Education

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 7356: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL EMPLOYEE BACKGROUND CHECKS

HB 7356 requires all school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and contracted service providers to conduct comprehensive background checks for employees with regular student contact. The bill mandates applicants provide detailed employment history (last 20 years at schools or child-contact roles), written authorization for disclosure, and written statements about any past child abuse or sexual misconduct investigations, disciplinary actions, or license suspensions. Employers must verify this information by contacting former employers and documenting findings, with penalties including up to $500 for false statements. This directly affects school employees and aims to enhance student safety through thorough employment history checks beyond standard criminal records.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires comprehensive background checks for school employees to protect students from misconduct, aligning with educational safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 19, 2026

SB 2239: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

Provides that a school district could elect and choose to not spend money on any mandate that is not fully funded through the state education aid formula.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides property tax relief by allowing school districts to opt out of unfunded mandates, reducing local tax burden and ensuring state funding for education.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows school districts to opt out of unfunded mandates, preventing financial strain and promoting equitable resource allocation in education funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget School Funding

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 2, 2026

SB 2369: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND EARLY EDUCATOR WORKFORCE ACT

SB 2369, the Rhode Island Early Educator Workforce Act, directs state departments to collaborate on managing existing programs supporting early educators in licensed child care and early learning programs. It specifically allocates at least $1 million annually to continue the Child Care WAGE$ program, which provides salary supplements based on education to help improve compensation and retention. The bill focuses on sustaining current workforce development initiatives like the T.E.A.C.H. scholarship program and registered apprenticeships for early educators. This directly affects early educators (including infant/toddler caregivers) who currently earn low wages - averaging $16.74/hour in Rhode Island - by strengthening existing compensation support mechanisms.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $1M annually for early educator salary supplements via WAGE$ program, directly supporting compensation and retention in early education workforce.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllocates $1M+ annually for WAGE$ salary supplements based on education to improve early educator compensation and retention, directly advancing employment standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Student Financial Aid Teachers Workforce Development

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 28, 2026

HR 7011: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AUDITORY ORAL PROGRAM

This bill appropriates $1,167,100 to the Rhode Island Auditory Oral Program for fiscal year 2026-2027. The program, based in the Foster School Department, provides specialized auditory-oral instruction using hearing technology to support children with hearing loss, helping them achieve academic success and social inclusion. The funds will directly support this educational service for affected children and their families.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $1.17M for educational program supporting children with hearing loss, increasing public service funding under state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $1.167M for K-12 auditory-oral program supporting students with hearing loss, directly enhancing educational access and academic success through specialized services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 5, 2026

SB 2101: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE MEDICAL PRIMARY CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

SB 2101 establishes Rhode Island's Medical Primary Care Scholarship Program to address provider shortages. It provides up to five $70,000 annual scholarships per year for medical students and five $47,000 annual scholarships for nurse practitioner or physician assistant students. Recipients must agree to work in Rhode Island primary care for a period matching their scholarship duration (4 years for med students, 2 years for NPs/PAs) and sign a promissory note for funds received. The program, administered by the Department of Health and Commissioner of Postsecondary Education, aims to recruit and retain primary care providers to meet the state's growing healthcare needs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides scholarships for medical students and allied health students, directly funding higher education in a specific field to address healthcare workforce shortages, aligning with education funding support indicators.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes scholarships to address primary care shortages, funding education for providers to improve access and address workforce gaps.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Healthcare Workforce Primary Care

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 2078: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES ACT

SB 2078, the School Libraries Act, requires every public school in Rhode Island (including traditional schools, charters, and vocational schools) to have a permanent library space and a certified school librarian. It mandates that schools with 250+ students have a full-time librarian by 2027 (high schools), 2029 (middle/high schools), and 2031 (all K-12), while smaller schools must have at least half-time coverage. The bill specifies that libraries must include adequate book collections, student study space, technology, and daily student access, with librarians available during open library time. It also defines key terms like "information literacy" and "media literacy" to guide implementation. The law would take effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates certified librarians and permanent library spaces in all public schools, enhancing student resource access and educational infrastructure per bill requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Libraries

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 7457: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

Creates the Rhode Island Student Loan repayment program which would allow eligible individuals who have unpaid student loans, provided said individuals meet specified criteria.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates student loan repayment program, reducing financial barriers for higher education access and affordability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SR 2018: JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE, PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION -- RIGHT TO AN ADEQUATE EDUCATION

Amends the constitution to guarantee Rhode Island residents with equal opportunity to receive an education that is adequate, equitable and meaningful and provides judicial enforcement of this provision.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAmends constitution to guarantee adequate, equitable education with judicial enforcement, directly advancing educational rights and access.95% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House May 12, 2026

HB 7389: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE SUPPORT AND ACCESS TO BILINGUAL EDUCATION ACT

Appropriates nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($950,000) to establish a bilingual education support fund within the department of elementary and secondary education and provides for implementation of support and access to bilingual education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $950,000 from state budget to fund bilingual education program, directly increasing public education funding allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $950,000 for bilingual education support fund, directly advancing educational access and funding for K-12 programs as per bill title and summary.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationFunds bilingual education, a key service for immigrant students' educational access, aligning with 'provides immigrant services' indicator.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 8, 2026

SB 2208: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COOPERATIVE SERVICE AMONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS

SB 2208 establishes a board of trustees to govern the urban collaborative, which includes Providence and other participating Rhode Island school districts. The board will be appointed by member districts (one member plus one additional for every 30 students attending the collaborative), and it will manage collaborative programs for students needing alternative education services. The bill ensures the collaborative receives state education funding directly and prevents Providence from being removed from the collaborative without its school board's approval during state oversight of Providence schools. It also clarifies that the collaborative qualifies for all state and federal education funding as a school district.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates governance for alternative education services and ensures direct state funding, advancing educational access and program management for students.95% confidence

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