Rhode Island

Education funding in Rhode Island is guided by the principle that funding follows the student. In alignment with the state’s strategic goals of equity, excellence in learning, engaged communities, and cultivating world-class talent, the Rhode Island Legislature has allocated significant investments in education for fiscal year 2024, including $1.96 billion for K–12 schools and nearly $1.5 billion for higher education. Recent challenges in education funding—such as the impacts of COVID-19, declining enrollment, and the need to support special populations—are critical factors shaping the current landscape of education finance in the state.