Authorizes the Town of Portsmouth to issue bonds and notes in amount not exceeding $41,000,000 to finance construction, additions, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, furnishing and equipping of schools and school facilities throughout the town.
Authorizes the City of Central Falls to issue bonds and notes in an amount not exceeding $25,000,000 to finance the construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair furnishing and equipping of schools and school facilities in the city.
Reinstates, for all teachers and state employees who retired after July 1, 2012, their annual cost of living adjustment for retirement plan year 2026.
Provides any student, who meets the requirements of this section, with an exemption from paying nonresident tuition at Rhode Island public universities, colleges, or community colleges.
Expands foster care academic youth reports to include information regarding 504 eligibility, graduation progress and surrogate parents. The act would require implementation of additional strategies to improve performance and additional progress reports.
Provides that in local education agencies when over 45% of the children have a family income that is at or below 185% of federal poverty guidelines, then the student success factor will be 50% by the core instruction per-pupil amount.
This bill requires Rhode Island schools to create and implement plans providing academic accommodations for students diagnosed with concussions or other brain injuries. It mandates that coaches and school staff complete annual concussion training, requires immediate removal of athletes suspected of concussions from play, and establishes a process for developing temporary academic and physical activity limitations to support student recovery. The legislation also directs the Department of Education to create a form outlining optional, nonmedical accommodations and ensures that affected students receive support within ten school days of notification.
This bill designates March 2026 as "Arts in the Schools Month" in Rhode Island to recognize and celebrate the importance of arts education in schools. It directly affects students, arts educators, artists, and school administrators by encouraging the state to acknowledge their contributions to student engagement and learning. The resolution highlights how arts education supports skills like critical thinking, teamwork, and cultural competency while referencing existing state frameworks and grant programs that promote arts instruction. The House of Representatives passed this symbolic measure to urge citizens to observe the month and appreciate the efforts of those working to provide arts access to young people.
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.
Allows an individual school district that can utilize its own buses or vendors at a lower cost than the statewide system, to obtain reimbursement for these costs from state funds.
