This bill amends the Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act to remove a funding requirement from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It establishes specific funding categories for special education costs, career and technical education programs, pre-kindergarten access, and transportation expenses for students attending out-of-district non-public schools or within regional school districts. The legislation also creates stabilization funds for Central Falls, Davies, and the Met Center to address local capacity concerns and high school operating costs, while providing temporary bonuses to regionalized school districts. Additionally, it defines and provides state support for school resource officers who complete specialized training in school policing.
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✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes specific funding categories for special education, CTE, pre-K, and transportation, creating stabilization funds for school districts, indicating increased funding for education services.85% confidence
✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes specific funding categories for special education, CTE, pre-K, and transportation, creating stabilization funds for districts, indicating clear intent to strengthen education funding and access.85% confidence
Requires any teacher under suspension for criminal conduct to repay the school district for any salary received if convicted of a felony, less any amounts paid to satisfy taxes and employee benefits. It also makes one typographical correction.
Prohibits an educational institution or school district from accessing or using location data for tracking a student's institutional device or personal device, except in limited circumstances.
This bill designates March 2026 as "National Credit Education Month" in Rhode Island to promote financial literacy and responsible credit management. It directly affects consumers, financial institutions, and educational organizations by encouraging workshops, webinars, and seminars on budgeting, saving, and debt management. The resolution specifically commends local groups like RI Jump$tart Coalition and Junior Achievement of Rhode Island for their financial education efforts. The Secretary of State is authorized to send certified copies of the resolution to the National Financial Educators Council to recognize these initiatives.
This resolution designates March 26, 2026, as "URI Day" at the Rhode Island State House to honor the University of Rhode Island. It formally recognizes the university's contributions to education, research, and economic development in the state. The House of Representatives will celebrate this day and send a certified copy of the resolution to the university president. The measure does not require funding or create new laws, serving as a ceremonial acknowledgment of the institution's achievements.
This bill allows children in Rhode Island with developmental disabilities to continue receiving early intervention services until September 1 if their third birthday falls between May 1 and August 31, addressing a current service gap before they transition to preschool programs. The legislation requires the state's Department of Human Services to create a plan by July 1, 2026, to implement this extension while seeking necessary federal approvals, with full implementation expected by January 1, 2028. By extending services beyond the traditional cutoff date, the bill aims to ensure uninterrupted support for children during their transition from early intervention to early childhood special education services.
SB 2551 revises how the state calculates education funding for school districts, using a new formula that considers both a district's revenue capacity and the percentage of students in poverty (specifically for districts with over 50% poverty). It creates a "poverty loss stabilization fund" to support districts experiencing a significant drop (more than 2%) in their state funding share, and requires the state to publish an annual report identifying unfunded district costs. The bill also allocates new state funds for special education, career and technical education programs, pre-kindergarten access, and specific stabilization support for Central Falls, Davies, and the Met Center school districts. Additionally, it provides direct state funding for transportation costs for students attending non-public schools and within regional school districts.
Redefines dyslexia to mean a specific learning disability characterized by difficulties in word reading and/or spelling that involve accuracy, speed, or both and vary depending on the orthography.
Requires the development of a comprehensive collaborative course that provides students with accurate information and instruction on risks of wildfires while creating action plan to mitigate loss in case of a wildfire in all K-12 schools within the state.
Establishes a statewide “Healthy School Meals for all” universal school breakfast and lunch program in Rhode Island public schools phased in over 3 years.
