Rhode Island School Climate Policy

                                          RHODE ISLAND 

Rhode Island has 36 school districts and 304 public schools. During the 2020-2021 school year, there were 139,184 students enrolled in public schools. Approximately 48% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. There is a policy that directly addresses school climate where schools engage in a participatory process to periodically assess the school climate and develop ways to improve it. Other aspects of school climate addressed in Rhode Island policy are bullying prevention, school safety plans, mental health services, suicide prevention and awareness, anti-discrimination (including gender identity), and family engagement. There is a policy addressing internet use in which the department of elementary and secondary education shall consider the incorporation of media literacy skills into the basic education program.

Safety

200-RICR-20-10-1.3.2 Supportive and Nurturing School Community.

Schools engage in a participatory process (involving students and staff) to assess periodically the school climate and to adopt or develop strategies to improve conditions.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-20/subchapter-10/part-1/200-ricr-20-10-1-3/

Who does this protect? Administrators, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

Provides a definition of the terms bullying and cyberbullying and the behaviors associated with these actions.

  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-21-33. Safe schools act.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-21/section-16-21-33/

  • 200-RICR-30-10-2 Safe School Act- Statewide Bullying Policy. 

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-30/subchapter-10/part-2/

 Rhode Island asks schools to develop and implement procedures to prevent bullying and harassment behavior and the consequences of such behavior. Policies also explain that procedures are needed for reporting an incidence of bullying and investigating it as well as how this policy will be communicated.

  • 200-RICR-30-10-2 Safe School Act- Statewide Bullying Policy. 

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-30/subchapter-10/part-2/

  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-21-34. Statewide bullying policy implemented.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-21/section-16-21-34/

  • 200-RICR-20-10-1.3.2 Supportive and Nurturing School Community

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-20/subchapter-10/part-1/200-ricr-20-10-1-3/

Rhode Island anti-bullying laws cover incidents that occur on school property, school-sponsored events/activities, and property or equipment provided by the school but not the off-school property.

  • 200-RICR-30-10-2 Safe School Act- Statewide Bullying Policy. 

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-30/subchapter-10/part-2/

  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-21-33. Safe schools act.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-21/section-16-21-33/

Who does this protect? Students, Teachers

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Rhode Island schools need to develop plans for dealing with emergencies.

  • 200-RICR-20-10-1.3.3 Health and Social Service Support. 

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-20/subchapter-10/part-1/200-ricr-20-10-1-3/

  • 216-RICR-20-10-4.40 School Safety.
  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-21-23.1. Model school safety plans and checklists – Development and dissemination.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-21/section-16-21-23-1/

  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-21-24. Requirements of school safety plan school emergency response plans and school crisis response plans.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-21/section-16-21-24/

State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-21-23. School safety teams school crisis response teams and school safety assessments.

Each school district of each town, city, and regional school department shall conduct a school safety assessment in conjunction with local police, fire, school safety team according to the provisions of this section and any other expert said school department deems necessary.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-21/section-16-21-23/

 State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-21-4 Fire, evacuation, and lockdown drills required – Failure to comply.

  • Emergency Egress Drill (One Per Month)
  • Evacuation Drill (Two Per Year)
  • Lockdown Drill (Two Per Year)

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-21/section-16-21-4/

School resource officer is a career law enforcement officer with sworn authority who is deployed by an employing police department or agency in a community-oriented policing assignment to work in collaboration with one or more schools. Serve a vital role in fostering a safe learning environment for pupils, faculty, and staff.

  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-21.5-1 Legislative intent.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-21-5/section-16-21-5-1/

  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-7.2-6 Categorical programs, state-funded expenses.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-7-2/section-16-7-2-6/

Students, teachers, and staff are not allowed to possess any firearm or other weapons on school grounds.

  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 11-47-60 Possession of firearms on school grounds.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-11/chapter-11-47/section-11-47-60/

  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-21-18. Students are prohibited from bringing or possessing firearms on school premises.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-21/section-16-21-18/

Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

200-RICR-20-10-1.3.1 Academic Supports and Interventions.

