AACY Publishes Overview of Statewide Partnership With Rhode Island Department of Education

January 5, 2026

Following several years of joint policy development, data collection, and implementation, the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) has published a formal overview of its statewide partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE).

The overview documents the nation’s first and only statewide public education framework requiring schools to identify and support Caregiving Youth, reflecting work initiated in 2022 and now embedded in Rhode Island’s education policy, school practice, and educator guidance. The Rhode Island model is increasingly cited as a reference point for other states seeking to recognize and support students with significant caregiving responsibilities.

Full Partnership Overview (PDF)