R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-24-1 (2026)

Duty of school committee to provide special education

✓ text as last checked Sept. 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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(a) In any city or town where there is a child with a disability within the age range as designated by the regulations of the state board of education who is functionally limited to such an extent that normal educational growth and development is prevented, the school committee of the city or town where the child resides shall provide the type of special education that will best satisfy the needs of the child with a disability, as recommended and approved by the state board of education in accordance with its regulations governing the education of children with disabilities.

(b) Notwithstanding any other federal or state law or regulation, the school committee where a parentally placed child who has, or develops, a disability in private school resides, shall provide the child with the same free and appropriate education as it provides to children in public schools. These children shall have the same rights and remedies in the regulations of the board of education governing the education of children with disabilities as children in public school relative to initially determining eligibility, implementation, and/or any other rights and remedies relative to any special education services the child may be eligible to receive from the public school district.

(c) For the purpose of this statute, a parentally placed child who has, or develops, a disability in private school is defined as a child enrolled or placed in a private school by the unilateral decision of his or her parents and without consultation of the public school district, who either has, or at some point while at the private school is diagnosed with, a learning disability. Parents who unilaterally enroll their child in a private school are required to pay the tuition costs related to the child’s education that are unrelated to the child’s disability, and the public school district where the child resides is responsible for payment of the services related to the child’s disability as developed and determined in the child’s individual education plan.

(d) For the purpose of this statute, a free and appropriate education is defined as special education services and related services that:

(1) Are provided at public expense, under public supervision and direction, and without charge;

(2) Meet all of the standards and requirements of the state of Rhode Island department of education and requirements of the regulations of the board of education governing the education of children with disabilities, which shall include initial evaluation and determination procedures;

(3) Include preschool, elementary school, or secondary school education in the state; and

(4) Are provided in conformity with an individualized education program that meets the requirements of the regulations of the board of education governing the education of children with disabilities.

(e) In those cases that an individual education plan has been adopted for a child and the child moves to another town or city, the plan shall remain in effect until a new plan is adopted for the child in the new town or city.

(f) A child with a disability as referenced in subsection (a) of this section shall have available to them any benefits provided by this section up to their twenty-first birthday, in accordance with the student’s individualized education program (IEP). Provided, in the event such a child with a disability is enrolled in a postsecondary or transitional educational program as part of the services provided to the child by the school committee or local education agency (LEA), and such child reaches twenty-one (21) years of age during a school or program year, then the school committee’s or LEA’s obligation to pay for the postsecondary or transitional program shall continue through to the conclusion of the school or program’s academic year, in accordance with the student’s individualized education program. Not later than sixty (60) calendar days prior to the child turning twenty-one (21) years of age, the local educational agency (LEA) shall provide the child and the parent or guardian with notice explaining the rights under this section that remain in effect at age twenty-one (21). Further, not later than sixty (60) calendar days prior to the child turning twenty-one (21) years of age, the state adult service agencies responsible for planning, funding and providing services and supports for adults with developmental disabilities, including the state office of rehabilitation services (ORS) and the state department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals (BHDDH), shall provide the child and the parent or guardian with notice of the obligations and responsibilities that the respective agency owes to eligible recipients along with a level of funding and/or an individual support plan for the child twenty-one (21) years of age to receive. This section shall not be used to delay or defer the obligation of a state agency responsible for providing services to this population.

(g) For purposes of providing services under this chapter, “special education” shall have the same meaning as used in 34 C.F.R. § 300.39 and includes speech-language pathology services for students among the other services and supports provided for therein. The provision of speech-language pathology services shall not cease or be terminated solely because a child has attained nine (9) years of age or greater, if those services are still warranted.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases, 1975–2018 · leading case: Scituate Sch. Comm. v. Robert B., 620 F. Supp. 1224 (D.R.I. 1985).
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Scituate Sch. Comm. v. Robert B., 620 F. Supp. 1224 (D.R.I. 1985). · cites it 7× “G.L. § 16-24-1 says that the school committee “shall provide such type of special education that will best satisfy the needs of the handicapped child,” I do not read this provision to be a substantive standard intended to displace the federal one.”
K.L. v. RI Bd. of Educ., 907 F.3d 639 (1st Cir. 2018). · cites it 2× “11 Appellant contends that RIDE's oversight of adult education amounts to the imposition of performance "standards," while appellees claim that RIDE's oversight is the setting of "performance targets.”
Woonsocket Teachers' Guild, Local 951 v. Woonsocket Sch. Comm., 770 A.2d 834 (R.I. 2001). · cites it 2× “See G.L.1956 § 16-24-1. The NRIC is a special education program, for which defendant is jointly responsible, authorized by G.”
Hurry ex rel. Hurry v. Jones, 560 F. Supp. 500 (D.R.I. 1983). · cites it 4× “In addition, Plaintiffs have urged this Court to exercise pendent jurisdiction over a related state claim based on violations of Article 12, Section 1 of the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island, R.I.Gen.Laws §§ 16-24-1, -4, -11, and applicable regulations promulgated under…”
Smith v. Cumberland Sch. Comm., 415 A.2d 168 (R.I. 1980). · cites it 6× “1956 (1969 Reenactment) § 16-24-1, which requires local school committees to provide a special education for handicapped children, and G.”
Carroll ex rel. Carroll v. Capalbo, 563 F. Supp. 1053 (D.R.I. 1983). · cites it 2× “§ 1401 (1); R.I.Gen. Laws § 16-24-1; 34 C.F.R. § 300.”
Altman v. Sch. Comm. of Town of Scituate, 347 A.2d 37 (R.I. 1975). “1 General Laws 1956 (1969 Reenactment) §16-24-1 provides: “In any city or town where there is a child within the age range as designated by the regulations of the state board of education [State Board of Regents], who is either mentaEy retarded or physically or emotionaEy…”
Richardson v. Bevilacqua, 340 A.2d 118 (R.I. 1975). “1-7-3 or §16-24-1. The petition was filed on January 9, 1975.”
In re Child. Residing at St. Aloysius Home, 556 A.2d 552 (R.I. 1989). · cites it 8× “1956 (1988 Reenactment) § 16-24-1 in support of their claims. Section 16-24-1 provides that each local school committee has an affirmative obligation to provide all handicapped children residing in its city or town with the type of special education services that will best…”
Linda E. ex rel. S.E. v. Bristol Warren Reg'l Sch. Dist., 758 F. Supp. 2d 75 (D.R.I. 2010). “On its part, the School filed an appeal of the Decision by the Hearing *78 Officer pursuant to Section 1415 of the IDEA and Rhode Island General Laws Sections 16-24-1 et seq. and 42-35-15. The cases were consolidated and the matter is now before the Court on the parties’…”
Conklin v. Anne Arundel Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 946 F.2d 306 (4th Cir. 1991). “”); R.I.Gen.Laws § 16-24-1 (1988) (“[T]he school committee of the city or town shall provide the type of special education that will best satisfy the needs of the handicapped child[.”
K.S. ex rel. L.L. v. R.I. Bd. of Educ. ex rel. Cottam, 251 F. Supp. 3d 393 (D.R.I. 2017). · cites it 3× “Rhode Island education regulations define á local education agency as a "public Board of education/school committee or other public authority legally constituted within the State for either administrative control or direction of one or more Rhode Island public‘elementary schools…”
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R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-24-1(f): 1 case
K.L. v. RI Bd. of Educ., 907 F.3d 639 (1st Cir. 2018). “11 Appellant contends that RIDE's oversight of adult education amounts to the imposition of performance "standards," while appellees claim that RIDE's oversight is the setting of "performance targets.”
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