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H 7501Funding & Budget

Education - Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time

This bill allocates $100,000 to afterschool programs to improve student mental health through staff training, mentoring, and support activities.

Held for study
Population
Affected
15
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 4, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This legislation creates the "Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time" program to address the mental health needs of K-12 students in Rhode Island. It allocates $100,000 for the 2026–2027 fiscal year to support out-of-school time (OST) organizations, such as afterschool programs. The funds are designated for staff training in mental health first aid, peer support groups, mentoring, and the development of social-emotional learning materials. The bill aims to utilize community-based environments to provide stability and connection for youth outside of standard school hours.

For younger readers

This new law helps pay for special programs that happen when school is out, like afterschool clubs or youth groups. It gives money to these groups so they can learn how to better help kids feel happy and safe. The money can be used to teach leaders how to help if a kid is feeling sad or worried, or to buy games and books that teach about feelings. It wants to make sure kids have a good place to go and people to talk to when they aren't in school.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
K-12 StudentsAfterschool Program ProvidersParents and GuardiansMental Health ProfessionalsRhode Island Afterschool Network
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
$0.06
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Directly addresses the mental health crisis among youth by providing resources to community-based programs that serve as safe havens for vulnerable children.
  • Mandates that funding prioritization include programs serving youth with high levels of demonstrated need, ensuring resources go to disadvantaged communities first.
  • Encourages culturally responsive approaches and peer support models, which empowers local communities rather than imposing top-down, one-size-fits-all solutions.
  • The allocation of only $100,000 is extremely low relative to the declared "State of Emergency" in youth mental health, potentially serving as a performative measure rather than a substantive solution.
  • Utilizes a competitive grant process, which often favors well-resourced organizations over smaller, grassroots groups that may lack grant-writing capacity but have deep community ties.
  • Does not address the systemic economic roots of mental health struggles, such as poverty, housing instability, or food insecurity, focusing instead on symptom management.
For Conservatives
  • Utilizes private, community-based organizations and non-profits to deliver services rather than expanding the permanent state bureaucracy or hiring more government employees.
  • The fiscal impact is capped at a very low amount ($100,000), minimizing the burden on taxpayers while still addressing a public concern.
  • Allows for local flexibility and innovation in program design rather than mandating a strict, state-controlled curriculum.
  • Expands government involvement in the psychological and social-emotional development of children, a role traditionally reserved for parents and families.
  • Funds "social-emotional learning" (SEL) initiatives, which some conservatives view as a vehicle for introducing progressive ideologies into youth programming.
  • Creates a new spending chapter in the general laws, which could lead to significantly higher funding requests and government expansion in future years.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 36 additions

SECTION 1. Findings of Fact and Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to support the mental health and emotional well-being of children and youth through investments in out-of-school time (“OST”) settings, recognizing OST programs as essential, community-based spaces that provide connection, stability, and resilience during a period of heightened need and reduced public supports. Rhode Island continues to experience significant mental health challenges among children and adolescents that affect well-being, school engagement, family stability, and long-term outcomes. In April 2022, leading pediatric and behavioral health organizations in the state declared a Rhode Island State of Emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. These challenges have been compounded by reductions in federal funding for schools and student support services, increasing pressure on local and community-based systems to meet growing needs with fewer resources. Out-of-school time programs offer trusted, relationship-based environments where youth spend substantial time outside of the school day. These programs are embedded within the communities they serve and frequently employ staff, mentors, and leaders who reflect the lived experiences, cultures, and strengths of local families. Through intentional program design, OST programs function as intergenerational systems of support that foster belonging, strengthen protective factors, and support prevention, early identification of need, and connection to appropriate supports. Investments made pursuant to this chapter strengthen the capacity of existing OST programs to serve as stabilizing and supportive spaces for youth, mitigate the impacts of reduced school-day and federally funded supports, and reinforce community-based systems that are built by and for the communities they serve.

SECTION 2. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 16-117-1. Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time". 16-117-2. Eligibility and allowable use.

(a) Funds appropriated under this chapter shall support evidence-informed initiatives that promote the mental health and emotional well-being of children and youth through community- based or school-affiliated out-of-school time (“OST”) programs serving students in kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12).

(b) Allowable uses of funds may include, but shall not be limited to:

(1) Mental health first aid training, trauma-informed practices, or related learning opportunities for OST staff, youth leaders, volunteers, caregivers, or program partners;

(2) Peer support groups, mentoring models, restorative practices, or youth-led initiatives that foster connection, belonging, and emotional well-being;

(3) Development, purchase, or implementation of materials, curricula, or resources that support mental health awareness, social-emotional learning, coping skills, and resilience;

(4) Program-based mental health projects, workshops, enrichment activities, or creative expressions that integrate wellness and prevention into OST programming; and

(5) Other innovative, community-informed, or culturally responsive approaches designed to support youth mental health, prevention, early identification of need, and connection to appropriate supports.

(c) Funds shall be used in a manner that allows OST programs to respond flexibly to local needs and priorities, while promoting developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and supportive practices for youth and families. 16-117-3. Funding and allocation.

(a) The general assembly shall allocate one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in the fiscal year 2026–2027 budget to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(b) Funds shall be administered by the appropriate state agency or by a designated statewide intermediary, ideally the Rhode Island Afterschool Network, with demonstrated expertise in out-of-school time systems, youth development, and equitable grantmaking. The administering entity shall award funds through a competitive process to qualified OST programs, prioritize programs serving youth with high levels of demonstrated need, ensure distribution across multiple programs, and consider geographic diversity, including urban, suburban, and rural communities. 16-117-4. Reporting. The administering agency or intermediary shall submit a brief annual report to the general assembly detailing the number of OST programs and youth served, the geographic distribution of funded programs, and a summary of funded activities and observed outcomes.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.