AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM (Allows any school district to petition the board of education to use a lower-cost curriculum program, if the program is substantially similar to other programs approved by the board of education.)

H7140

2026 -- H 7140
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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 Place, Hopkins, Roberts, Paplauskas, Nardone,
Quattrocchi, Chippendale, and Fascia

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
House Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 16-22-32 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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16-22-32. High quality curriculum and materials.
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(a)(1) The council on elementary and secondary education (the “council”) shall direct the
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commissioner of elementary and secondary education (the “commissioner”) to institute a process
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for reviewing and identifying curriculum and materials for mathematics, English language arts, and
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science and technology that meet the following requirements:
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(i) Is aligned with the academic standards provided in § 16-22-30;
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(ii) Is aligned with the curriculum frameworks provided in § 16-22-31;
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(iii) Is aligned with the RICAS, or any other test that is adopted as a statewide standardized
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test; and
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(iv) Is of high quality.
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(2) The commissioner shall identify at least five (5) examples each of curricula for
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mathematics and English language arts pursuant to this section by no later than January 1, 2021,
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for science and technology pursuant to this section by no later than January 31, 2026, and again as
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required by the council’s procedures set forth in subsection (a)(8) of this section. Once identified,
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the curricula shall be made available to the public, subject to copyright considerations.
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(3) The commissioner shall direct all local education agencies (“LEAs”) to select one of

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the identified high-quality curricula and materials by the time of their next adoption cycle, but in
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any case, no later than June 30, 2023, for mathematics and English language arts, and no later than
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June 30, 2026, for science and technology. LEAs shall select curriculum and materials that are
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responsive to the LEA’s cultural and linguistic needs, and support culturally responsive practices.
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LEAs shall implement the high-quality curricula and materials at the start of the school year that
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immediately follows the selection. If an LEA is unable to implement the high-quality curricula and
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materials fully due to financial hardship, the commissioner may grant the LEA an extension of
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time, provided that the LEA demonstrates continued efforts to complete the implementation.
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(4) The commissioner shall institute a waiver process for LEAs that would like to use a
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curriculum other than any identified by the commissioner pursuant to this section. Part of that
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process may include, but is not limited to, asking the LEA to:
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(i) Develop local curriculum goals;
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(ii) Communicate the rationale for selecting the proposed curriculum over any of the
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curricula identified by the commissioner; and
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(iii) Engage a third-party reviewer that has a proven track record of curriculum audits to
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review the proposed curriculum to ensure it aligns with state standards, establishes the scope and
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sequence of instruction, is of high quality, is culturally relevant, and to discuss any other strengths
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and weaknesses.
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(5) Waiver determinations made pursuant to subsection (a)(4) of this section shall be
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appealable to the board of education.
Any LEA may petition the commissioner to use a lower-cost
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curriculum program, if the program is substantially similar to other programs identified and
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approved by the commissioner. In order to petition for the lower-cost curriculum, the LEA shall
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present to the commissioner evidence that the LEA's proposed alternative curriculum is also of high
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quality and would be appropriate for the LEA's students.
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(6) Any LEA that has at least seventy-five percent (75%) of its students meeting
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expectations on state assessments and also has no student subgroup identified for targeted
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assistance under Rhode Island’s accountability process may select and use curricula and materials
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other than any identified by the commissioner pursuant to this section for that subject area, only;
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provided, however, that if the LEA no longer has at least seventy-five percent (75%) of its students
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meeting expectations on state assessments, or if any student subgroup is identified for targeted
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assistance under Rhode Island’s accountability process, the LEA must select and implement one of
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the curricula identified by the commissioner pursuant to this section.
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(7) LEAs shall develop and execute a curriculum implementation plan that includes
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professional development to ensure that all teachers and administrators are prepared to implement

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the new curriculum with the necessary skill and knowledge.
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(8) The council shall develop procedures for updating the identification of curricula and
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materials pursuant to this section by no later than September 1, 2021. The procedures shall include
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a requirement that the council review and evaluate the identified curricula and materials regularly
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to ensure that the high quality of the curricula and materials is maintained. The review cycle shall
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begin in 2025, with subsequent reviews taking place in 2029, 2033, and every four (4) years
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thereafter.
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(b) On or before December 1, 2020, and annually thereafter on or before December 1, the
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commissioner shall report to the governor, president of the senate, and the speaker of the house,
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regarding the progress toward fulfilling the requirements of this section, including, but not limited
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to, the high-quality curricula and materials identified, selected, and implemented by LEAs pursuant
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to this section.
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(c) The state shall establish a professional development fund to provide professional
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learning to LEAs that elect to use prioritized curricula and materials in mathematics and English
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language arts as identified by the commissioner.
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(d) For the purposes of this section, “local education agencies” (“LEAs”) shall include all
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of the following within the state of Rhode Island:
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(1) Public school districts;
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(2) Regional school districts;
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(3) State-operated schools;
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(4) Regional collaborative schools; and
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(5) Charter schools.
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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 allow any LEA to petition the commissioner to use a lower-cost curriculum
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program, if the program is of high quality.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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