R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-54-1

The Rhode Island Constitution recognizes the diffusion of knowledge as essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of all the people and places the responsibility on the general assembly to promote public schools and to adopt all means deemed necessary and proper to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education. As this responsibility relates to limited English proficient students, the state asserts that these students shall be provided with appropriate programs and services which will make their educational opportunities equal to their English dominant peers. Programs or services developed by local schools must, at the very least, provide for the attainment of English language proficiency and academic achievement.