All students have the opportunity and skills necessary to access the systems of developmentally appropriate, targeted, and responsive academic supports and interventions for learning that they need to become college, work, and career ready.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-20/subchapter-10/part-1/200-ricr-20-10-1-3/

200-RICR-20-10-1.3.3 Health and Social Service Support.

Ensure that students have access to a coordinated program of culturally and linguistically responsive psychological and mental health services, on-site or through effective referral systems.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-20/subchapter-10/part-1/200-ricr-20-10-1-3/

State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-14. Suicide prevention awareness.

The department of elementary and secondary education shall develop and prescribe a suicide prevention awareness program for public school students in grades nine through twelve.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-22/section-16-22-14/

Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Teaching/Learning

200-RICR-20-10-1.3.1 Academic Supports and Interventions.

Provide supplemental academic supports and interventions that are evidence-based in the areas of literacy, numeracy, science, social studies, history, and speech and English language acquisition.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-20/subchapter-10/part-1/200-ricr-20-10-1-3/

Rhode Island provides students with disabilities the accommodations and resources they need to have an appropriate education.

  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-42. Education of gifted children.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-42/

  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-24.1 The Rhode Island Autism Spectrum Disorder Education Act

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-24-1/

  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-24 Children with Disabilities

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-24/

Who does this protect? Students, Students with disabilities

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-21. Community service learning.

The department of elementary and secondary education shall encourage the establishment of community service learning programs in local school districts by developing a model program and appropriate guidelines for implementation of the model program.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-22/section-16-22-21/

200-RICR-20-10-1.3.2 Supportive and Nurturing School Community.

Each Local Learning Agency will develop and implement policies and protocols that allow out-of-school time for activities that meet rigorous criteria to fulfill academic, graduation, or credit requirements and provide students with opportunities for experiential learning, community service, and skill building.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-20/subchapter-10/part-1/200-ricr-20-10-1-3/

Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

Interpersonal Relationships

200-RICR-30-10-1 Regulations Governing Protections for Students’ Rights to be Free from Discrimination based on Sex, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, or Gender Expression.

Each Local Education Agency shall adopt a policy addressing the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming students to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory school environment.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-30/subchapter-10/part-1/

 200-RICR-30-10-2 Safe School Act- Statewide Bullying Policy.

Rhode Island bullying policy addresses that acts of bullying and harassment can be motivated by characteristics such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or mental, physical, or sensory disability, intellectual ability or by any other distinguishing characteristic.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-30/subchapter-10/part-2/

 200-RICR-20-10-1.3.2 Supportive and Nurturing School Community.

Each LEA shall identify and remove barriers to students and adults that are based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, language, gender, religion, economic status, disability, or sexual orientation.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-20/subchapter-10/part-1/200-ricr-20-10-1-3/

Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

200-RICR-20-10-1.4.2 Accountable Operational Systems.

Strategies for ensuring that staff members are responsive to requests by parents, guardians, and members of the public for information or assistance and for providing staff members with professional development regarding service to the public, parental engagement, and community relations.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-20/subchapter-10/part-1/200-ricr-20-10-1-4/

200-RICR-20-10-1.3.2 Supportive and Nurturing School Community.

Provide professional development, training, resources, and other means to assist staff, and other adults in the school building or at school sponsored activities for prevention of bullying, hazing and harassment

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-20/subchapter-10/part-1/200-ricr-20-10-1-3/

Who does this protect? Staff, Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

200-RICR-20-10-1.3.1 Academic Supports and Interventions.

All students have the opportunity and skills necessary to access the systems of developmentally appropriate, targeted, and responsive academic supports and interventions for learning that they need to become college, work, and career ready.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-20/subchapter-10/part-1/200-ricr-20-10-1-3/

 200-RICR-20-10-1.3.3 Health and Social Service Support.

