RIPEC Recognized for Research and Policy Work for Second Consecutive Year

Providence, R.I. – The Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) was recently recognized by the Governmental Research Association (GRA) for its exemplary research and communication, as well as for helping to recognize tangible improvements in public policy. The GRA conferred awards to RIPEC in three categories:

Outstanding Policy Achievement: State Government Issue Award for “State Education Multilingual Learner Funding”

Most Distinguished Research: State Government Issue Award for “Empty Seats: Enrollment and Chronic Absenteeism in Rhode Island Schools”

Certificate of Merit for Best Short Form Writing for “Rhode Island Needs to Pick up the Pace to Tackle Affordable Housing Crisis”

“We are honored to have been recognized by the leading national organization of our peers for the second year in a row,” said Michael DiBiase, President and CEO of RIPEC. “At RIPEC, we strive to develop public policy solutions with nonpartisan research and analysis, and it is most gratifying to be recognized for our work on multilingual learner funding, chronic absenteeism and enrollment, and housing affordability.”

“Among its peer organizations, RIPEC distinguished itself, receiving recognition for its exemplary research and policy achievements in three of the four award categories presented by the Governmental Research Association at its recent annual meeting,” said Jeff Hornstein, Ph.D., President of the GRA and Executive Director of the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia.

The GRA is the national group of organizations and individuals professionally engaged in public policy, governmental, and civic research. GRA awards recognize exceptional research and educational efforts regarding state, regional and local governmental issues performed by members.

RIPEC received the Outstanding Policy Achievement Award for its policy work supporting increased funding for multilingual learners. RIPEC found that multilingual learners are a rapidly growing student population heavily concentrated in a small number of school districts. Due to the low achievement rates of these students, RIPEC recommended an increase in multilingual learner funding and for funding to be incorporated into the state funding formula—both changes enacted as part of the FY 2025 budget passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor this past June.

RIPEC’s in-depth reporting on student enrollment and absenteeism was the recipient of the Distinguished Research Award. RIPEC found that an unprecedented public school enrollment declines since 2019 of 5.2% overall and nearly 20% in some districts was not only a demographic trend, but due in part to students and their families leaving the system. RIPEC’s report also found that before and after the pandemic Rhode Island had high levels of chronic absenteeism compared to other states; that the more absences a student accumulates, the worse their outcomes; and that the gap in chronic absenteeism rates for Ocean State students from historically disadvantaged subgroups has grown.

RIPEC received a Certificate of Merit in the best Short-Form Writing category for the opinion piece authored by Michael DiBiase in the Rhode Island Current on Rhode Island’s housing affordability crisis. DiBiase argued that the state needed to increase affordable housing investments with a “permanent, consistent source of funding” and “explore alternatives to the current model for constructing affordable housing, including direct subsidies to private developers.” DiBiase also argued in favor of more aggressive land-use reform and for consideration of a rental assistance program.