School Field Trips (H 5079 A, S 936)

Legislation was introduced to ensure both that no student can be excluded from a school activity due to a lack of income and that no parent or guardian can be compelled to give money that they cannot afford for their student to participate in these activities.

After a decision from the former RI Commissioner of Education forbade schools from requiring parents or guardians from paying for their students’ education, including school-sponsored field trips, and mandated that all such activities be made available to all students, legislation was introduced to allow for parental or guardian financial contributions on a strictly voluntary basis. We supported the legislation and noted that it appropriately ensures both that no student would be excluded from an activity due to a lack of income and that no parent or guardian would be compelled to give money that they cannot afford. Positively, this legislation passed.