2026 -- H 8345

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LC005716

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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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 THE USE OF THIRD-

PARTY DIGITAL PLATFORMS WITHIN PUBLIC EDUCATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Caldwell, Cotter, and Spears

     Date Introduced: March 25, 2026

     Referred To: House Education

     WHEREAS, The presence and use of third party or outside vendor digital platform

technologies in public education has increased significantly within the past decade, and this

increase has impacted the way classes are taught, the way students learn, and the way schools are

administered; and

     WHEREAS, While this increased use of these third-party digital platform technologies

potentially give these third-party vendors and providers great influence in the way education is

delivered in Rhode Island, there has been little study of the impact and changes the use of these

platforms might have on public education; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission to study the use of third-party digital

platforms in public education is hereby created consisting of eleven (11) members:

     Three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives, not more than two

(2) from the same political party, of whom two (2) shall be appointed by the Speaker of the

House and one of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader; one of whom shall be the

president of the Rhode Island School Superintendents Association, or designee; one of whom

shall be the president of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals, or designee; one of

whom shall be the executive director of the Rhode Island Association of School Business

Officials, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be public school teachers, one currently teaching in

a municipality with a population of greater than eighty thousand (80,000) persons and one

currently teaching in a municipality with a population of less than eighty thousand (80,000)

persons, to be selected by the Speaker of the House; two (2) of whom shall be currently enrolled

public school students, one from a municipality with a population of greater than eighty thousand

(80,000) persons and one from a municipality with a population of less than eighty thousand

(80,000) persons, to be selected by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be the

president of the Rhode Island school counselor association, 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 undertake a comprehensive study of the use

and impact of third-party digital platforms in Rhode Island public education including, but not

limited to, the use of these platforms, and they ways that these platforms could be used more

effectively, as well as potential harms from the use of these platforms and ways to mitigate those

harms. 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, a chairperson.

     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

Education Committee of the House of Representatives no later than April 23, 2027, and said

commission shall expire on May 28, 2027.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE USE OF THIRD-

PARTY DIGITAL PLATFORMS WITHIN PUBLIC EDUCATION

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     This resolution would create an eleven (11) member special legislative commission to

study the use of third-party digital platforms in public education and would report its findings and

recommendations to the education committee of the House of Representatives no later than April

23, 2027, and said commission would expire on May 28, 2027.

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