New law links college funding to performance

By: The Associated Press

news@abc.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I.-   Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo signed a new law is linking state aid to Rhode Island’s public colleges to how they are performing.

Governor Raimondo signed the legislation into law Thursday.

Institutions of higher learning all over Rhode Island will now have to achieve certain goals in order to get more funding.

Getting students to graduate on time and increasing how many are getting degrees in high-demand and high-wage fields are the proposed goals for this new law.

Democratic Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed sponsored the bill and says it will help the state close a skills gap.

The sponsors say Massachusetts, as well as 31 other states use performance measures to allocate funding.

Connecticut and four other states are moving in that direction.

They say Rhode Island’s law isn’t punitive because colleges can get money to meet the goals.

© WLNE-TV / ABC6  2016