2026 -- S 2016

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LC003233

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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 -- CURRICULUM

     Introduced By: Senators Euer, Valverde, Quezada, Lauria, Gallo, Kallman, Vargas,
Acosta, Mack, and Pearson

     Date Introduced: January 09, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-22-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22 entitled "Curriculum

[See Title 16 Chapter 97 — the Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read

as follows:

     16-22-2. Civics education.

     (a) The general assembly recognizes the importance of a citizenry well educated in the

principles of democracy as enunciated in the constitutions of the state of Rhode Island and the

United States. The general assembly directs the board of regents for elementary and secondary

education to develop and adopt a set of grade level standards K-12 in civics education no later than

August 31, 2007. These standards shall include, but not be limited to, the history of the state of

Rhode Island, representative government, the rights and duties of actively engaged citizenship, and

the principals principles of democracy, and media literacy. These civic education standards shall

be used in the public schools of this state beginning in kindergarten and continuing through to and

including grade 12. No private school or private instruction shall be approved for the purposes of

chapter 19 of this title unless the course of study shall make provision for instruction substantially

equivalent to that required by this chapter for public schools.

     (b) All middle and high school students attending public schools, or any other schools

managed and controlled by the state, shall demonstrate proficiency, as defined by the local school

district, in civics education that shall also satisfy half credit or course requirement in history and

social studies.

     (c) Each public school district shall provide not less than one student-led civics project for

students during either middle or high school; 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:

     (1) Reason, make logical arguments, and support claims using valid evidence; and

     (2) Demonstrate an understanding of the connections between federal, state, and local

policies, including issues that may impact the student’s community.

     (d) The department of education shall begin implementing subsections (b) and (c) of this

section for the 2022-2023 academic year.

     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 -- CURRICULUM

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     This act would add "media literacy" to the standards currently taught in civic education for

kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), which are the history of Rhode Island, representative

government, the rights and duties of actively engaged citizenship and the principles of democracy.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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