The "Bright Today Scholarship and Open Enrollment Education Act" aims to enhance educational options for K-12 students in Rhode Island by allowing parents to enroll their children in public schools of their choice or to receive scholarships for private educational programs. The act introduces "Bright Today Scholarships," which will be available to all K-12 students, with funding amounts determined by household income levels.

Parents will have responsibilities for managing scholarship accounts, including permissible expenses such as tuition, textbooks, and educational services, as well as the requirement to provide a basic education in core subjects. The Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (RIDE) will oversee the program, ensuring compliance with established standards and conducting audits. Funds in scholarship accounts will not be considered taxable income.

The legislation establishes an appeal process for stakeholders regarding departmental decisions and sets accountability standards for participating schools, including compliance with health and safety laws and nondiscrimination policies. To address potential fraud, the bill defines savings account fraud and protects financial institutions from liability when sharing information with RIDE. It mandates the collection and reporting of academic performance data to promote transparency.

Additionally, the act ensures that nonpublic schools and homeschools maintain their autonomy, prohibiting government control or supervision over these institutions. The program is set to commence on August 1, 2027, upon passage.