Legislation

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.

In April, the ACLU testified before the House Judiciary committee on perennial legislation to mandate the carrying of guns by campus police officers.

Across Rhode Island, school districts are blocking from students vastly more information than was intended by the federal law requiring the use of filtering, leaving students unable to complete their assignments and teachers scrambling to change their lesson plans at the very last moment.

The ACLU of RI continued its work with student and education groups to stop high-stakes testing from keeping otherwise qualified students from graduating.