RI S2556

Creates "Bright Today Scholarships" (education savings accounts) allowing K-12 parents to redirect state education funds to private schools, homeschool curricula, tutoring, textbooks, online learning programs, and educational therapies

Scholarship amounts vary by household income: 100% of base funding for free/reduced lunch-eligible families down to 15% for highest income bracket, capped at $6,000 per student; students with disabilities receive additional qualified funding

Requires school districts to establish inter-district open enrollment policies allowing students to attend public schools outside their resident district, with state funding following the student to the receiving district

Rhode Island Department of Education administers the program with application periods between April 1 and June 30 annually; the department may retain up to 3% of scholarships for administrative costs

Program begins August 1, 2027; participating students must take annual standardized tests and results will be publicly reported after three years of data collection