The "Bright Today Scholarship and Open Enrollment Education Act" is a proposed bill aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for K-12 students in Rhode Island by allowing parents to choose their child's educational program. This includes options for open enrollment in public schools within their district or any other district, as well as the ability to receive scholarships that allocate public funds to private schools or educational programs selected by parents. Key provisions include the establishment of "Bright Today Scholarships" for all K-12 students, which allows parents to utilize funds typically allocated to their child at their resident school district. The bill also introduces new requirements for parents to renew scholarship accounts annually and ensures that participating students are counted in their resident school district's enrollment figures for state funding purposes.

The bill proposes several amendments to current law, including the stipulation that scholarship funds can only be used during a student's K-12 educational career, with any remaining funds returned to the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It emphasizes accountability by mandating that parents ensure participating students take state achievement tests annually, with results reported to the department. Additionally, the bill clarifies that participating schools and education providers are not agents of the state, safeguarding their autonomy. Other provisions include transportation requirements for transfer pupils and immunity for school districts from civil liability regarding enrollment decisions made in good faith. Overall, the bill seeks to create a more flexible and accountable educational system while maintaining the independence of nonpublic educational entities.