Rhode Island Public Schools Get $2.5 Million Federal Grant

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) was awarded a $2.5 million federal grant to address student's social and emotional needs.

The funding breaks down to about $500,000 annually over the next five years. RIDE said these funds allow Rhode Island schools the ability to further address the social, emotional and behavioral needs of students.

RIDE plans to work with the Center for Leadership and Educational Equity (CLEE) and the Northern Rhode Island Collaborative to support kids with or at risk of developing behavioral health issues. Those issues may include substance abuse or those in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems.

“In order to educate our kids, we need to support our kids, not just academically, but socially and emotionally, as well,” Ken Wagner, commissioner of elementary and secondary education told the Providence Journal. “When a school has a positive culture where students feel safe, included, and valued, they are more likely to perform at their best."

The funding will allow participating schools to develop plans tailored specifically to their communities. Grant partners then will provide training and technical assistance to educators to help those individual plans flourish.

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