| 2010 Legislative Wrap-Up |
Throughout the legislative session,
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT tracks bills affecting children and families that are being considered by the Rhode Island General Assembly and presents policy information and data-based testimony to General Assembly committees. At the end of each legislative session, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT publishes the annual Legislative Wrap-Up. The 2010 Legislative Wrap-Up highlights legislative victories for children and summarizes selected laws and budget appropriations in the areas of economic well-being, K-12 education, child care and early childhood education, health and safety that were considered during the 2010 session of the Rhode Island General Assembly. |
| Release of Rhode Island Children in Immigrant Families Issue Brief |
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The Rhode Island Children in Immigrant Families Issue Brief provides a statistical portrait of children in immigrant families in Rhode Island. Between 2006 and 2008, 24% (54,025) of Rhode Island children were living in immigrant families, comparable to the U.S. rate of 23%. Children in immigrant families are children under age 18 who are foreign born or who have at least one foreign-born parent, regardless of citizenship or year of arrival in the United States.
The Issue Brief provides recommendations that support the healthy development of all children including:
- Increase access to high-quality child care and early education programs for children in families from diverse cultural and language backgrounds.
- Increase access to college through in-state tuition rates for undocumented students who have graduated from Rhode Island high schools and who are admitted to public colleges and universities through the regular admissions process.
- Ensure that ESL and bilingual education programs in public schools provide high-level academic content and improve English proficiency.
- Increase the availability of high-quality adult education and English language classes, with special attention to communities with waiting lists.
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