2024 -- S 2572

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LC005609

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $6,000,000 TO ONWARD WE LEARN IN RI

     Introduced By: Senators Cano, DiMario, Lauria, Miller, Murray, Quezada, Bissaillon,
Euer, Valverde, and Gu

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     WHEREAS, Prior legislative findings outlined in Chapter 70 of Title 16 define the need

for Rhode Island to invest in college access and success programs that develop the educational,

career, and technical skills of its students for its continued economic development, prosperity, and

for maintaining and improving its quality of life; and

     WHEREAS, The present and future workforce requires ever higher levels of educational

and career and technical training in order to improve the economic prosperity of our State and

nation; and the cost of higher education is a known barrier for all young people in Rhode Island to

access higher education; and

     WHEREAS, Onward We Learn's mission is to prepare young people in Rhode Island to

become the first in their families to attend and complete college by participating in a

comprehensive set of programs throughout middle school and high school that focus on academic

enrichment, social and emotional development, career education, and postsecondary preparation;

and

     WHEREAS, Independent research completed over the past fifteen years confirms that

students who participate in Onward We Learn are 40 percent more likely to graduate from high

school on time and immediately enroll in college compared to their closely matched peers, and

that students from Onward We Learn who enroll in postsecondary education are 20 percent more

likely to earn a college degree compared to their closely matched peers; and

     WHEREAS, Onward We Learn students not only receive comprehensive college access

and success programming but also a scholarship for postsecondary education of up to $4,500 per

year for four years which can be redeemed at any institution of higher education in Rhode Island;

and

     WHEREAS, Since its inception, Onward We Learn has provided more than $50 million

in scholarships to an estimated 12,500 young people in Rhode Island — increasing the likelihood

of degree attainment, while reducing each student's overall higher education cost burden; and

     WHEREAS, Onward We Learn will be submitting a new federal grant in June of 2024

that will continue its programming services through 2031 and that demonstrating local resources

to support the scholarship program will play an important role in helping to secure the grant; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2024-2025, the sum of six million dollars ($6,000,000)

to Onward We Learn to support its scholarship program for low-income and first-generation

students throughout Rhode Island for the next fifteen years; and the state controller is hereby

authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for payment of said sum, or

so much thereof as may be from time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

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LC005609

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $6,000,000 TO ONWARD WE LEARN IN RI

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $6,000,000 to Onward

We Learn in RI.

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LC005609

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