The bill amends Section 16-7.2-6 of the General Laws under "The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act" to establish a new categorical funding category specifically for civics education, designated as 16-7.2-6(k). This section outlines the creation of a fund dedicated to supporting effective civics instruction in every school district. The allocation of funding will be determined by district needs, including factors such as student population size, socioeconomic status, the number of multilingual learners, and other dimensions of need as defined by the department of elementary and secondary education. The bill mandates that for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the categorical funding provided pursuant to this section shall be increased by a minimum of fifty percent (50%) over the funding provided in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The increased funding shall be used exclusively for teacher professional development in civics, including specific pedagogical needs such as culturally responsive teaching, media literacy, and project-based learning; the purchase and creation of civic education curriculum; technical assistance and support for the implementation of student-led civic projects; partnerships with local community organizations; and the evaluation of civic learning at the district level, with results made accessible to the public upon review by the department of elementary and secondary education. Additionally, the bill specifies that funding shall include one million dollars ($1,000,000) for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, with six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) specifically designated for teacher professional development and support for implementing student-led civics projects. The remaining funding will be dedicated to oversight from the department of elementary and secondary education, which may include personnel, assessment, accountability systems, guidelines, and resources specifically designated for civics education. The allocation of funding shall be approved and implemented by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education pursuant to a request for proposal (RFP) process. Any funds appropriated but unutilized in the appropriated fiscal year shall be retained, carried forward, and used in subsequent fiscal years. The department of elementary and secondary education shall be responsible for oversight of the fund and assessing the effectiveness of its use throughout each school district in the state, including direct input from teachers and parents, and consideration of district need as defined in this section. The bill also includes a severability clause, stating that if any provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this legislation is found to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable, or unconstitutional, the remainder of the legislation shall remain effective and functional. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
423: 16-7.2-6