PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island might soon earn itself a dubious distinction: the only state nationwide with no predictable education financing formula.

For now, it is joined by Pennsylvania, but the legislature there could vote soon on a plan by Gov. Edward G. Rendell that would change that, allocating money to school districts through an exact methodology.

Educators, and some politicians, say it is time Rhode Island follows suit. From year to year, cash-strapped districts have no way of knowing how much –– or how much less –– they might receive in state education financing.

But those same advocates learned last week that enacting a formula doesn’t always translate to more money.

A new proposed formula crafted through the work of a joint committee on Smith Hill and presented to the House Finance Committee uses a complex set of criteria to compute the state aid that a district would be eligible to receive.

Many communities, including cities such as Providence, would benefit from added cash. But nine cities and towns, Newport among them, would lose a portion of their aid through calculations that account for enrollment, differing levels of student need and overall tax base. The same is true in the suburbs. Lincoln, Barrington and others would gain money, while towns such as South Kingstown, Johnston and Portsmouth would lose it.

South Kingstown Supt. Robert Hicks said any formula that creates such obvious winners and losers pits communities against each other at a time when educators should be working together to improve education. Middletown, which could lose more than $6 million, is so concerned about the plan that it has already added the topic to this week’s Town Council agenda for discussion.

Lawmakers have acknowledged this particular proposal is unlikely to gain any traction, at least not this session.

But, House Finance Committee Chairman Steven M. Costantino and others who sat through hours of testimony on the proposal Thursday night applauded the bipartisan efforts of Representatives Edith H. Ajello, D-Providence, and John A. Savage, R-East Providence, who tackled the funding dilemma that has long hung over Rhode Island.

“This is going to be a tough year” to institute any new procedures given the state’s multimillion-dollar budget deficit, Costantino said afterward. “But I’m very supportive of a formula.”

The state’s Education Department has said it, too, would like to see progress on a formula.

Costantino, and others, say now that the funding discussion has begun in earnest, the question becomes what constitutes a workable formula? Is it predictability that districts want, or are they really looking for more money?

John C. Simmons, head of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, said the key is establishing a base, so that no community stands to lose any state aid.

RIPEC has teamed up with a diverse group of stakeholders, including the Rhode Island Association of School Committees, the National Education Association Rhode Island and the League of Cities and Towns, to form the Funding Our Future Coalition, with the goal of creating consistent funding practices from year to year.

The coalition is expected to release its preliminary report in the coming days.

Some who testified last week wondered whether it’s worth it to establish a funding methodology when there is no new money to properly implement it.

Ajello argues that putting a fair and equitable plan in place will better prepare the state to take quick action and relieve tax burdens once revenues begin to improve. The need to know has become even more urgent in the two years since the legislature passed a law restricting how much money communities can raise by increasing taxes. That, in turn, limits how much town and school officials can spend.

But a spokesman for Governor Carcieri said an effective education formula is about more than just money. “Any such formula needs to be very carefully designed to ensure that it is equitable and that it supports both education reform and efficient spending at the local level,” Jeff Neal said.

“A school funding formula will help local officials better plan their budgets each year, but it won’t do much to raise student test scores or prepare children to succeed in college or the workplace. Only substantive education reforms will achieve that goal.”

cneedham@projo.com