Lawmakers seek answers in faulty school funding estimates
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Lou DiPalma, a Middletown Democrat, holds his head during during a committee hearing on Thursday, May 22, 2025, during a presentation on a state enrollment data debacle that may leave Rhode Island public schools underfunded by about $24 million. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
An outdated calculation by the state education department and Gov. Dan McKee's budget office last fall now leaves Rhode Island schools facing a $24 million budget shortfall. 'This is not your fault, but it is your problem,' Sen. Jonathon Acosta, a Central Falls Democrat, told Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) officials at a legislative hearing Thursday. 'It's our problem.'
The discrepancy was driven by the data, or lack thereof, on low-income and multilingual learner students in the state. Both populations factor in the statewide education funding formula that determines aid to local school districts.
The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) generates enrollment numbers in March and October, using data provided by school districts. Typically, the governor's budget office uses the March data when preparing the education funding formula around August, ahead of the release of the governor's budget the following January.
But this time round, McKee's office used the October 2024 data collected by RIDE, which showed declining enrollment overall, and therefore fewer students in poverty. The new March numbers, according to RIDE, showed things swinging in the opposite direction, with more English learners and students living in poverty than accounted for in the fiscal 2026 budget McKee submitted months ago.
'The October data hasn't been great the last few years,' Mark Dunham, the education department's finance director, told senators. 'And then 2025 was the first year that October was used.'
The discrepancy includes roughly $12 million in basic education aid and another $12 million tied to the Student Success Factor, a weight in the state's school funding formula that gives additional support to districts with many students living in poverty.
For fiscal year 2025, the state began using October enrollment figures instead, and RIDE reported a total enrollment of 136,000 students, while the governor's budget used 134,000 for the number of students statewide. The March 2025 update later corrected the count to 135,600 — revealing a roughly 1,000-student gap between RIDE's projection and the updated total.
'OK, so the numbers in October were incomplete for your assessment, we [now] believe the numbers in March are complete,' said committee chair and Middletown Democratic Sen. Lou DiPalma. 'I'm trying to understand how we have a new set of data here. How do we believe what we have that this is correct? How do I know that the 39 cities and towns that provide the data are still not incomplete?'
'It looks to us that they did not completely update their poverty numbers,' Dunham said of local school districts who had to submit data.
The state currently uses food stamps and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) enrollment to calculate student poverty, applying a 1.6 multiplier to estimate the real total need. RIDE has also considered matching students through Medicaid, but the state has not yet fully incorporated it into the formula.
'An overwhelming number of states in the country use Medicaid match as their proxy for poverty,' Dunham said, then described what that approach could mean to the state budget. 'At the time we suggested it, it was about a $20 million number. Now, with all the new data we have, the enrollment updates, it's a $40 million number.'
Victor Morente, a RIDE spokesperson, said in an email Thursday, that RIDE updates the data twice a year as part of its own preparation for submitting a budget request to the governor.
'At this time, research is ongoing to determine if there is an actual under identification,' Morente said.
Legislation in 2022 changed how students are counted, Morente said, which may have resulted in the undercount.
'We were probably under-counting the number of students in poverty in certain districts,' Office of Management and Budget Director Brian Daniels told lawmakers. 'And the broader way of fixing it…is changing your student success factor based on the wealth of each individual community.'
'But if you do that … are you setting 40% [aid] as the floor, or is that the starting point?…It gets very complicated, because in that case, you have winners and losers. So I think this is a longer term issue. We do need to fix this.'
Daniels said the budget office will be submitting a budget amendment which reflects the changes in enrollment from March.
Dunham said states like Massachusetts and Connecticut are facing similar data collection issues when it comes to low-income students.
'I think we'd have to really rebuild the whole formula to be the same as Massachusetts, because I think the core [funding amount] is a lot less, or at least less, than ours,' Dunham said. 'But we do wonder. We do understand that there are different levels of poverty that we should be able to address.'
