Michelle Charochak

The FY 2017 budget focuses on building a new economy by developing education and workforce, making it easier to do business, innovating government, protecting health and safety, and making fiscally responsible decisions. It addresses an estimated shortfall of $49.5 million, down from $190.4 million in FY 2016, and includes no broad-based tax increases. The budget increases funding for education, commits to workforce development, reduces unemployment taxes, invests in economic growth, supports working Rhode Islanders through a minimum wage increase and expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, and promotes the fiscal health of cities and towns. It also makes progress in closing the structural deficit, with the projected FY 2020 deficit dropping 27.9% from last year's estimate.

The strategic plan for the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (RIDE) is dedicated to transforming education to ensure all students are prepared for success in college, careers, and life. Key strategic pillars include supporting world-class talent in classrooms, fostering excellence in student learning, and engaging communities in public education. Guided by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) State Plan, RIDE is shifting its focus from compliance to support, with performance measures targeting improvements in pre-kindergarten enrollment, Advanced Placement course participation, attainment of industry-recognized credentials, access to world language programs, and student performance in reading, mathematics, and science.

The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families' strategic direction focuses on ensuring the safety, permanency, and well-being of all children and youth by mobilizing resources to plan, develop, and evaluate comprehensive services. The plan is built upon five major strategic goals: investing in prevention to build supportive services, screening in and removing children only when absolutely necessary, conducting placements according to the child's need, decreasing time to permanency, and providing a foundation for stable adulthood. These initiatives are designed to help children reach their full potential, foster safe and healthy families, and support successful transitions to adulthood.

The document provides revised appropriations in support of FY 2017. It includes detailed financial allocations and changes for various departments and agencies, covering areas such as administration, business regulation, commerce, labor and training, revenue, legislature, and education. Key topics include adjustments to general revenues, federal funds, restricted receipts, and other funds for specific programs and projects.

The Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (RIDE) is dedicated to transforming education, ensuring students are prepared for college, careers, and life. Key priorities include educator excellence, accelerating school greatness, establishing world-class standards and assessments, developing user-friendly data systems, and investing resources wisely. The budget includes expenditures for various programs such as Administration of the Comprehensive Education, Davies Career and Technical School, School for the Deaf, Metropolitan Career and Technical School, and Education Aid. The state provides direct financial support to public schools through state aid, distributed via a new funding formula based on core instruction per pupil and student success factors.