S 3083Special Education

Making an Appropriation to the Rhode Island Auditory Oral Program

Appropriates $1,167,100 to the Rhode Island Auditory Oral Program to support specialized education for children with hearing loss.

Introduced37 Yea0 Nay0 Not voting

Population
Affected

Email Legislator

Introduced Mar 13, 2026Committee Senate Finance

Plain-English Summary

Rhode Island Senate Bill 3083 is a joint resolution that authorizes a specific financial appropriation to support specialized special education services in the state. Specifically, the bill allocates $1,167,100 from the state's general treasury to the Rhode Island Auditory Oral Program for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Although this program is currently housed within the Foster School Department, it functions as a critical statewide educational resource for families and students across Rhode Island.

The primary mission of the Rhode Island Auditory Oral Program is to provide specialized auditory-oral programming for children experiencing hearing loss. The allocated funding is explicitly intended to support children who utilize and benefit from hearing technology. By providing these specialized services, the program aims to equip these children with the necessary educational tools, therapies, and resources to achieve successful inclusion in standard educational environments and foster overall academic achievement.

By directing the state controller to draw orders upon the general treasurer for this specific amount, the legislation ensures that the program has the necessary financial backing to continue its statewide mission without interruption. Overall, the bill represents a targeted investment in special education, highlighting the state's commitment to supporting specialized educational programs that assist children with auditory disabilities in reaching their full potential.

For younger readers

This bill gives about $1.1 million to a special school program in Rhode Island that helps kids who are deaf or hard of hearing. The money will be used to teach these students how to use hearing technology so they can learn and succeed in regular classrooms.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Children with hearing lossParents and families of children with hearing lossSpecial education teachers and staffFoster School Department

Impacted communities

Foster

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Low. This is a standard legislative appropriation of funds for an educational program, well within the General Assembly's power of the purse.

Estimated cost

$1,167,100

Estimated revenue

Not specified

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Fully funds a vital special education program for children with disabilities.
Promotes educational inclusion and equity for students with hearing loss.
Provides necessary resources for specialized therapies and hearing technology to help students succeed.
Auditory-oral programs sometimes face criticism from Deaf culture advocates who prefer ASL-based education and view oral-only approaches as exclusionary to Deaf culture.
Directs funds to a specific program rather than distributing them broadly across all special education needs.
May divert general funds from other pressing social or educational programs.

For Conservatives

Helps children with hearing loss integrate into mainstream society and achieve independence.
Targets funding to a specific, measurable program rather than creating a new, broad bureaucracy.
Supports local school departments in managing specialized statewide services efficiently.
Increases state spending by over $1.1 million.
Relies on unappropriated general treasury funds, potentially impacting the state budget surplus.
Could be seen as a localized legislative earmark since the program is housed in one specific school department.

Votes

Loading votes...

Full Bill Text

RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated to the RHODE ISLAND AUDITORY ORAL PROGRAM (hereinafter the “Program”), which is a statewide educational program currently housed within the Foster School Department, the sum of one million, one hundred sixty- seven thousand, one hundred dollars ($1,167,100), out of any monies in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for fiscal year 2026-2027, to support the Program’s mission to provide specialized auditory-oral programming for children with hearing loss who benefit from hearing technology and to provide these children with tools necessary for successful inclusion and achievement; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF JOINTRESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AUDITORY ORAL PROGRAM *** This joint resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of one million, one hundred sixty-seven thousand, one hundred dollars ($1,167,100), to the Rhode Island Auditory Oral Program, to support the program’s mission to provide specialized auditory-oral programming for children with hearing loss.