Bill > S0870

This bill establishes the "Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time" program, which allocates $4 million in fiscal year 2025-2026 to support comprehensive afterschool, school vacation, summer learning, and workforce development programs for K-12 students. The funding will be administered by the Rhode Island Afterschool Network through the Rhode Island Foundation, with at least $500,000 dedicated to professional development and $3.5 million distributed through a competitive grant process. Programs must adhere to Rhode Island Afterschool Quality Standards and will be prioritized based on promoting equity, serving low-income families, youth with disabilities, multi-language learners, and offering diverse opportunities including STEM, arts, social emotional learning, and civic engagement. Eligible recipients include nonprofit organizations, local governments, and local education authorities. The bill requires an annual report to the General Assembly and the Governor detailing the program's status and progress, with a focus on creating a high-quality pipeline of youth development professionals and addressing chronic absenteeism.

Budget and Finance

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