RI Department Of Elementary And Secondary Education

The Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (RI DESE) is the state education agency responsible for overseeing public K-12 education throughout Rhode Island. As a U.S. state government entity registered with SAM.gov since February 2006, RI DESE serves as both a prime recipient and administrator of federal education funding, distributing resources and oversight to local educational agencies, school districts, charter schools, and community organizations across the state. The agency's primary mission is to support educational excellence, student achievement, and equitable access to quality learning opportunities for all Rhode Island students.

RI DESE has demonstrated substantial engagement with federal contract awards, most notably through a definitive contract with the Institute of Education Sciences (a civilian agency within the U.S. Department of Education) awarded on April 1, 2025. This contract, valued at $1,918,150.00 with a completion date of March 31, 2035, tasks RI DESE with serving as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) State Coordinator for Rhode Island. In this capacity, RI DESE oversees and administers NAEP assessments across the state's public education system, supporting the federal government's comprehensive evaluation of student achievement in reading, mathematics, science, and other subject areas. This firm fixed-price contract represents the state's commitment to participating in national educational assessment initiatives and providing critical data on student performance and educational quality. The contract carries no set-aside designation, indicating it was awarded through standard competitive processes.

RI DESE has received an extensive portfolio of federal grant awards across multiple funding agencies and programs, reflecting its central role in administering federal education resources for the state. The agency serves as the prime recipient of significant formula grants from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, including Title I Part A Basic Grants to Local Educational Agencies (totaling $59,581,486 for FY2025-2026), Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants ($10,837,184), Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants ($6,693,000), Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers ($6,548,640), and Grants for State Assessments and Related Activities ($3,580,303). Additionally, RI DESE administers substantial Special Education funding through the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, including Special Education Grants to States ($52,275,509), Special Education Preschool Grants ($1,839,796), and career and technical education initiatives. The agency also manages child nutrition programs through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service, including the National School Lunch Program ($11,796,233), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program ($2,811,569), Child and Adult Care Food Program support, and various nutrition program administration grants. RI DESE coordinates English Language Acquisition programming ($2,756,099), adult education and literacy services ($2,597,439), and career and technical education through the Employment and Training Administration. The agency has received project grants for mental health initiatives, including the "Rhode Island's Psychologists for Caregiving Youth Initiative" ($3,000,000), school-based mental health services, and trauma-informed services in schools through SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services. RI DESE also manages AmeriCorps programs through the Corporation for National and Community Service, serving as the state commission for coordinating national service initiatives. Many of these grants are subsequently sub-awarded to local educational agencies, school districts, charter schools, nonprofit organizations, and community-based partners to implement direct services and programs, including sub-awards to entities such as the Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, and the Executive Department of the State of Rhode Island for targeted educational initiatives and early childhood program expansions.