Legislation

We opposed two pieces of legislation which would have indefinitely extended the reimbursement structure that had previously existed for SROs, incentivizing schools to continue to hire personnel who are not adequately trained in youth mental and behavioral health, such as SROs.

We strongly supported this bill which would have appropriately allocated $2,000,000 for the hiring of school social workers.

We supported a critical piece of legislation which 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.

Noting the significant danger posed by allowing weapons on school campuses, we opposed this legislation which would have removed institutional discretion and instead mandated that all campus police officers be armed.

We urged that language which appropriately accommodates students with disabilities who may need more time to complete their studies be included in the codification of a bill that would extend a free tuition program, called the “Rhode Island Hope Scholarship,” to Rhode Island College students.

We strongly opposed a package of bills purporting to enhance parental consent and involvement in their minor’s academic interests, but which instead sought to dictate curricular and educational decisions in ways that are censorious and contrary to fundamental pedagogical principles.

Though bullying is a scourge, a piece of legislation which would have statutorily created an “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights” drew our opposition over concerns about its breadth.

We strongly supported a bill which would have proposed an amendment to the Rhode Island constitution guaranteeing the right to an adequate education.

We supported this legislation which would have put in place a state-level funding and reimbursement plan for school mental health personnel such as counselors, social workers, and psychologists to ensure that student’s behavioral and social-emotional needs are appropriately supported.