The bill amends Section 16-64-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-64, which pertains to the residence of children for school purposes, specifically addressing the educational costs for children placed in foster care, group homes, or other residential facilities by Rhode Island state agencies. The new legal language inserted clarifies that children placed in these facilities are entitled to the same free, appropriate public education as other residents in the city or town where they are placed. It also outlines the financial responsibilities of the cities and towns regarding educational costs, including provisions for state aid based on the number of beds in facilities that do not provide educational services.

A significant change introduced in the bill is the provision that, effective June 30, 2025, neither the East Providence public schools nor the city of East Providence will be responsible for providing educational services or financial support for students attending the Children’s Residential and Family Treatment (CRAFT) program or other programs at Bradley Hospital. Instead, the responsibility will fall on the school district of origin, which is defined as the district where the student was last registered before admission to a Bradley program. This change aims to relieve the East Providence school district from financial obligations related to these students, as they will not receive reimbursement under the current statute for such cases.

Statutes affected:
113: 16-64-1.1