Legislative Testimonies
ARISE has been active in shaping the passage of bills in both the House and Senate. We’ve consistently testified against those policies that would harm our youth (e.g. proposals for increased SRO funding) and in favor of those that would benefit our cause (e.g. proposals for better mental health resources). Our responses are informed by and include direct testimonies from our youth themselves, along with evidence-based data from existing research.
With gratitude to RI Kids Count for always keeping us informed of upcoming bill proposals and legislative sessions.
The Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education Justice (ARISE) stands in support of House Bill #HB5084, which proposes to provide schools access to a mental health curriculum…
As parents, youth, and community members deeply concerned for student safety, we are deeply troubled by the call for increased support for school resource officers. This bill denies the years of research showing that SROs not only fail to keep our students safe, but actively harm and endanger them...
“The policies and authoritative disciplines involving zero tolerance and police in schools must end. SRO’s create a hostile, tense, and uncomfortable environment for students as they are punished for having bad days, or for simply being themselves…”
The Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education Justice (ARISE) stands in full support of House Bill 6234’s proposal to “allow students to utilize 4 mental health days for mental/behavioral health concerns as an excused absence from school.”
The Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education Justice (ARISE) stands in full support of House Bill 5959’s proposal to allow those who are at least sixteen (16) years of age to register to vote and to vote in school committee elections in municipalities where school committees are elected entities…
As parents, youth, and community members deeply concerned for our children’s safety, we are deeply troubled by House Bill 8310, which calls for “two (2) school resource officers [to be] placed at every public school in the State of Rhode Island….
We, the parents, youth, educators, and community organizations signed below, thoroughly condemn House Bill 8318 for recklessly endangering Providence children in the interest of appeasing pro-gun lobbyists and generating profits for institutionalized policing…
As parents, youth, and community members deeply concerned for our children’s safety, we are deeply troubled by the surveillance measures put forth by House Bill 8329, which are proven to be not only ineffective, but endanger our youth, lower rates of academic achievement, and detracts needed funding from programs and facilities that actually protect and help students...
The Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education Justice (ARISE) wholeheartedly condemns the proposal of House Bill 7539, which unequivocally puts our youth – especially transgender and BIPOC youth – at risk of significant harm…
