News & Commentary

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

On behalf of four families, attorneys for R.I. Legal Services and the ACLU of Rhode Island today filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) against the West Warwick and North Kingstown school districts for excessively and unlawfully restraining their young children

ACLU Settles Suit Over Unlawful Assault And Arrest Of Narragansett Special Education Student

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.

Citing privacy issues and an interest in ensuring that school disciplinary issues are addressed internally and without the interference of law enforcement, nine organizations in Rhode Island sent a letter to all school district superintendents urging them not to equip SROs with body cameras.