2025 -- H 5836

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM

     Introduced By: Representatives Morales, Biah, Furtado, Stewart, Handy, Potter,
Caldwell, Batista, DeSimone, and McGaw

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2025

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-22 of the General Laws entitled "Curriculum [See Title 16

Chapter 97 — the Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding thereto the

following section:

     16-22-39. Ethnic studies course.

     (a) Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, every high school shall be required to offer a

yearlong “ethnic studies” course studying American history and the experiences of racialized

communities in Rhode Island and the United States. This course’s coverage shall specifically

include:

     (1) Native American and Indigenous history, Black and African American history, Asian

American and Pacific Islander history, the Armenian Genocide, Arab American history, and Latin

American history;

     (2) Fostering critical thinking skills, and a deeper analysis of structures of power and race;

and

     (3) Improved educational outcomes.

     (b) The ethnic studies course shall be a social studies ‘core credit’ and a high school

graduation requirement starting with graduating classes of 2030.

     (c) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall make available to all

school districts instructional materials that may be used as guidelines for development of a unit of

instruction under this section.

     (d) Each ethnic studies course shall require a student-led project; provided, however, that

each such project shall be consistent with the history and social studies standards and frameworks

promulgated by the Rhode Island board of education. Civics projects may be individual, small

group or class wide, and designed to promote a student's ability to: reason, make logical arguments

and support claims using valid evidence.

     (e) Each school district shall be encouraged to work with grassroots organizations and local

institutions in developing community-based ethnic studies teacher training and curriculum.

     (f) The department of elementary and secondary education (the “department”) shall

coordinate with school districts to build and expand diverse educator pipelines to support with the

delivery of ethnic studies

     (g)(1) Curriculum development. Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, there shall be a

student-led ethnic studies leadership council to oversee the implementation of the requirements of

this section and supporting the development and instruction of curriculum, along with methods for

course evaluation.

     (2) The council shall be comprised of one student representative and teacher liaison from

each school district selected by the district superintendent and a representative from five (5)

different community organizations that identify as being “youth-led” per the department. The

department shall be responsible for convening the leadership council with the first meeting to take

place by October 2025.

     (3) After implementation, the leadership council shall continue as a permanent body to

evaluate and update ethnic studies.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM

***

     This act would require every high school to offer a yearlong “ethnic studies” course

studying Rhode Island and American history and the experiences of racialized communities in

Rhode Island and the United States. This act would also direct the establishment of an ethnic studies

leadership council to oversee implementation of the requirements of this section.

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2025.

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