Dunham ended his comments on a resigned note: 'Even if we match all the kids exactly, we still are probably going to undercount a lot of the kids that are eligible for different reasons.'
DiPalma shrugged.
'Until we change the system, that's what it is,' he said.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Recorder's Office offers free property fraud alert service
GOSHEN — The Elkhart County Recorders Office is offering a free service that alerts property owners and homeowners to potential fraud. Property Fraud Alert offers: Ability to sign up online or via phone Spanish support for website and alerts Receive alerts via text, email or phone Property Fraud Alert (PFA) is an online subscription service offered to the public that allows individuals to have their name monitored within the County Recorder's Office in order to track possible fraudulent recordings that affects their property. While the Recorder's Office has been offering this service for several years, there have been some recent updates and additions to the program, Elkhart County Recorder Kaala Baker said. Property Fraud Alert is now available in both English and Spanish, making it usable to a wider audience and susceptible group to fraud. In addition, the phone alerts now include specific details regarding the document with both language options. Subscribers can also now choose to receive a text message alert when a document is recorded in their name. This will ensure that they never miss an update and can continue getting the most out of PFA. The revamped website is even easier for subscribers to use, and contains all the same information about the service laid out in an intuitive manner. And as always, this is free service to the community. Participants enter their personal and/or business name, and they will be notified when a document is recorded with your name match. While PFA does not prevent fraud from happening, it provides an early warning system for property owners to take appropriate actions should they determine possible fraudulent activity has taken place, Baker said. Property Fraud Alert is available by subscription on the web at or by calling 800-728-3858. The PFA link is also available from the Elkhart County Recorder's website. -departments/recorder/.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Wondering where to start with Dostoevsky? Try his Ukrainian contemporaries instead
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a growing debate has emerged over the cultural and political legacy of Russian literature — particularly the global reverence for classic Russian authors, which critics argue has long served to promote the imperial narratives embedded in their work. As Ukrainian author Oksana Zabuzhko wrote in the Times Literary Supplement in 2022, their works of literature are 'the camouflage net' for Russian tanks in Ukraine. Among the most famous classic Russian authors is 19th-century Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821–1881). More than a century after his death, Dostoevsky remains a dominant figure in the world literary canon, his name recognized even by those who have never read his work. This April, Penguin Books reissued an English-language edition of his short story 'The Dream of a Ridiculous Man,' while his novella 'White Nights' continues to enjoy popularity among online literary communities. Defenders of Dostoevsky maintain that his writing transcends politics, focusing on existential and psychological themes. They argue that interpreting his work through a nationalist or imperialist lens oversimplifies the complexity of his ideas. But many scholars and commentators point to Dostoevsky's spiritual vision of Russia's destiny — a vision that portrays the country as a moral, unifying force against a 'decaying' West that was, at the time, heading toward the Gilded Age. They draw parallels between this worldview and that of contemporary Russian ideologues like Alexander Dugin, who frame Russian aggression in near-religious terms. As the war continues, it remains to be seen whether Russia's literary past can be disentangled from its politics. Rather than calling for a boycott of Russian authors, the Kyiv Independent wants to raise a more illuminating question: Why do so few English-language readers know the Ukrainian authors who were the contemporaries of Dostoevsky? The lack of global recognition for Ukraine's classic writers is not coincidental. It reflects a legacy of imperial domination, during which the Russian Empire frequently suppressed the Ukrainian language and culture, the same empire that Dostoevsky often praised in his writings. Some of the most influential voices in the history of Ukrainian literature were active during the same period as Dostoevsky. Others who came just before him, like Mykola Gogol, are known worldwide but have long been misclassified as 'Russian.' Literary figures such as Lesia Ukrainka and Ivan Franko, who came to the literary scene just after Dostoevsky's time, are now