2025 -- S 0870
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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 -- BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME
Introduced By: Senators DiMario, Murray, Zurier, McKenney, Valverde, Lawson,
Lauria, Appollonio, Bissaillon, DiPalma, and Mack
Date Introduced: March 21, 2025
Referred To: Senate Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by 1
adding thereto the following chapter: 2
CHAPTER 117 3
BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME 4
16-117-1. Short title. 5
This act shall be known and may be cited as "building opportunities in out-of-school time". 6
16-117-2. Purpose. 7
The purpose of this chapter is to provide funding to support comprehensive and effective 8
afterschool, school vacation, summer learning and workforce development programming for 9
students in grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12) and professional development that provides 10
specialized training for staff employed by out-of-school time (“OST”) programs, capacity-building 11
initiatives, strategies to increase community engagement and program participation, and impact 12
chronic absenteeism. 13
16-117-3. Funding. 14
(a) The general assembly shall allocate no less than four million dollars ($4,000,000) in 15
fiscal year 2025-2026 budget to invest in: 16
(1) Targeted professional development that provides specialized training for staff 17
employed by out-of-school time (“OST”) programs, capacity building initiatives, strategies to 18
increase community engagement and program participation, and impact chronic absenteeism; 19
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(2) Program assessment and supports to ensure all out-of-school time (“OST”) programs 1
show strong outcomes for youth and continuous planning for improvement; and 2
(3) Workforce development funding to train and retain a pipeline of high-quality youth 3
development professionals to enter the field. 4
(b) Recipients of funding may include nonprofit organizations, local governments, and 5
local education authorities. 6
16-117-4. Allocation and eligibility. 7
(a) The Rhode Island afterschool network, through their fiscal sponsor, the Rhode Island 8
foundation, shall allocate no less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to provide 9
professional development and no less than three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) 10
to create a competitive request for proposals process to allocate funding for each fiscal year in 11
which funds may be appropriated by the general assembly. 12
(b) Only programs that adhere to the Rhode Island afterschool quality standards and 13
indicators shall be funded. 14
(c) Applicants shall detail funds received from all public sources for existing afterschool, 15
summer learning and workforce development programs and the eligibility of students and programs 16
served by the funds. 17
(d) Priority shall be given to those programs that seek to support: 18
(1) Equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility; 19
(2) Low-income families, youth with disabilities, multi-language learners, and youth and 20
families who have limited access to local programs and services; and 21
(3) Offering youth a broad array of opportunities, including educational and enrichment 22
programs. Social emotional learning, civic engagement, and workforce development supported 23
through STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), and arts to prepare youth for academic 24
success. 25
(e) The Rhode Island afterschool network through their fiscal sponsor, the Rhode Island 26
foundation, shall consult with key stakeholders that include, but are not limited to, the department 27
of education, the department of human services, and the office of postsecondary education to 28
maximize the criteria for provision of services. 29
16-117-5. Reporting. 30
The Rhode Island afterschool network through their fiscal sponsor, the Rhode Island 31
foundation, shall send a written report to the general assembly and the governor no later than 32
December 31 of each year on the status and progress of the programs authorized by this chapter. 33
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME
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This act would provide four million dollars ($4,000,000) to support comprehensive and 1
effective afterschool, school vacation, summer learning and workforce development programs for 2
students in grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12), provide professional development to 3
employees of out-of-school time programs, and require an annual report to the general assembly 4
and the governor on the status and progress of the programs. 5
This act would take effect upon passage. 6
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