2026 -- H 8326 | |
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LC006134 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Biah, Read, Speakman, Chippendale, Paplauskas, Potter, | |
Date Introduced: March 20, 2026 | |
Referred To: House Education | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 16-2 of the General Laws entitled "School Committees and |
2 | Superintendents [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby |
3 | amended by adding thereto the following section: |
4 | 16-2-3.1. School calendar flexibility during declared states of emergency. |
5 | (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule, or regulation requiring a minimum |
6 | number of school days or instructional hours for public schools in the state, any day or days during |
7 | which a public school is closed due to a state of emergency declared by the governor of the State |
8 | of Rhode Island shall be deemed excused for purposes of compliance with the minimum school |
9 | days calendar requirements, |
10 | (b) School districts and public schools shall not be required to submit individual waiver |
11 | requests to the Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education for instructional |
12 | days missed as a result of a declared state of emergency. |
13 | (c) Any school day canceled due to a declared state of emergency shall not be required to |
14 | be made up by extending the school year, adding additional school days, or otherwise modifying |
15 | the approved school calendar. |
16 | (d) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education may issue general guidance |
17 | to school districts regarding emergency closures, but shall not require individual waivers for |
18 | closures occurring during the officially declared state of emergency period. |
19 | (e) The provisions of this section shall apply only to school closures resulting directly from |
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1 | a natural disaster, severe weather event, public safety emergency, or other emergency conditions |
2 | for which the governor has issued an official state of emergency declaration. |
3 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS | |
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1 | This act would provide that any schools days a public school is closed due to a declared |
2 | state of emergency would be deemed excused for purposes of compliance with minimum school |
3 | days calendar requirements. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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