H 7892Curriculum and Standards

Education - Curriculum

This bill mandates an annual wildfire safety education program for all K-12 students in Rhode Island schools.

Held for study

Population
Affected

Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House Education

Plain-English Summary

This legislation mandates that the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education create a wildfire safety program for all K-12 schools. Using the "Firewise USA" framework, the program will teach students about wildfire risks and how to create action plans to prevent loss. This instruction is scheduled to take place annually during a specific week in March. Additionally, the bill guarantees that parents, guardians, or adult students have the right to inspect the curriculum materials used in this program upon submitting a written request to the school principal.

For younger readers

This new rule says that schools must teach students about wildfires. Every year in March, you will have a special week where you learn about the dangers of wildfires and how to stay safe if one happens. The lessons will help you make a plan to protect your home and neighborhood from fire. Also, your parents are allowed to ask the principal to see the books and papers used for these lessons so they know exactly what you are learning in class.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

K-12 StudentsParents and GuardiansSchool TeachersSchool AdministratorsDepartment of Elementary and Secondary Education

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

Amount unknown

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Promotes community safety and climate resilience by educating the younger generation on how to mitigate risks associated with wildfires, which may become more frequent due to environmental changes.
Ensures equitable access to important safety information by mandating the program across all K-12 public schools, regardless of the district's resources or location.
Utilizes an established framework, Firewise USA, to provide evidence-based strategies for community protection and loss prevention, potentially reducing the strain on public emergency services.
Imposes an additional unfunded mandate on public schools and teachers who are already facing significant time constraints and resource limitations.
Prioritizes wildfire education in a state where other systemic issues, such as housing instability or food insecurity, may present more immediate threats to student welfare.
Includes specific statutory language regarding parental review of curriculum that mirrors rhetoric often used to challenge or censor inclusive educational materials and diversity programs.

For Conservatives

Codifies the right of parents to review curriculum materials, ensuring transparency and parental oversight in the public school system.
Focuses on practical, safety-oriented education aimed at protecting private property and mitigating financial loss during disasters, rather than social engineering.
Encourages personal responsibility and preparedness by teaching students how to create action plans to protect their homes and communities.
Represents state-level overreach by mandating specific curriculum content, eroding the local control of school committees and towns to decide what is best for their students.
Creates a statutory requirement for a specific third-party program (Firewise USA), potentially limiting local flexibility to choose better or more cost-effective alternatives.
Adds to the bureaucratic burden of the education system with new regulations and scheduling mandates that distract from core academic subjects like math and reading.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 14 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 16-22 of the General Laws entitled "Curriculum [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — the Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 16-22-39. Firewise education program.

(a) The department of elementary and secondary education shall, pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, establish a comprehensive collaborative course of instruction that provides students with accurate information and instruction on risks of wildfires while creating an action plan to mitigate loss in case of a wildfire. The department shall, pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner, utilize Firewise USA to create the basic education program requirement at all K-12 schools in the state.

(b) Upon written request to the school principal, a pupil not less than eighteen (18) years of age or a parent or legal guardian of a pupil less than eighteen (18) years of age, within a reasonable period of time after the request is made, shall be permitted to examine the curriculum program instruction materials at the school in which their child is enrolled.

(c) The department and the commissioner shall schedule the presentation of the program at the schools during any full week during March as an annual event.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.