less funding than those attending traditional private schools, and districts with larger populations of multi-lingual, and students with disabilities receive no additional state funding. 

The study found, on average, there is a nearly $1,500 deficit in funding for charter school students than traditional public schools. 

But for the three largest charter communities, Providence, Pawtucket and Central Falls, the gap is much larger, coming in at around $2,900. 

Beyond just the classroom, the League of Charter Schools analysis also found discrepancies in transportation for charter school students, saying the state provides funding for 50 percent of the cost of transportation for regional districts, but none for charter districts. 

And with many charter students commuting from other cities and towns to school, they are put at a great disadvantage.