reemerging in English translation — their essential works poised to resonate with a global audience, just as they once did across the European intellectual landscape. Although there is no evidence that Dostoevsky knew his Ukrainian contemporaries, they did interact with some other famous Russian authors. Below is a brief overview of three Ukrainian authors of the 19th century and the themes that shaped their work. The purpose of this list is not to outright dismiss Russian literature, but rather to remind people of the selective nature of the global literary canon, and to draw attention to the Ukrainian voices that have long been overlooked or marginalized. Born a serf, Ukrainian national icon Taras Shevchenko gained his freedom thanks to his artistic talent. But liberation did not end his struggle — instead, it sharpened his focus on the plight of his people under Russian imperial rule. A pioneer of ethnographic art and literature, Shevchenko used both pen and brush to document the everyday lives of Ukrainians, casting a critical eye on their subjugation and the erasure of their culture. Published in 1840, 'Kobzar' is widely regarded as Taras Shevchenko's defining work. The collection takes its name from traditional Ukrainian musicians who sang of Cossack heroism while playing the kobza, a stringed instrument. The poems reflect on the cultural and political struggles of Ukraine under Russian rule. In 'To Kvitka-Osnovianenko,' Shevchenko pays tribute to the writer Hryhorii Kvitka-Osnovianenko, an early advocate of Ukrainian as a literary language, and mourns the destruction of the Zaporizhzhian Sich, the Cossacks' last stronghold, in the 18th century. Another poem, 'Kateryna,' tells the story of a young Ukrainian woman seduced and abandoned by a Russian imperial soldier, highlighting the personal toll of imperial domination. Shevchenko was deeply influenced by ideas of national identity, language, and self-determination — views that drew the ire of the tsarist authorities. He was arrested in 1847 and exiled to military service in a remote part of Kazakhstan. According to historical accounts, Tsar Nicholas I reportedly ordered that Shevchenko be restricted from writing or painting. However, Shevchenko still managed to create art and later returned briefly to Ukraine before his death. Read also: Looking to read Ukraine-related books? We picked the best of 2024 Kulish's politics were somewhat complex, perhaps even contradictory to some. In his early years, he was affiliated with the Brotherhood of Saints Cyril and Methodius, a short-lived secret political society that existed between 1845 and 1847. The group championed the federalization of the Russian Empire, a Ukrainian language and culture revival, and the abolition of serfdom, among other initiatives. Over time, however, Kulish's stance diverged from mainstream Ukrainian thought, particularly as he advocated for the preservation of a distinct Ukrainian culture while simultaneously supporting a political union with Russia. This position ultimately led to his marginalization in many Ukrainian intellectual circles, both in Russian-controlled Ukraine and the parts of Ukraine under the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Despite this, Kulish continues to be respected and read by many Ukrainians today for his literary achievements. His novel 'The Black Council' (1857) is considered the first historical novel in Ukrainian literature. Set against the backdrop of the Ruin — the tumultuous period following the death of Cossack Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi in 1657 — it delves into the power struggles that ensued. The novel draws inspiration from the Black Council of 1663, a pivotal gathering in Nizhyn in modern-day Chernihiv Oblast, where nobles and commoners alike converged to elect a new hetman for left-bank Ukraine. The novel not only captures the fierce internal conflicts among Cossack leaders but also explores the deep social rifts that defined one of Ukraine's most fractured and tragic eras. Excerpts of the novel have been translated online. However, a full publication of the book in English translation has yet to materialize. Among Ukraine's most talented female writers was Marko Vovchok, whose 'Folk Stories' was published in 1857, shortly after the ascension of Tsar Alexander II, initially seen as a reform-minded ruler compared to his father, Nicholas I. However, while the serfs were liberated under his rule in 1861, it could be argued that the liberal period of his rule, at least for Ukrainians, was short-lived: a decree in 1863 banned Ukrainian-language publications, followed by the stricter Ems Ukaz of 1876. Vovchok's collection gained even greater significance in this repressive climate. Focused on the suffering of Ukrainian peasants — especially women — under serfdom, the stories were informed by her early work assisting her husband's ethnographic research. She gathered material directly from villagers, preserving oral traditions. Russian