S.2551

Rhode Island S2551 amends education law to address unfunded mandates, including funding for school resource officers and dual enrollment programs.

Rhode Island S2551 amends the current law on education to address unfunded mandates. The bill includes provisions for funding school resource officers in public middle and high schools, with districts or municipalities receiving reimbursement for half the cost of salaries and benefits for these positions. It also mandates state funding for dual enrollment programs, effective July 1, 2026. The bill outlines criteria for the reimbursement of school resource officer costs and establishes a stabilization fund for districts experiencing a decline in state funding.