The bill amends Section 16-24-1 of the General Laws concerning the education of children with disabilities. It explicitly states that school committees must provide special education services to children with disabilities, including those who are parentally placed in private schools. The bill ensures that these children and their parents or guardians have the same rights and remedies as those in public schools, as outlined in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Additionally, the bill provides a procedure in superior court to enforce these rights and remedies, granting jurisdiction to the superior courts of Rhode Island to hear civil actions related to these rights, under the same standards set forth in 20 U.S.C. 1415(i). This includes the ability to award attorneys' fees to a prevailing party who is a state educational agency, a local educational agency, or the parent or guardian of a parentally placed child with a disability.

The bill takes effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5044: 16-24-1