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Collective Action for Education: Legislative and Policy Agenda, 2026

Policy We Have Helped Push Forward

Strengthening Teacher Pathways Through Advancement of a Study Commission

Overview
This resolution creates a 17-member legislative study commission to examine how Rhode Island recruits, prepares, licenses, and supports educators. It frames the educator workforce as both an equity issue and a long-term economic priority, with a focus on shortage areas such as special education, multilingual education, STEM, and CTE.

Bill: HR8266 – Teacher Pathways Study Commission
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Diaz

Key Focus Areas

  • Expanding multiple, high-quality pathways into teaching
  • Making teaching financially sustainable
  • Removing unnecessary barriers while maintaining strong standards
  • Strengthening mentoring and early-career supports
  • Positioning Rhode Island as a national leader in educator workforce innovation

Why This Matters

  • For students: More access to strong, consistent teachers in every classroom
  • For families: Greater stability and fewer vacancies or long-term substitutes
  • For the system: A stronger, more diverse pipeline without lowering standards

Impact
Great public schools depend on great educators. This effort rebuilds the pipeline while maintaining rigor and accountability.

Access to Open Seats in High-Performing Public Schools

Overview
This legislation ensures that unused seats in public schools are made available to students within the same district through a transparent and fair process.


HB7900 – House Version
SB2649 – Senate Version

What It Does

  • Opens unused seats to students across attendance zones within a district
  • Requires public posting and fair assignment processes
  • Establishes clear, transparent rules when demand exceeds supply
  • Protects against discrimination and ensures equitable access
  • Requires annual public reporting by districts and RIDE

Why This Matters

  • For students: Access to better-fit schools without leaving their district
  • For families: Fair, transparent access to opportunities already funded by taxpayers
  • For the system: Reduces reliance on informal systems or geographic luck

Impact

  • Maximizes existing public school capacity
  • Prioritizes access for students in lower-performing schools
  • Ensures protections for multilingual learners and students with disabilities

Safer Public Schools for Every Student

Overview

We support legislation that ensures students are safe, supported, and prepared in moments of crisis.

Key Legislation

  • Mental Health / Suicide Prevention (HB7026)
  • AED Access in Schools (HB7027)
  • Anti-Hazing Protections (HB7003 / SB2495)

Our Advocacy

  • Submitted formal written testimony in support of HB7026 and HB7027
  • Submitted written and verbal testimony in support of HB7003

Featured Testimony

Press Coverage

Be sure to link to the coverage

Why This Matters
Safe schools are foundational to learning. When students feel secure and supported, they are better able to focus, grow, and succeed.

Bringing More Talent Into the Teaching Profession for All Public School

Overview

We support policies that reduce unnecessary barriers and make teaching a more accessible and sustainable profession.

Key Legislation

  • HR8266 – Teacher Pathways Study Commission
  • HB7419 / SB2212 – Waiving Teacher Certification Fees

What This Means

  • Reduces financial barriers for educators
  • Supports retention of experienced teachers
  • Expands access for aspiring educators

Why This Matters
A strong educator workforce is the backbone of strong schools. Reducing barriers helps ensure every student has access to excellent teaching.

Oppose Charter Moratoriums and Restrictions That Hurt Students

Overview

We oppose legislation that limits access to public school options or disrupts approved school plans.

Key Legislation Opposed

  • HB7415 / SB2787 – Charter Moratorium Bills

Our Advocacy

    • Submitted formal opposition testimony
    • Coordinated statewide advocacy efforts

Why We Oppose

  • Restricts educational options for families
  • Undermines community demand, especially in underserved communities
  • Disrupts already-approved schools like De La Comunidad Bilingual Charter School
  • Shifts focus away from real funding and system challenges

Our Position
Rhode Island should focus on improving funding systems and expanding access, not limiting opportunity or creating division between public school models.

Facilities Funding Parity for Public Schools

Public schools should be funded fairly, regardless of the governance model.

The Challenge

  • District schools receive 35%–90%+ reimbursement for facilities
  • Charter schools are capped at 30%
  • Charter schools spend more of their budgets on rent and capital costs

Why This Matters

  • All public school students deserve safe, modern facilities
  • Unequal funding creates structural disadvantages

Our Priorities

  • Raise charter reimbursement to parity with district minimums
  • Ensure access to safety and modernization funding
  • Promote fair access to closed or unused public school buildings

Providence Focus

    • Transparent school closure policies
    • Multilingual community engagement
    • Clear building reuse strategies

Impact
Fair funding leads to stronger schools, better facilities, and more opportunities for students across Rhode Island.

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