Legislation

The ACLU testified before the House Finance and Senate Education Committees in May, in opposition to legislation sending state money to parochial schools through a “school choice” program.

The House and Senate approved legislation addressing the use of Internet filters on school computers.

Even as consensus grows nationwide that out-of-school suspensions carry a lifetime of ill effects and should only be used for the most serious offenses, RI's students are routinely suspended from school for small infractions that pose no risk of physical harm or serious distraction to their peers.

As technology becomes more ubiquitous, schools have begun handing out school-owned computers for home use by students. These devices carry virtually no privacy protections and some schools have even informed children the computers are subject to monitoring any time, even while the child is at home.