Articles from Rhode Island Education News

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District Looks into Teacher's Social Media Activity

The Barrington school district has hired an external investigator to examine a teacher's social media activity following concerns raised about online posts. The investigation reflects growing challenges school districts face regarding educators' digital presence and the intersection of personal expression with professional responsibilities. The case highlights ongoing debates about teacher speech, social media policies, and the boundaries between personal and professional conduct in educational settings. Source: wpri.com

https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/east-bay/district-hires-investigator-to-loo…

Administration Sues RIDE, PPSD Over Teacher Loan Program

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a federal lawsuit against the Rhode Island Department of Education and Providence Public School District, claiming the "Educators of Color Loan Forgiveness Program" violates federal civil rights law by excluding white teachers. The program offers up to $25,000 in student loan forgiveness to teachers who identify as Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latino, biracial, or multi-racial after completing three consecutive years in PPSD. The DOJ alleges this constitutes racial discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Protection Clause. Source: turnto10.com

https://turnto10.com/i-team/feds-sue-ride-ppsd-claiming-teacher-loan-program-is-…

K-12 Chronic Absenteeism Rates Decline for Third Consecutive Year in Rhode Island

Rhode Island's chronic absenteeism rate for public school students fell to 22.1% in 2024-25, marking the third straight year of decline. Providence Public Schools saw particularly significant improvement, with their chronic absenteeism rate dropping nearly 7 percentage points from 36.2% to 29.3%, though rates remain above pre-COVID benchmarks of under 20%.

https://www.ripbs.org/education/k-12-chronic-absenteeism-rates-decline-for-third…

RI Schools Roll out New Policies for Teacher Shortages, Student Mental Health

Rhode Island schools are implementing new policies passed by the General Assembly to address critical issues including teacher shortages and student mental health support. The new measures also include cell phone restrictions and freedom to read provisions, reflecting the state's comprehensive approach to current educational challenges.

https://turnto10.com/news/local/rhode-island-schools-roll-out-new-policies-for-t…

Administration Agrees to Release Remainder of Frozen Education Funds by October

The Trump administration has agreed to release $29 million in frozen federal education funds to Rhode Island by October as part of a settlement with 24 states. The funds were originally intended to support after-school programs, summer offerings, teachers' professional development, and English language acquisition programs before being frozen earlier this summer. Source: rhodeislandcurrent.com

https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/briefs/trump-administration-agrees-to-release-rem…

DEI Ban in K-12 Schools, Higher Ed Ruled Unlawful by Federal Judge

A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration's ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in K-12 schools and higher education institutions is unlawful. The ruling affects educational institutions across the country, including Rhode Island schools and universities that had been impacted by the federal policy changes. Source: rhodeislandcurrent.com

https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/08/15/repub/trumps-dei-ban-in-k-12-schools-h…

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