School "Pay to Play" (H 5138, S 0112)

The ACLU of RI testified in February before the House Health, Education and Welfare committee in opposition to legislation allowing school committees to charge fees to those students participating in extracurricular activities. A hearing before the Senate Education committee followed in March. The ACLU testified that so-called “Pay to Play” programs infringe on the value of a free and fair education, and that fee waivers are an inappropriate solution for students who are unable to pay the fees levied for extracurricular programs. The legislation failed to receive a committee vote on either side.