- See also: K-12 education content standards in the states
This page features information about K-12 areas of instruction required by state statute in Rhode Island public schools.
Background
- See also: K-12 education content standards in the states and K-12 curriculum authority, requirements, and statutes in the states
State education officials may develop content standards and curricula, depending on the state, in order to facilitate instruction in public schools. In some states, lawmakers also adopt required areas of instruction by statute.
K-12 content standards and curriculum development
State or local education officials may develop K-12 curricula for classroom instruction that generally includes lessons and materials used in a particular course of study.[1] Depending on the state, K-12 curricula may reflect or incorporate state content standards—educational learning and achievement goals that state education officials either require or recommend that local schools satisfy in K-12 instruction.
Areas of instruction required by statute
Some state laws require the inclusion of specific areas of instruction in K-12 public school curricula. In these cases, lawmakers—rather than state education officials—mandate certain education requirements for students. Laws governing specific areas of instruction in K-12 curricula vary by state.
Statutorily required areas of instruction in Rhode Island
The following table provides information about selected areas of instruction required by statute in Rhode Island, as of 2023. The statutes provided may not be comprehensive. The statutory text is provided below the table.
Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-2:
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Civics education.
(b) All middle and high school students attending public schools, or any other schools managed and controlled by the state, shall demonstrate proficiency, as defined by the local school district, in civics education that shall also satisfy half credit or course requirement in history and social studies...[2]
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Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-3:
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Instruction in physiology and hygiene.
The school committees of the several cities and towns shall make provision for the instruction of the pupils in all schools supported wholly, or in part, by public money, in physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the effects of alcoholic liquors, stimulants, and narcotics upon the human system.[2]
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Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-4:
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Instruction in health and physical education.
(a) All children in grades one through twelve (12) attending public schools, or any other schools managed and controlled by the state, except as provided in § 16-100-3(d), shall receive in those schools instruction in health and physical education under rules and regulations the department of elementary and secondary education may prescribe or approve during periods that shall average at least twenty (20) minutes in each school day...[2]
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Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-10:
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Voting instruction.
The school committees of the several cities, towns, and school districts shall provide for students of the senior class in high school a course of instruction and demonstration in the operation of a voting machine, and of the manner of casting a valid ballot. The board of elections is directed to make available to each city and town school committee one voting machine per city or town to carry out the purposes of this section.[2]
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Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-12:
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Required courses on alcohol and substance abuse.
(a) The school committees of the several cities, towns, and school districts shall provide for the incorporation of mandatory instruction of students in grades one through twelve (12) on the effects of alcohol and substance abuse upon the human system in existing health education or other courses...[2]
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Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-13:
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Consumer education.
(b) By the start of the 2022-2023 school year, the school committees of the several cities, towns, and local education agencies (“LEAs”) shall ensure that public high schools offer a course that includes instruction in consumer education that is aligned with the statewide standards...[2]
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Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-14:
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Suicide prevention awareness.
(a) The department of elementary and secondary education shall develop and prescribe a suicide prevention awareness program for public school students in grades nine (9) through twelve (12). The school committees of the several cities, towns, and school districts shall provide for the incorporation of the program in existing health education courses...[2]
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Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-15:
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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.
(a) The department of elementary and secondary education shall develop and prescribe a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training course for public school students in the state. The course shall be established in accordance with the requirements and criteria obtained from the Red Cross and/or the American Heart Association and the director of the department of health...[2]
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Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-16:
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Blocked air passage treatment training.
(a) The department of elementary and secondary education shall develop and prescribe a training course in the emergency treatment for blocked air passages. The course shall be established in accordance with criteria and requirements established by the director of the department of health. The department of elementary and secondary education shall determine the age or grade level of pupils required to receive training...[2]
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Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-17:
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AIDS education program.
(a) The department of elementary and secondary education shall, pursuant to rules promulgated by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and the director of the department of health, establish comprehensive AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) instruction, which shall provide students with accurate information and instruction on AIDS transmission and prevention, and which course shall also address abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred means of prevention, as a basic education program requirement...[2]
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Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-18:
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Health and family life courses.
(a) Every secondary school teaching courses in family life or sex education within this state shall include, as part of the course instruction, abstinence from sexual activity and refraining from sexual intercourse as the preferred method of pregnancy prevention and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Provided further, part of the course instruction may incorporate age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate elements of effective and evidence-based programs on the law and meaning of consent. Such age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate elements of effective and evidence-based programs on the prevention of pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and sexual violence may include instruction that increases student awareness of the fact that consent is required before sexual activity...[2]
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Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-22:
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Genocide and human rights education.
The department of elementary and secondary education shall, pursuant to rules promulgated by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, develop curricular material on genocide and human rights issues and guidelines for the teaching of that material. The material and guidelines shall include, but not be limited to: (1) the period of the transatlantic slave trades and the middle passage; (2) the great hunger period in Ireland; (3) the Armenian genocide; (4) the Holocaust; and (5) the Mussolini fascist regime and other recognized human rights violations. In formulating this program the department shall consult with practicing teachers, principals, superintendents and experts knowledgeable in genocide and human rights issues. Local school committees may incorporate the material into their elementary and secondary school curriculum.[2]
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Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-23:
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Mathematics, English/Language Arts, and Science.
(a) The board of regents for elementary and secondary education shall select and/or develop a statewide curriculum (i) in Mathematics and English/Language Arts for students in grades kindergarten (k) through twelve (12) by August 31, 2006 and (ii) in Science for students in grades kindergarten (k) through twelve (12) by August 31, 2008...[2]
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Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-24:
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Dating violence education.
(a) Each school district shall incorporate dating violence education that is age-appropriate into the annual health curriculum framework for students in grades seven (7) through twelve (12)...[2]
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Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-26:
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Age appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness education.
(1) All pupils in grades kindergarten through eight (8) in all public schools in the state shall receive instruction designed to prevent the abduction, exploitation, or sexual abuse of children. Such instruction shall be provided by, or under the direct supervision of, regular classroom teachers; provided, however, that such instruction may be provided by any other agency, public or private...[2]
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Rhode Island General Laws § 16-22-35:
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Littering prevention and recycling awareness program.
The department of elementary and secondary education shall, in collaboration with the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation, prescribe a presentation on litter prevention, reducing and reusing materials, and recycling awareness that shall be used to educate every public elementary and middle school student within the state on a yearly basis.[2]
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See also
External links
