In the Spotlight
NEW! Regulations to Protect Transgender Students effective April 17, 2018
Thank you to everyone who participated in the public comment period for the updated regulations, which will require all LEAs to have a policy in place to ensure that transgender and gender non-conforming students are protected from discrimination. These regulations will take effect on April 17, 2018, and all LEAs must subsequently have a policy in place by July 1, 2018. The final approved version of the Regulations Governing Protections for Students Rights to be Free from Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, or Gender Expression are now posted on the Board of Education Regulations website.
NEW! Public Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Amendment to the Board of Education Dual Enrollment Regulations
The rule is established for the purpose of adopting a statewide dual enrollment policy that allows students to enroll in public postsecondary education courses to satisfy academic coursework requirements in high school and earn credits at a public postsecondary institution. There are three notable areas of change in this amendment. This amendment changes the amount that a local education agency can be required to pay for these courses, it caps the amount at 50% of the core instruction per pupil rate as determined by the Rhode Island Department of Education, assuming that number is not greater than the actual tuition costs. The regulation also includes the parameters for allocation of funds in instances where there is a dedicated funding stream for dual enrollment courses. Finally, the regulation outlines the standards for program quality and provides for the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner to work together to ensure the quality of these courses.
Read the Amendment to Dual Enrollment Regulations for Public Comment.
All interested parties are invited to submit written or oral comments concerning the proposed regulations by April 20, 2018 to the addresses listed below.
Public Hearing Information
- Hearing Date and Time: April 2, 2018 from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Hearing Location Address: RIDE - Room 501 - 255 Westminster Street, Providence RI 02903
- Hearing Date and Time: April 4, 2018 from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Hearing Location Address: Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, 560 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick, RI 02886
The place of the public hearings is accessible to individuals who are disabled. If communication assistance (readers/interpreters/captioners) is needed, or any other accommodation to ensure equal participation, please call 401-222-8700 or RI Relay 711 at least three (3) business days prior to the meeting so arrangements can be made to provide such assistance at no cost to the person requesting.
For more information, please read the full Public Notice or contact Angela Teixeira, Executive Assistant, Rhode Island Department of Education, 255 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903 - 401-222-8700 - angela.teixeira@ride.ri.gov.
School Facilities Condition Assessment Report Released
The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE)'s 2017 State of Rhode Island Schoolhouses Report, a year-long assessment commissioned by the School Building Authority (SBA) and completed by Jacobs Engineering, forecasts $627.6 million in high-priority construction and repairs needed to keep students and teachers warm, safe, and dry in their classrooms. The statewide cost to bring all school buildings into ideal condition is estimated at $2.2 billion.
Contact FixMySchool@ride.ri.gov to provide input.