Expands the definition of "educational program" for purposes of the abused and neglected children general law to include charter schools, parochial schools, after school programs, camps and various other programs involving children.

Plain-English Summary

This bill expands the legal definition of "educational program" under Rhode Island's child abuse and neglect laws to cover a wider range of places and settings where children spend time. Currently, that definition may be narrower and focused primarily on traditional public schools. Under this bill, the definition would also include charter schools, parochial (religious) schools, after-school programs, summer camps, and other similar programs that involve children.

The practical effect of this change is that the rules, responsibilities, and protections that already apply to educational programs under Rhode Island's child abuse and neglect laws would now apply to all of these additional settings. This likely means that staff and administrators at these organizations would be subject to the same mandated reporting requirements — meaning they would be legally required to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities, just as educators in traditional public schools are.

This bill affects a broad range of people and organizations, including charter school employees, religious school staff, camp counselors, and after-school program workers, as well as the children who participate in these programs. Parents and guardians of children in these settings would also be affected, as their children would have the same legal protections they would have in a traditional school environment.

The bill has moved through the legislative process, with a committee recommending passage of a revised version (called "Substitute A"), and it has been placed on the House Calendar for a full vote as of early April 2026.