Guns, knives, and weapons are generally prohibited on school grounds, as provided by school policies and state and federal laws.

Although children in grades 1-12 are generally not eligible for a concealed carry weapon permit, older students on college campuses may be eligible for a concealed carry permit (CCP) in some states—also known as a concealed handgun license (CHL), license to carry (LTC), concealed carry license (CCL), or concealed carry weapon (CCW).

A student’s right to carry a concealed weapon on school grounds may be governed by state and federal laws, as well as school policies.

In Rhode Island (RI), firearms and other weapons are strictly regulated on school grounds. State law prohibits the possession of firearms on school property, which includes K-12 schools, colleges, and universities, with certain exceptions for law enforcement and other authorized personnel. This prohibition is in line with the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act, which makes it unlawful to knowingly possess a firearm in a school zone, with specific exceptions. While RI does issue concealed carry permits (CCP) to individuals who meet the criteria, these permits do not generally allow the carrying of concealed weapons on school grounds. College students who are of age and meet the requirements may obtain a CCP, but they must comply with both state law and the policies of their individual institution regarding the carrying of concealed weapons on campus. It's important to note that many colleges and universities have strict policies that further restrict the possession of weapons on their premises, regardless of a student's CCP status.