JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO ONWARD WE LEARN IN SUPPORT OF RHODE ISLAND GEAR UP (Appropriates the sum of $500,000 to Onward We Learn in support of Rhode Island GEAR UP.)

S3216

2026 -- S 3216
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LC006326
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO ONWARD WE LEARN IN SUPPORT OF
RHODE ISLAND GEAR UP

Introduced By:
Senators Gallo, DiPalma, Tikoian, Ciccone, LaMountain, Felag, Burke,
and Gu

Date Introduced:
April 14, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Finance
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WHEREAS, Prior legislative findings in Chapter 70 of title 16 of the Rhode Island
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General Laws outline the need for Rhode Island to invest in college access and success programs
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that develop the educational and career and technical skills of its students for its continued
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economic development, prosperity, and for maintaining and improving its quality of life; and
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WHEREAS, The present and future workforce requires ever higher levels of educational
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and career and technical training in order to improve the economic prosperity of our State and
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Nation; and the cost is a known barrier for all young people in Rhode Island to access higher
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education; and
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WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner is the
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recipient of the Rhode Island GEAR UP grant from the U.S. Department of Education and
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partners with Onward We Learn to design and deliver all programmatic and scholarship
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operations in conjunction with the Rhode Island GEAR UP program; and
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WHEREAS, Onward We Learn’s mission is to inspire and prepare young people in
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Rhode Island to become the first in their families to attend and complete college by participating
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in a comprehensive set of programs throughout middle school and high school that focus on
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academic enrichment, social and emotional development, career education, and post-secondary
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preparation; and
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WHEREAS, Independent research completed over the past seventeen (17) years confirms
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that students who participate in Onward We Learn are forty-eight percent (48%) more likely to

1
earn a college degree compared to their closely matched peers; and
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WHEREAS, Onward We Learn students not only receive comprehensive college access
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and success programming through the Rhode Island GEAR UP program, but also a scholarship
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for postsecondary education of up to four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500) per year for four
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(4) years which can be redeemed at any institution of higher education in Rhode Island; and
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WHEREAS, Since its inception, Onward We Learn – via the Rhode Island GEAR UP
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program – has provided more than fifty-five million dollars ($55,000,000) in scholarships to an
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estimated thirteen thousand five hundred (13,500) young people in Rhode Island – increasing the
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likelihood of degree attainment, while reducing each student’s overall higher education cost
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burden; and
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WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of Postsecondary Commissioner received a seven
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(7) year federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education in 2024 and has sub-granted the
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funds to Onward We Learn; and
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WHEREAS, The Rhode Island GEAR UP grant has a dollar-for-dollar non-federal match
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requirement and Rhode Island General Law § 16-70-5 states that “the general assembly shall
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annually appropriate such sums as it deems necessary as the state’s share for the support and
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maintenance of Onward We Learn”; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not
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otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars
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($500,000) to Onward We Learn in support of the Rhode Island GEAR UP operations and
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scholarship program; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw their
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orders upon the general treasurer for payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from
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time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO ONWARD WE LEARN IN SUPPORT OF
RHODE ISLAND GEAR UP
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1
This resolution would appropriate the sum of $500,000 to Onward We Learn in support
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of Rhode Island GEAR UP.
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LC006326
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