AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM (Adds "media literacy" to the standards currently taught in civic education for K-12, which are the history of Rhode Island, representative government, the rights and duties of actively engaged citizenship and the principles of democracy.)

S2016

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:
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SECTION 1. Section 16-22-2 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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16-22-2. Civics education.
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(a) The general assembly recognizes the importance of a citizenry well educated in the
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principles of democracy as enunciated in the constitutions of the state of Rhode Island and the
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United States. The general assembly directs the board of regents for elementary and secondary
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education to develop and adopt a set of grade level standards K-12 in civics education no later than
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August 31, 2007. These standards shall include, but not be limited to, the history of the state of
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Rhode Island, representative government, the rights and duties of actively engaged citizenship,
and
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the

principals

principles
of democracy
, and media literacy
. These civic education standards shall
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be used in the public schools of this state beginning in kindergarten and continuing through to and
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including grade 12. No private school or private instruction shall be approved for the purposes of
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chapter 19 of this title unless the course of study shall make provision for instruction substantially
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equivalent to that required by this chapter for public schools.
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(b) All middle and high school students attending public schools, or any other schools
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managed and controlled by the state, shall demonstrate proficiency, as defined by the local school
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district, in civics education that shall also satisfy half credit or course requirement in history and
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social studies.

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(c) Each public school district shall provide not less than one student-led civics project for
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students during either middle or high school; provided, however, that each such project shall be
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consistent with the history and social studies standards and frameworks promulgated by the Rhode
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Island board of education. Civics projects may be individual, small group, or class wide, and
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designed to promote a student’s ability to:
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(1) Reason, make logical arguments, and support claims using valid evidence; and
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(2) Demonstrate an understanding of the connections between federal, state, and local
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policies, including issues that may impact the student’s community.
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(d) The department of education shall begin implementing subsections (b) and (c) of this
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section for the 2022-2023 academic year.
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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 add "media literacy" to the standards currently taught in civic education for
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kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), which are the history of Rhode Island, representative
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government, the rights and duties of actively engaged citizenship and the principles of democracy.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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