AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- POSTSECONDARY TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR SHORTAGE TEACHING FIELDS (Creates a postsecondary tuition assistance for shortage teaching fields.)

S2081

2026 -- S 2081
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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 -- POSTSECONDARY TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR
SHORTAGE TEACHING FIELDS

Introduced By:
Senators Acosta, Mack, Zurier, Gallo, Valverde, McKenney, Thompson,
Quezada, and Kallman

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by
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adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 117
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POSTSECONDARY TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR SHORTAGE TEACHING FIELDS
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16-117-1. Creation.

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There is hereby established within the office of the postsecondary commissioner (“OPC”)
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a restricted receipt account entitled the Shortage Teaching Fields Tuition Assistance Fund (“the
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fund”). The fund shall be used to provide payment from the state to an eligible individual’s
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institution of higher education toward a portion of their tuition and other costs of attending said
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institution under this chapter.
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16-117-2. Definitions.

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For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following
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meanings:
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(1) "Costs of attending" means expenses other than tuition, room, board, and mandatory
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fees that are necessary to the successful completion of a degree program at a Rhode Island
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postsecondary institution. Such expenses shall be paid for in accordance with rules and regulations
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promulgated by OPC, and may include, but are not limited to, transportation, child care, and course-
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related books and materials.

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(2) "OPC" means the office of the postsecondary commissioner.
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(3) "Service requirement" means specific employment and work obligations that
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individuals shall meet if they receive tuition assistance under this chapter.
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(4) "Shortage teaching fields" means subject areas or teacher certifications that are
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experiencing a critical lack of educators in the State of Rhode Island. These shall include, but are
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not limited to:
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(i) Any sciences for grades seven (7) through twelve (12); and
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(ii) Any mathematics for grades seven (7) through twelve (12).
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(5) "Tuition assistance recipients" means individuals receiving assistance toward their
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tuition and other costs of attending a postsecondary institution under this chapter.
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16-117-3. Eligibility of individuals.

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(a) In general, tuition assistance recipients under this chapter shall:
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(1) Be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, at a Rhode Island postsecondary institution in
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a program to become a teacher in a shortage field;
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(2) Complete the service requirement set forth in § 16-117-4; and
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(3) Fulfill any other conditions required by OPC.
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(b) Tuition assistance recipients under this chapter shall not be required to:
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(1) Provide a score from the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or Advanced Placement
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(AP) test as a condition of admission to the teaching degree program of any postsecondary
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institution in Rhode Island; or
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(2) Be a resident of Rhode Island.
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(c) If an individual receives tuition assistance under this chapter, and then leaves their
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institution’s program to become a teacher in a shortage field prior to completing their degree, the
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tuition assistance provided to date shall become a loan to be repaid by the individual.
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(d) If an individual receives tuition assistance under this chapter, and then does not
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complete the service requirement provided in § 16-117-4, the tuition assistance provided to date
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shall become a loan to be repaid by the individual.
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(e) Transferring from one postsecondary institution in Rhode Island to a different
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postsecondary institution in Rhode Island shall not negatively affect an individual’s eligibility for
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tuition assistance under this chapter; provided that, they remain in compliance with all other
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eligibility requirements.
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16-117-4. Service requirements to receive tuition assistance.

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To receive tuition assistance under this chapter, individuals shall complete at least three (3)
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years of full-time teaching in a shortage teaching field at any elementary or secondary school in the

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state.
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16-117-5. Disbursement.

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All funds distributed in accordance with this chapter shall be:
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(1) Allocated toward the tuition, room, board, mandatory fees, and additional costs of
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attending a Rhode Island postsecondary institution to become a teacher in a shortage field;
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(2) Provided to cover tuition, room, board, mandatory fees, and/or costs of attending a
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Rhode Island postsecondary institution that remain after all other financial aid funds have been
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awarded to the tuition assistance recipient; and
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(3) Available for individuals to attend any Rhode Island postsecondary institution, public
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or private; provided that, funds disbursed to a private institution for tuition, room, board, and
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mandatory fees shall be limited to the amount that Rhode Island college charges for the same
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expenses in the same academic year. Additional costs of attending a private institution shall be paid
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for in accordance with regulations promulgated by OPC.
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16-117-6. Administration of shortage teaching field tuition assistance fund.

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OPC shall administer the fund and OPC shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary
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to implement this chapter, which shall include, but are not limited to:
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(1) The process for defining any shortage teaching fields in addition to the ones provided
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in § 16-117-2, and updating said definition at least once every other year;
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(2) Providing an easy-to-follow guide in a variety of languages regarding how to apply for
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tuition assistance under this chapter;
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(3) How to fulfill the service requirement, including the length of time afforded to
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individuals to complete it and consideration for leaves of absence related to the health of the
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individual or a close family member, pregnancy, and military service; and
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(4) Defining the nature and extent of costs of attending a postsecondary institution,
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identified in § 16-117-2, that individuals may receive assistance for under this chapter.
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16-117-7. Reporting
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(a) By August 1, 2027, and annually by August 1 thereafter, OPC shall provide an
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evaluation of the fund to the speaker of the house, senate president, and the governor. The
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evaluation shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
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(1) The number of individuals whose request for tuition assistance under this chapter was
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approved;
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(2) The actual dollar amount paid for tuition assistance in the previous year;
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(3) The shortage teaching area for which individuals received tuition assistance; and
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(4) The name of the postsecondary institution(s) the individual attended.

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(b) Reporting required under this section shall take extreme care to maintain the privacy of
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the individuals requesting and/or receiving tuition assistance under this chapter.
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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 -- POSTSECONDARY TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR
SHORTAGE TEACHING FIELDS
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This act would create postsecondary tuition assistance for shortage teaching fields which
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are defined as subject areas or teacher certifications that are experiencing a critical lack of educators
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in the state such as any sciences grades seven (7) through twelve (12) and any mathematics grades
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seven (7) through twelve (12). Recipients of tuition assistance would have to be enrolled, or
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accepted for enrollment at a Rhode Island postsecondary institution in a program to become a
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teacher in a shortage field and complete at least three (3) years of full-time teaching in a shortage
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teaching field in this state.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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