Mandates public schools (K-12) have one full-time certified social worker for every 250 students and allocates $2 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for school districts and municipalities to hire additional social workers.

Rhode Island School Social Worker Bill Summary

This bill would require all Rhode Island public schools, from kindergarten through 12th grade, to employ at least one full-time, certified social worker for every 250 students enrolled. For example, a school with 500 students would need at least two full-time social workers on staff. To help schools meet this requirement, the bill would set aside $2 million in the state's Fiscal Year 2025 budget for school districts and municipalities to use when hiring additional social workers.

The bill primarily affects public school students, their families, and school districts across Rhode Island. School social workers typically help students deal with personal, family, and mental health challenges that can affect their ability to learn. By setting a specific staffing ratio, the bill aims to ensure that students have more consistent access to this type of support, rather than leaving staffing levels up to each individual district.

School districts — especially smaller or lower-income ones — would be most directly impacted, as they may need to hire additional staff to meet the new requirement. The $2 million in funding is intended to ease that financial burden, though individual districts may still face costs depending on how many new positions they need to fill. The bill has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee, meaning lawmakers are still reviewing it and no final decision has been made.