Court hearing to be held on PPSD funding

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A court hearing today could decide how much the city of Providence will need to provide Providence Public Schools.

The hearing comes after a judge ruled that Providence must increase its funding for the state-run school district under the Crowley Act.

The Crowley Act states that municipal funding for school districts under state intervention must be increased by the same percentage as the increase in statewide school aid.

The Superintendent of PPSD, Javier Montañez, said the state has given over $30 million to Providence, while the city has only given $5.5 million this year alone.

Last month, Montañez gave the city a 24-hour ultimatum of providing the district an additional $10.9 million.

Mayor Brett Smiley warned last week that this ruling may force the city to make tough decisions, including service cuts and tax hikes.

“We are going to have no choice but to have harmful cuts and potentially new taxes that are going to impact the very same children and families that the school department says they are trying to help,” said Smiley

This case has sparked outrage among students, who held a walkout last week to protest years of underfunding.

Some students told ABC6 that it’s a dual responsibility between the city and the state for the district to get the money it needs.

We’re also expecting to learn more on the specific cuts Providence officials will make to other departments.