2026 -- H 7811

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LC005191

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO ONWARD WE LEARN IN SUPPORT OF

RHODE ISLAND GEAR UP

     Introduced By: Representatives Biah, O'Brien, Phillips, Slater, Furtado, Alzate, Stewart,
McNamara, Boylan, and Speakman

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2026

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, Prior legislative findings in Chapter 70 of title 16 of the Rhode Island

General Laws outline the need for Rhode Island to invest in college access and success programs

that develop the educational and 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 is a known barrier for all young people in Rhode Island to access higher

education; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner is the

recipient of the Rhode Island GEAR UP grant from the U.S. Department of Education and

partners with Onward We Learn to design and deliver all programmatic and scholarship

operations in conjunction with the Rhode Island GEAR UP program; and

     WHEREAS, Onward We Learn’s mission is to inspire and 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 post-secondary

preparation; and

     WHEREAS, Independent research completed over the past seventeen (17) years confirms

that students who participate in Onward We Learn are forty-eight percent (48%) 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 through the Rhode Island GEAR UP program, but also a scholarship

for postsecondary education of up to four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500) per year for four

(4) years which can be redeemed at any institution of higher education in Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Since its inception, Onward We Learn – via the Rhode Island GEAR UP

program – has provided more than fifty-five million dollars ($55,000,000) in scholarships to an

estimated thirteen thousand five hundred (13,500) young people in Rhode Island – increasing the

likelihood of degree attainment, while reducing each student’s overall higher education cost

burden; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of Postsecondary Commissioner received a seven

(7) year federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education in 2024 and has sub-granted the

funds to Onward We Learn; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island GEAR UP grant has a dollar-for-dollar non-federal match

requirement and Rhode Island General Law § 16-70-5 states that “the general assembly shall

annually appropriate such sums as it deems necessary as the state’s share for the support and

maintenance of Onward We Learn”; now, therefore be it

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

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars

($500,000) to Onward We Learn in support of the Rhode Island GEAR UP operations and

scholarship program; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw their

orders upon the general treasurer for payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from

time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

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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 $500,000 TO ONWARD WE LEARN IN SUPPORT OF

RHODE ISLAND GEAR UP

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     This resolution would appropriate the sum of $500,000 to Onward We Learn in support

of Rhode Island GEAR UP.

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LC005191

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