Rhode Island education officials have received word that roughly $23 million in federal education funds will be unfrozen following a temporary freeze that sparked multistate lawsuits. The state would have lost nearly $30 million if the funds were not restored, with the majority tied to grant programs that support afterschool programs, multilingual learning, and adult education.

Congressman Seth Magaziner responds to the restoration of federal education funding for Rhode Island schools following the unfreezing of approximately $23.5 million in grant programs. The funding restoration comes after federal authorities initially froze education funds, prompting legal challenges from multiple states.

Rhode Island has enacted legislation banning cell phones and personal electronic devices during school hours, set to take effect in August 2026. The new law requires all public school districts to develop policies prohibiting physical access to personal electronic devices by students during the school day, with flexibility for districts to determine specific enforcement methods.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has found that the Providence Public School Department violated the Civil Rights Act with a $25,000 loan forgiveness program that was exclusively available to non-White educators. The EEOC determined there was "reasonable cause" that the program violated Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Rhode Island families can access free backpacks and school supplies for approximately 15,000 children as part of back-to-school preparation efforts. The initiative aims to help families with the financial burden of school supply costs as students prepare to return to classrooms for the new academic year.