Legislative Spotlight: Funding the Civic Education Mandate
In 2021, Rhode Island took a bold step by passing the Civics Literacy Act, requiring all middle and high school students to demonstrate proficiency in civics through project-based learning. However, this mandate was passed without the dedicated funding needed to make it a reality for every student in every district.
This year, we have the opportunity to change that. Senate Bill 2233 and House Bill 7581 have been introduced to finally secure the $1 million in state funding necessary to support equitable, high-quality civic education across Rhode Island.
The Basics of the Legislation
These companion bills (S2233 and H7581) aim to bridge the gap between policy and practice. If passed, the legislation will:
Establish Dedicated Funding: Create a new categorical funding stream specifically for civics education within the state budget.
Prioritize Equity: Direct the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (RIDE) to distribute funds based on district needs, prioritizing student population size, socioeconomic status, and the number of multilingual learners.
Support Educators: Provide resources for essential teacher professional development, including training in media literacy, culturally responsive teaching, and project-based learning.
Enable Student Projects: Fund the "project-based" requirement of the 2021 mandate, ensuring students can lead meaningful community investigations and civic actions.
Ensure Sustainability: Allocate $1 million starting in FY 2027, with a commitment to increase funding annually to meet the growing needs of our schools.
How to Track the Legislation
The legislative session moves quickly. You can stay informed by tracking these bills directly through the Rhode Island General Assembly’s Bill Tracker system.
Step 1: Create a Bill Tracker Account
Go to the RI General Assembly Bill Tracker page.
Click on "New to RI Bill Tracker?" or "Register" to create an account.
Enter your email address and choose a password (minimum 6 characters, alphanumeric only).
Verify your account via the confirmation email you receive.
Step 2: Add the Bills to Your List
Once logged in, you can "follow" specific bills to receive email updates whenever their status changes (e.g., when a hearing is scheduled).
Search for S 2233 and H 7581.
Click the "Add to Tracker" (or similar "Follow") button next to each bill.
Set your notification preferences to receive daily or weekly updates on any movement in the Senate or House Finance Committees.
Why this matters: When these bills are scheduled for a hearing, we will need your voice. By tracking them now, you’ll be the first to know when it’s time to submit testimony or contact your legislators.