Official State of Rhode Island website

Governor Dan McKee RI 2030 Plan Charting a Course for the Future of the Ocean State

Investing in All Students

Gov McKee talking to students
  • Leading post-pandemic academic recovery among all New England states according to Harvard’s Academic Recovery Scorecard which ranked Rhode Island 14th in math recovery and 13th in literacy nationally.
  • Ranked 7th in the nation for public school systems, according to WalletHub’s 2025 analysis—earning strong marks in both quality (#8) and safety (#8) metrics—solidifying Rhode Island’s reputation for providing safe, high-performing K‑12 education.
  • Capped the local share holdback for public charter schools and mayoral academies to ensure greater financial predictability and stability for these established public schools in the FY 2026 budget.
  • Allocated an additional $8.1 million in FY 2026 to support Multilingual Learners (MLL), providing targeted aid for each student in the three lowest English proficiency categories for MLLs of 20 percent of the Core Instruction Amount,
  • Released the state’s first Blueprint & Strategic Plan for Differently-Abled Students’ Success, a new and bold vision for the educational success of Rhode Island’s differently-abled students. Released in recognition of Dyslexia Awareness Month in October, the Blueprint is grounded in research and was developed through a multi-year collaborative process which engaged students, educators, administrators, parents, advocacy organizations, and community leaders.
Governor McKee interacting with a crowd of students
  • Awarded more than $457,000 to twelve local education agencies across Rhode Island, supporting those school communities to better serve the needs of students experiencing homelessness. The funds were provided as competitive subgrants through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a federal law which provides educational rights and services to PreK-12 students, including youth experiencing homelessness.
  • Signed legislation into law in 2025 requiring school districts to have a policy on cell phones and other electronic devices in schools to reduce distractions and maintain environments focused on learning.
  • Released guidance to support local education agencies across the state in navigating and implementing policies and practices for the responsible, effective, and equitable use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in classrooms. The goal of RIDE’s AI Guidance is to provide information and current perspectives and practices regarding using Artificial Intelligence in Rhode Island schools.
  • Released the Rhode Island Framework for Comprehensive PreK–12 School Counseling Programs and launched the “Commissioner’s Counselors” program, a partnership between the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) and The College Board that will bolster counseling supports and capacity at the district level. The release of the Framework and launch of the “Commissioner’s Counselors” initiative is part of a broader effort by RIDE to reimagine the high school experience and ensure every student graduates high school with the skills, supports, and opportunities needed to shape their own future.
  • Announced a new partnership with Bradley Hospital to support the mental health of Rhode Island students. The partnership, which is funded by a $154,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education, will support work to address the growing youth mental health crisis and improve student attendance in up to 27 high-need local education agencies in Rhode Island.
  • Continued a partnership with RIDE, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), and Hazel Health to expand access to comprehensive, virtual mental health services to students across the state. Rhode Island is now on track to become the first state on the East Coast to launch a statewide telehealth initiative of this kind. This new service will not replace current school and district-level efforts but rather complement them.
  • Actively implementing updated secondary regulations that aim to reimagine high school and establish college and career ready coursework as the default expectation for all students. These regulations, approved unanimously in 2022 after robust community engagement, will take effect for the graduating class of 2028, requiring students to complete specific credits aligned with state standards as part of efforts to reimagine the high school experience.
  • Maintained additional supports in the FY 2025 budget to help districts manage changes in their demographics from one year to the next, including poverty loss stabilization and an enrollment loss transition fund, which provided two years of funding to districts experiencing enrollment declines.
  • Supported students’ nutritional needs by annually investing to transition students in Rhode Island schools from being eligible for reduced-price breakfast and lunch to receiving both meals at no cost.
  • Continued to provide high-quality learning experiences through RIDE’s All Course Network (ACN) in FY 2025 and FY 2026, which offers enrichment and credit-bearing opportunities for PreK-12 students in a wide range of topics, including Cybersecurity Fundamentals, AP Psychology, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), PSAT and SAT prep, and Food Truck Entrepreneurship. The ACN served nearly 7,300 students in FY 2024 and FY 2025 through more than 8,200 learning experiences. While enrollment for FY 2026 is ongoing, over 445 courses were offered in FY 2024 and 2025. All districts participate in the network, with courses offered by 45 provider organizations in FY 2024 and 36 in FY 2025.
a person storing a phone into a phone holder
  • Signed a multitude of bills into law that invest in education and support our students and teachers, including assisting  local education agencies in implementing a dual language immersion program, implementing trauma-informed practices in schools throughout the state, and revising the fast-track principal certification program to require a course in program evaluation (including data analysis) and to build leadership skills that support teaching and learning.
  • Created the Young Leaders Advisory Group, which invites young adults to engage with Rhode Island leaders, share their perspectives, and discuss government and public policy. The group consists of approximately 60 young adults who meet with Governor McKee and special guests biweekly to engage in roundtable discussions.