An Act Relating to Education — Rhode Island College-to-Career Affordability and Retention Act

This act establishes a Rhode Island college-to-career affordability and retention package by increasing state need-based financial aid for low- and middle-income students attending public colleges and universities, creating targeted completion grants for students facing short-term financial hardship, and expanding tuition support for recent high school graduates and adult learners enrolling in the Community College of Rhode Island. The act further directs the Office of Postsecondary Commissioner, in coordination with public institutions and employers, to strengthen transfer pathways, paid internships, apprenticeship-linked certificate programs, and credit-bearing workforce partnerships in high-demand fields, with priority for Rhode Island residents who commit to work in-state after completion. Funds shall be administered subject to annual appropriation, with participating institutions required to report on enrollment, retention, completion, and in-state employment outcomes.