Legislation

The ACLU has demonstrated for the past several years that the tremendous overuse of suspensions in Rhode Island’s schools leaves students of color and students with disabilities disproportionately affected, particularly for the less-serious “subjective” offenses.

As technology becomes more ubiquitous, schools statewide have begun handing out school-owned computers for at home. Although these devices are used in the home, they carry virtually no privacy protections and some schools have even informed children the computers are subject to monitoring any time.

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.

One of the more passionate civil liberties discussions to arise in recent months has been around the issue of high-stakes testing, or the use of the NECAP exam as a zero-sum graduation requirement.

ACLU-drafted legislation aimed to address the use of Internet filters on school computers.

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