House Bill S2212: Certification of Teachers
Rhode Island Senate Bill S2212 addresses the certification requirements for teachers in the state, outlining updated standards and processes for educator licensure.
President Maribeth Calabro
Articles from Rhode Island Education News
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Lake: Precision Learning Has the Potential to Do What Personalized Learning Could Not
A commentary in The 74 argues that precision learning, driven by granular data and targeted intervention, offers a more viable path to improving student outcomes than earlier personalized learning initiatives.
Rhode Island Honors Civic Education Teachers of the Year
Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore honored two teachers with the 2026 Civic Education Teacher of the Year award at a State House ceremony, recognizing Amaris Garcia of Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts and Kathryn Jones of Narragansett High School.
Bush: Nonprofit Schools Essential to RI Education Landscape
A Providence Journal commentary argues that nonprofit schools play a vital and irreplaceable role in Rhode Island education, serving students across the state with distinct missions and communities.
School Choice Tax Credit Awaits, As Long As Rhode Island Opts In
Rhode Island has yet to decide whether to participate in the first major federal program funding private schools, which offers a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for donations to scholarship organizations covering private school tuition and related expenses.
Questions Facing Smithfield Schools
A GoLocal guest commentary raises concerns about repeated financial leadership turnover, a proposed $48 million budget increase, and a lack of public transparency following a student hazing incident in the Smithfield School Department.
RI House Committee Considers Anti Hazing Bill
The Rhode Island House Education Committee considered legislation creating a statewide zero-tolerance hazing policy, including team suspensions and mandatory anti-hazing statements for coaches and athletes, prompted by incidents at Smithfield and Rogers High Schools.
Legislators Defend Existence of DOE
U.S. House Democrats gathered at a spotlight forum to push back against the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, including interagency agreements that transfer core departmental functions to other federal agencies. Ranking member Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia warned that the administration has repeatedly bypassed Congress in its moves to scale back public education, and lawmakers called for strong opposition to any attempt to shutter the agency.
Report Backs State Intervention on Chronic Absenteeism
A new report from the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council finds that chronic absenteeism has dropped to 22% statewide, down from a pandemic peak of 34%, with Providence and Central Falls leading the way through data driven outreach and family partnerships. Advocates are now calling on the state to formalize proven intervention strategies and require consistent attendance policies across all districts, warning that progress remains uneven and that some schools still see absenteeism rates above 40%.
Lima: Why An Unfunded Civics Mandate Risks Our Future
Hillary Lima of Generation Citizen argues that Rhode Island's 2021 Civic Literacy Act, which requires students to demonstrate civic proficiency to graduate, has become an unfunded mandate with no dedicated resources for teacher training or curriculum development. She warns that without state funding to back the requirement, the quality of civic education in Rhode Island will continue to depend almost entirely on a student's zip code, deepening inequality in democratic participation.