Legislation

This bill would have instructed the Commissioner of Education to develop strategies with the intent of bolstering the retention and recruitment of minority teachers and administrators in Rhode Island public schools.

A provision of the proposed FY 2021 budget would extend the current reimbursement funding available for the hiring of school resource officers (SROs) to the hiring of mental health professionals by public schools.

This bill would have largely eliminated the ability for a K-5 student to be given an out-of-school suspension and strengthen the current reporting requirements for school districts.

This legislation would allow high school students to bring over-the-counter medications for self-administration on school property.

This bill would implement comprehensive privacy policy requirements for any school-loaned device program.

Although we supported this legislation, we pointed out the absurdity that a student who could bring and administer sunscreen under this bill still wouldn’t be able to utilize an ointment to treat a sunburn without this discretionary permission.

After a decision last year from the former-Commissioner of Education affirmed guidelines for equity in public school field trips, it provoked considerable confusion and public attention. It was inevitable that legislation to address this would move swiftly through the legislature.