Board of Education Regulations
Among its duties, the Board of Education sets policy affecting elementary and secondary education in Rhode Island.
The Board exercises its authority to ensure that all students receive the best educational opportunities for enhancing academic success. The legal department plays an important role in providing support for an effective rule-making process.
Selected State Education
Board Ed Rules and Regulations Material
Regulations Approved by the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education, but Promulgated by the Department of Health
For more Board of Education and Board of Regents regulations, please visit the Rhode Island Secretary of State's website.
1. Proposed Changes to the Regulations Governing the Education of Multilingual Learners
Public Comment - R.I. Gen. Law § 16-54-3
The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) is currently in the process of promulgating legislatively required statewide regulations pursuant to R.I. Gen. Law § 16-54-3.
These regulations were last updated in 2007 and do not currently comport with changes in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), current legal requirements nor do they incorporate nationally recognized best practices. The Council on Elementary and Secondary Education approved these regulations to go out for public comment at the September 25, 2024, meeting. The proposed regulations will address the areas of non-compliance and incorporate best practices for supporting Multilingual Learners in Rhode Island Public schools. An overview presentation is available on the RIDE web site at: Rhode Island’s Strategy for Improving Outcomes for MLLs.
The 46-day public comment period, open from December 6, 2024 through January 20, 2025, has now concluded. We thank all who submitted comment and participated in the hearings. RIDE will review all submitted comments and prepare a public summary.
2. Proposed Changes to the Regulations Governing the Certification of Educators in Rhode Island
Public Comment - R.I. Gen. Law § 16-60-4
The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) is currently in the process of promulgating regulations pursuant to R.I. Gen. Law § 16-60-4. These regulations govern the certification of educators in Rhode Island. The Council on Elementary and Secondary Education approved these regulations to go out for public comment at their November 21, 2024 meeting.
As part of the regulatory process, a 45-day public comment period will be open from January 10, 2025, through February 24, 2025. Individuals may submit public comment regarding the proposed regulatory language in the following manner:
- E-mail to regspubliccomment@ride.ri.gov
- Mail to the Rhode Island Department of Education at 255 Westminster St. Providence, RI 02903, Attn: Christine Kechejian
- Submission of Google Form
- Public comment hearings
RIDE will hold four (4) public comment hearings. The public is invited to provide public comment in person on the regulations on the following dates:
- Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at Narragansett High School, 245 S Pier Rd, Narragansett, RI 02882, 5:00 pm
- Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Hugh Cole Elementary School, 50 Asylum Rd, Warren, RI 02885, 5:00 pm
- Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at Providence Career and Technical Academy, 41 Fricker St, Providence, RI 02903, 5:00 pm
- Thursday, January 30, 2025, at Smithfield High School, 90 Pleasant View Ave, Smithfield, RI 02917, 5:00pm
Public hearings will begin at 5:00 PM and will last until all public comments are heard. Public comment is welcome and will be considered in any language. If you would like to have language interpretation services or ASL translation services available for use at a hearing, please email regspubliccomment@ride.ri.gov at least one week in advance of the hearing date.
This information is also available on the Board of Education Regulations and the Secretary of State websites.