2025 -- H 5112
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM
Introduced By: Representatives J. Lombardi, Hull, Ajello, Voas, Stewart, and Felix
Date Introduced: January 22, 2025
Referred To: House Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 16-22-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22 entitled "Curriculum 1
[See Title 16 Chapter 97 — the Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read 2
as follows: 3
16-22-4. Instruction in health and physical education. 4
(a) All children in grades one through twelve (12) attending public schools, or any other 5
schools managed and controlled by the state, except as provided in § 16-100-3(d), shall receive in 6
those schools instruction in health and physical education under rules and regulations the 7
department of elementary and secondary education may prescribe or approve during periods that 8
shall average at least twenty (20) minutes in each school day. No private school or private 9
instruction shall be approved by any school committee for the purposes of chapter 19 of this title 10
as substantially equivalent to that required by law of a child attending a public school in the same 11
city or town unless instruction in health and physical education similar to that required in public 12
schools shall be given. Commencing September 1, 2012, the required health education curriculum 13
shall be based on the health education standards of the Rhode Island health education framework: 14
health literacy for all students as promulgated by the Rhode Island department of education and 15
consistent with the mandated health instructional outcomes therein. Commencing September 1, 16
2012, the required physical education curriculum shall be based on the physical education standards 17
of the Rhode Island physical education framework: supporting physically active lifestyles through 18
quality physical education as promulgated by the Rhode Island department of education and 19
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consistent with the instructional outcomes therein. 1
(b) The department of elementary and secondary education shall incorporate, in 2
consultation with the state department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and 3
hospitals, substance abuse prevention and suicide prevention into the health education curriculum. 4
For the purpose of this section, “substance abuse prevention” means the implementation of 5
evidence-based, age-appropriate programs, practices, or curricula related to the use and abuse of 6
alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; “suicide prevention” means the implementation of evidence-7
based, appropriate programs, practices, or curricula related to mental health awareness and suicide 8
prevention. Further, “substance abuse prevention” and suicide prevention programs shall 9
specifically include information provided to students that mixing opioids and alcohol can cause 10
accidental death. 11
(c) The department of education shall promulgate guidelines, rules and regulations for 12
every school district, private school, mayoral academy, and charter school and make available on 13
its website, curriculum materials and such other materials as may assist local and regional school 14
committees, and governing bodies of any private school, mayoral academy, or charter school in 15
developing instructional material on the multiple dimensions of health by including mental health 16
and the relation of physical and mental health in order to enhance student understanding, attitudes 17
and behaviors that promote health, well-being and human dignity. The curriculum material and the 18
guidelines shall be developed by the department of education in consultation with groups and 19
individuals having an interest and expertise in the field of mental health and mental illness 20
treatment. 21
(d) Every school district shall include in its curriculum for all seventh grade students, a 22
four (4) hour unit of instruction on mental health and the relation of physical and mental health. 23
School districts may utilize materials provided by the department of education and the curriculum 24
shall be provided for the 2026-2027 school year and each school year thereafter. 25
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 26
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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 1
in all schools a mental health curriculum. School districts would be required to provide four (4) 2
hours of mental health instruction to seventh grade students commencing with the 2026-2027 3
school year and every school year thereafter. 4
This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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