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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY EDUCATIONAL

OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN IN STATE CARE

     Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, and Noret

     Date Introduced: April 02, 2025

     Referred To: House Education

     WHEREAS, Pursuant to Article XII, Section 1 of the Rhode Island Constitution, it is the

duty of the general assembly to promote public schools and to adopt all means necessary and

proper to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education; and

     WHEREAS, As part of this duty, the general assembly must promote and review the

adequacy of education received and educational outcomes for children in state care including, but

not limited to, those in the custody of the state through the department of children, youth, and

families; and

     WHEREAS, In furtherance of and in support of the general assembly’s role in education,

undertaking a review of the educational outcomes afforded to children in state care is an

appropriate and necessary step to take at this time; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission to study educational outcomes and

results for children in state care or custody be and the same is hereby created consisting of

seventeen (17) members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives, not

more than one from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker; one of whom shall

be the director of the department of children, youth, and families, or designee; one of whom shall

be the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, or designee; one of whom shall be a

certified teacher with experience in trauma informed schools to be appointed by the Speaker; one

of whom shall be faculty member of the Rhode Island College school of social work, to be

appointed by the dean of the school; one of whom shall be the superintendent of the city of

Cranston public schools or designee; one of whom shall be a principal of a public school within

the state to be appointed by the Speaker; one of whom shall be the child advocate or designee;

one of whom shall be a special education teacher at a public school within the state to be

appointed by the Speaker; one of whom shall be a person who was previously in foster care as a

child to be appointed by the Speaker; one of whom shall be the executive director of Adoption

Rhode Island or designee; one of whom shall be a member of the Rhode Island family court or

designee, to be appointed by the chief judge of the family court; one of whom shall be a member

of SEIU Local 580, to be appointed by the Speaker; one of whom shall be the executive director

of the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities, or designee; one of whom shall be the executive

director of the Rhode Island Coalition for Children and Families, or designee; and one of whom

shall be the chief policy officer for office of the postsecondary commissioner, or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study

commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing

authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator; provided

that, the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which is entitled to the

appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to study, evaluate, and make actionable

recommendations on the current state of and suggestions to improve educational outcomes for

children in state care and custody, with a special emphasis on educational outcomes for all

children in the temporary, permanent, or joint custody of the department of children, youth,

families, and with further special emphasis on all children in alternative family settings or “foster

care.” The study commission shall consult with other individuals who have relevant expertise as

needed.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and shall select, from among the legislators, co-chairpersons.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

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General Assembly no later than July 1, 2026, and said commission shall expire on August 15,

2026.

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