Education advocates argue that Native American history and culture should be integrated throughout K-12 curriculum rather than limited to single lessons, citing research showing improved outcomes for Native students and better cultural understanding for all students when Indigenous perspectives are woven throughout social studies, science, and other subjects.

The Trump administration has dramatically reshaped federal education policy in its first year through cuts to grants for deaf and blind students, rural teacher programs, and Wi-Fi hotspots, while closing five of ten Head Start regional offices, freezing billions in school funding, and redirecting civil rights enforcement away from equity programs toward investigations of diversity initiatives and transgender student policies.

RIDE and Providence schools filed responses claiming their Educators of Color Loan Forgiveness Program is now defunct, after a September DOJ lawsuit alleged the program discriminated against white teachers by offering up to $25,000 in student debt relief exclusively to teachers of color. Both defendants are seeking dismissal and requesting a jury trial.

The Rhode Island Council on Elementary and Secondary Education approved De La Comunidad Bilingual School, the state's first K-12 dual-language charter school serving Providence, Pawtucket, and Cranston. However, the council rejected New England Technical Academy, a proposed career and technical education-focused charter high school, citing insufficient detail in recruitment plans.

Pleasant View Elementary School and the Narducci Learning Center were among seven Rhode Island schools honored with 2025 Green Ribbon Awards for their commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and creating healthy, energy-efficient learning environments for students and staff.