Rhode Island General Laws Title 16. Education § 16-22-4.3. Instruction in specially designed physical education

(a) Any city or town may enact a municipal ordinance to provide that any specially designed physical education instruction that is provided as part of a student's individualized education program (IEP) shall be open to all students choosing to participate; provided that, the student agrees to be incorporated into the specially designed physical education class as a “partner” to help implement the program and accompany and assist the student who requires the IEP. “ Partner” for purposes of this section means any student who enrolls in a specially designed physical education class that is part of another student's IEP to serve as a partner to provide assistance to the student.

(b) Students participating as partners under this section shall receive full credit towards their graduation requirements as a full participant of the physical education class as if the class were offered pursuant to § 16-22-4 and each class hour spent as a partner under this section shall count as an hour of education as required by § 16-22-4.

(c) Participating as a partner under this section shall be subject to procedures regarding eligibility and approval by the individual school administration.

(d) The department of education is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section.