writer Ivan Turgenev translated the stories into Russian, sparking additional debate in literary circles over the realities of serfdom. Shevchenko is said to have recommended her work to Turgenev, declaring her 'the most powerful in our language.' In the short story 'The Cossack Girl' from the collection, Olesia, a free woman, falls in love with a serf and chooses to marry him, ultimately sacrificing her freedom. Her family warns her that marrying a serf will disgrace their village and its Cossack heritage, even suggesting that she might as well 'drown herself.' Olesia insists that love is more important than social status. The marriage, however, proves disastrous, with Olesia, her husband, and their children enduring significant hardship. Under empire, happy endings are a rarity — if they exist at all. Hi, this is Kate Tsurkan, thank you for reading this article. Here at the Kyiv Independent, we don't put stories behind a paywall, because we believe the world needs to know the truth of Russia's war. To fund our reporting, we rely on our community of over 18,000 members from around the world, most of whom give just $5 a month. We're aiming to reach 20,000 soon — join our community and help us reach this goal. Read also: 10 authors shaping contemporary Ukrainian literature We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Two private schools close in wake of Labour's VAT raid
Two prep schools have become the latest victims of Labour's VAT raid by announcing their closures as a result of the levy. Park Hill School in Kingston, Surrey, said the introduction of the 20pc tax on fees in January had led to a decline in pupil numbers meaning it was no longer financially viable to operate. Falcons School, a neighbouring school in Putney, south-west London, said a raft of tax changes including the VAT levy and increases to National Insurance alongside a higher minimum wage had 'intensified' a decline in pupil enrolment forcing it to close at the end of the academic year. It comes after figures this week revealed private school pupil numbers had fallen by more than 11,000 in England following the VAT raid on fees – four times more than government forecasts. There were around 582,500 pupils at English private schools in January compared to 593,500 at the same point last year, according to the Department for Education. Parents at Park Hill were told this week the 75-year-old school would be forced to close with children offered the opportunity to move to a nearby sister school. The decision came as a shock to many, with the school's website this week still advertising a recent open day for prospective pupils. The school had also written to parents in March to thank them for 'continued loyalty and support' in spite of the introduction of VAT and offered a 5pc discount to families who paid the following year's school fees early. However, on Wednesday, in a letter seen by The Telegraph, Amit Mehta, chief executive of Inspired Learning Group, which owns the school, said: 'Following careful reflection, we have made the strategic decision to relocate pupils from Park Hill to join our sister school, Westbury House, from January 2026. 'We are incredibly proud of everything Park Hill has achieved over the years. However, like many schools, it also faces challenges, and this evolution offers fresh opportunities for all our pupils.' Park Hill, which has 84 pupils aged between two and 11, will transition into a fully-fledged nursery which is exempt from VAT. Justin Spanswick, chief operating officer at Inspired Learning Group, said: 'The decision was made because of the downward trend in pupil numbers at Park Hill, due in part to the introduction of VAT on school fees.' He added the decision would also strengthen Westbury House 'in the current climate', with pupils moving to the school helping to shield it from the Government's tax rises. Falcons School decided to absorb the 20pc VAT levy in January and kept fees frozen at £6,270 per term in a bid to arrest a decline in pupil numbers. In March the school told the families of its 126 pupils that it was 'considering the future viability' of the school and that it was 'likely to close'. The school was taken over by Inspired Education Group in 2023 and made the decision to admit boys for the first time in an attempt to increase pupil numbers. A spokesman for the school said: 'As a result of the thorough consultation process, we have taken the difficult decision to close the school at the end of the academic year. 'The consultation took place as the school has been loss-making since we acquired it, with enrolment under 50pc over the last two years. THis has been intensified by the recent government changes such as VAT.' Ministers have admitted the Government expects 100 private schools to close as a result of its VAT raid. Analysis by the Independent Schools Council suggests this will lead to 40,000 pupils being displaced and 11,000 jobs being lost. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
