Requires transition planning for high school students with disabilities, who have a “504” plan, like the transition planning required for high school students with disabilities, who have an individualized education program (IEP).

Plain-English Summary

This bill would require Rhode Island high schools to provide transition planning services to students with disabilities who have a "Section 504 plan" — a type of accommodation plan that helps students with disabilities access education on equal footing with their peers. Currently, detailed transition planning is already required for students with disabilities who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP), which is a more comprehensive special education plan. This bill would extend that same type of planning to 504 students as well.

Transition planning is the process of helping students prepare for life after high school — including goals and support related to further education, job training, employment, and independent living. Under this bill, schools would need to work with 504 students and their families to create a structured plan outlining steps to help those students successfully move into adulthood.

This bill primarily affects high school students with disabilities who have a 504 plan but do not qualify for or are not enrolled in special education services under an IEP. It also affects their parents or guardians, as well as school staff who would be responsible for developing and carrying out these transition plans. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and has been referred to the Rhode Island Senate Education Committee, with a hearing postponed as of April 2026.