Ensure that students have access to a coordinated program of culturally and linguistically responsive psychological and mental health services, on-site or through effective referral systems.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-20/subchapter-10/part-1/200-ricr-20-10-1-3/

State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-14. Suicide prevention awareness.

The department of elementary and secondary education shall develop and prescribe a suicide prevention awareness program for public school students in grades nine through twelve.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-22/section-16-22-14/

Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Institutional Environments

State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-94-5. Duties of the council. 

  • The council shall research and generate a series of recommendations on how to develop family engagement policies and practices that meet the following principles and Standard for family-school partnerships.
  • Welcome all families to be active participants in the life of the school, so that they feel valued, and connected, to school staff, and to what students are learning in class.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-94/section-16-94-5/

State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-94-4. Family engagement advisory council established. The purpose of the council shall be to serve as an advisory body to the governor, the department of education, the board of regents, and school districts. Of the twenty-one members of this council, eleven of them will be parents.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-94/section-16-94-4/

200-RICR-20-10-1.1.4. Expectations for the Local Education Agency in Implementing the Basic Education Program. The Local Education Agency shall implement effective family and community communication systems; engage families and the community to promote positive student achievement and behavior, and provide adult and alternative learning opportunities integrated with community needs.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-20/subchapter-10/part-1/200-ricr-20-10-1-1/

200-RICR-20-10-1.3.2 Supportive and Nurturing School Community. Each Local Education Agency shall provide a broad spectrum of activities, programs, and services that directly involve families in their children’s education and personally engage families in the school.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-20/subchapter-10/part-1/200-ricr-20-10-1-3/

Who does this protect? Students, Parents

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Rhode Island schools need to develop plans for dealing with emergencies.

  • 200-RICR-20-10-1.3.3 Health and Social Service Support. 

https://regulations.justia.com/states/rhode-island/title-200/chapter-20/subchapter-10/part-1/200-ricr-20-10-1-3/

  • 216-RICR-20-10-4.40 School Safety.
  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-21-23.1. Model school safety plans and checklists – Development and dissemination.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-21/section-16-21-23-1/

State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-21-24. Requirements of school safety plan school emergency response plans and school crisis response plans.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-21/section-16-21-24/

State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-21-23. School safety teams school crisis response teams and school safety assessments.

Each school district of each town, city, and regional school department shall conduct a school safety assessment in conjunction with local police, fire, school safety team under the provisions of this section and any other expert said school department deems necessary.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-21/section-16-21-23/

State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-21-4 Fire, evacuation, and lockdown drills required – Failure to comply.

  • Emergency Egress Drill (One Per Month)
  • Evacuation Drill (Two Per Year)
  • Lockdown Drill (Two Per Year)

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-21/section-16-21-4/

School resource officer is a career law enforcement officer with sworn authority who is deployed by an employing police department or agency in a community-oriented policing assignment to work in collaboration with one or more schools. Serve a vital role in fostering a safe learning environment for pupils, faculty, and staff.

  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-21.5-1 Legislative intent.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-21-5/section-16-21-5-1/

  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-7.2-6 Categorical programs, state-funded expenses.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-7-2/section-16-7-2-6/

Students, teachers, and staff are not allowed to possess any firearm or other weapons on school grounds

  • State of Rhode Island General Laws § 11-47-60 Possession of firearms on school grounds.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-11/chapter-11-47/section-11-47-60/

State of Rhode Island General Laws § 16-21-18. Students are prohibited from bringing or possessing firearms on school premises.

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2021/title-16/chapter-16-21/section-16-21-18/

Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

 

There is no current policy surrounding Social Inclusion in the state of Rhode Island. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center

Social Media

Senate Bill 106/House Bill 5664.

The department of elementary and secondary education shall consider, in consultation with national or statewide organizations focused on media literacy, the incorporation of media literacy education into the board of education’s basic education program regulations.

Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

There is currently no policy surrounding Leadership in Rhode Island. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School

There is currently no policy surrounding Professional Relationships in Rhode Island. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School

Sources include: nasbe.org and childtrends.org