AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM (Requires the department of education to develop and make available for use in all schools a mental health curriculum. School districts would be required to provide four (4) hours of mental health instruction to seventh grade students.)

H7116

2026 -- H 7116
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LC003759
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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:
Representatives J. Lombardi, Hull, Sanchez, Cruz, and Stewart

Date Introduced:
January 15, 2026

Referred To:
House Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 16-22-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22 entitled "Curriculum
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[See Title 16 Chapter 97 — the Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read
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as follows:
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16-22-4. Instruction in health and physical education.
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(a) All children in grades one through twelve (12) attending public schools, or any other
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schools managed and controlled by the state, except as provided in § 16-100-3(d), shall receive in
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those schools instruction in health and physical education under rules and regulations the
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department of elementary and secondary education may prescribe or approve during periods that
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shall average at least twenty (20) minutes in each school day. No private school or private
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instruction shall be approved by any school committee for the purposes of chapter 19 of this title
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as substantially equivalent to that required by law of a child attending a public school in the same
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city or town unless instruction in health and physical education similar to that required in public
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schools shall be given. Commencing September 1, 2012, the required health education curriculum
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shall be based on the health education standards of the Rhode Island health education framework:
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health literacy for all students as promulgated by the Rhode Island department of education and
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consistent with the mandated health instructional outcomes therein. Commencing September 1,
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2012, the required physical education curriculum shall be based on the physical education standards
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of the Rhode Island physical education framework: supporting physically active lifestyles through
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quality physical education as promulgated by the Rhode Island department of education and

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consistent with the instructional outcomes therein.
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(b) The department of elementary and secondary education shall incorporate, in
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consultation with the state department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and
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hospitals, substance abuse prevention and suicide prevention into the health education curriculum.
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For the purpose of this section, “substance abuse prevention” means the implementation of
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evidence-based, age-appropriate programs, practices, or curricula related to the use and abuse of
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alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; “suicide prevention” means the implementation of evidence-
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based, appropriate programs, practices, or curricula related to mental health awareness and suicide
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prevention. Further, “substance abuse prevention” and suicide prevention programs shall
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specifically include information provided to students that mixing opioids and alcohol can cause
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accidental death.
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(c) The department of education shall promulgate guidelines, rules and regulations for
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every school district, private school, mayoral academy, and charter school and make available on
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its website, curriculum materials, and such other materials as may assist local and regional school
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committees, and governing bodies of any private school, mayoral academy, or charter school, in
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developing instructional material on the multiple dimensions of health, by including mental health
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and the relation of physical and mental health, in order to enhance student understanding, attitudes
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and behaviors, that promote health, well-being and human dignity. The curriculum material and the
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guidelines shall be developed by the department of education, in consultation with groups and
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individuals having an interest and expertise in the field of mental health and mental illness
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treatment.
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(d) Every school district shall include in its curriculum for all seventh grade students, a
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four (4) hour unit of instruction on mental health and the relation of physical and mental health.
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School districts may utilize materials provided by the department of education and the curriculum
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shall be provided for the 2027-2028 school year and each school year thereafter.
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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 require the department of education to develop and make available for use
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in all schools, a mental health curriculum. School districts would be required to provide four (4)
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hours of mental health instruction to seventh grade students, commencing with the 2027-2028
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school year and every school year thereafter.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003759
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LC003759 - Page 3 of 3