Health & Safety

Physical education is a curricular-based program that is comprehensive, sequential and developmentally appropriate for grades K-12 that promotes lifelong physical activity. It helps students to develop the knowledge, motor skills, self-management skills, social skills, attitudes and confidence needed to adopt and maintain physical activity throughout their lives.

Rhode Island Physical Education Framework

Sexuality education includes human growth and development; personal skills; relationships; disease control and prevention; sexual health and behavior; family life; and societal and cultural issues. Sexuality is complex and it encompasses emotional, physical and social changes and factors. It includes gender, gender identity, body image, and sexual orientation. 

School safety involves a comprehensive and integrated approach to develop a full continuum of programs and services encompassing efforts to promote positive development, prevent problems, respond early, and offer interventions and resources to promote school safety.

Before and after school programs provide supervised and structured expanded learning opportunities for children and youth. These programs offer a critical service for working parents, as well as an opportunity for children and youth to build social, academic and life skills.

Nutrition promotes health and wellness as well as learning and academic achievement. Schools provide a broad range of programs, services and nutrition education for students in grades K-12. The RI Department of Education is responsible for administering major U.S. Department of Agriculture Child Nutrition Programs.

Health services are programs and services provided to students to assess, protect, and promote health. Schools employ qualified professionals such as physicians, nurses, dentists, and other allied health personnel to provide these services.

Family and community engagement encourages schools, families, and the community to work together to promote the health, well-being and learning of all students. Family and community involvement fosters partnerships among schools, families, community groups and individuals so that all students succeed in school.

Healthy school buildings and school grounds include policies and protocols that must be in place to ensure food protection, sanitation, safe water supply, healthy air quality, good lighting, safe playgrounds, and emergency evacuation, among other issues that relate to healthy school buildings.

Bullying undermines the safe learning environment that students need to achieve their full potential. The RI Statewide Bullying Policy [PDF, 168KB] was promulgated pursuant to the authority set forth in §16-21-34 of the General Laws of Rhode Island. Known as the Safe School Act, the statute recognizes that the bullying of a student creates a climate of fear and disrespect that can seriously impair the student's health and negatively affect learning. The purpose of the Policy is to ensure a consistent and unified statewide approach to prohibiting bullying at school.  Additional information on bullying is available at stopbullying.gov.

For data on bullying and school safety, see Bullying & School Violence.

The Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is committed to ensuring safe and supportive learning environments for all Rhode Island youth. It is imperative that the school system, along with family and education professionals, be supportive role models and strong advocates for the safety and well-being of children. All students need a safe and supportive school environment to progress academically and developmentally.  The Guidance for Rhode Island Schools on Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students includes a state and federal statutory framework to guide local policies.  The guidance also contains resources and best practices to support youth.  The Regulations Governing Protections for Students Rights to be Free from Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, or Gender Expression ensure that all public school districts develop a policy to support youth, emphasizing the State's commitment to safe and supportive learning environments.

A safe school environment, free of bullying, teen dating violence and sexual violence, is possible when all members of a community work together to affect change at many levels.

School health education, health services, and school environment are guided by the RI Rules and Regulations for School Health Programs.

These regulations apply to all public and non-public schools. These regulations are jointly promulgated by the Departments of Education and Health, and are periodically updated to align with new statutes, best practices, and emerging issues.

Health Education is required for all students in grades 1-12 according to RI General Laws. Students should receive an average of 100 minutes per week of health and physical education. This does not include recess, free play, or after-school activities. Specific requirements for health education are outlined in Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Rules and Regulations for School Health Programs. 

The health services that are provided in RI schools are guided by the RI Rules and Regulations for School Health Programs. Required health services include screenings, records review, acute care, chronic disease management, and health risk prevention.

Policies and protocols must be in place to ensure food protection, sanitation, safe water supply, healthy air quality, good lighting, safe playgrounds, and emergency evacuation, among other issues that relate to healthy school buildings. Sections 21 through 42 of the Rules and Regulations for School Health Programs outline all of the requirements for building and maintaining a healthy school.

• Annual School Health Report 2024-25
• Frequently Asked Questions