News & Commentary

Last month, in response to years of glaring failures in Rhode Island’s behavioral health system for children and youth, Disability Rights Rhode Island, the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, and Children’s Rights filed a class action lawsuit against the State

Following years of glaring failures in Rhode Island’s behavioral health system for children and youth, Disability Rights Rhode Island, the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, and Children’s Rights today filed a class action lawsuit against the State for denying Medicaid-eligible children and youth their right to appropriate mental health care.

Responding to a “catastrophic” failure of school transportation services in Providence that left many students with disabilities stranded in getting to or from school last week, the ACLU of Rhode Island, joined by the R.I. Center for Justice, today sent a letter to state Dept. of Education.

Today, the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), and the ACLU of RI and RI Center for Justice announced that an agreement was reached settling the federal class action complaint recently filed by Parents Leading for Educational Equity (PLEE) and three children and their parents.

Citing “systemic failures to comply with federal law,” cooperating attorneys for the ACLU of Rhode Island and the R.I. Center for Justice have today filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the Providence school district and the R.I. Department of Education

ACLU of RI Report Details “Alarming” Rates of School Suspensions of K-5 Students and “Extraordinarily High” Suspension Rates of Students Based on Race and Disability

The ACLU of RI today filed a complaint against the Bristol-Warren School District on behalf of a six-year-old child who, the complaint alleges, for months has not been given the free and appropriate education (FAPE) to which he is clearly entitled due to his serious special education needs.

The ACLU of RI and RI Legal Services have filed a formal complaint with the US Department of Education against the Providence School District for failing to provide parents of special education students documents used to determine eligibility for services and the nature of these services.

The settlement comes four years after R.I. Superior Court ruled that a Westerly fabrics company discriminated against Christine Callaghan when consideration of a paid internship was rescinded because of her participation in the state’s medical marijuana program.