2014 -- H 7495

========

LC003503

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- MAYORAL ACADEMIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Blazejewski, Tanzi, Ajello, Valencia, and Walsh

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-77.4 of the General Laws entitled "Mayoral Academies" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-77.4-3.1. Legislative findings. – (a) It is the intention of the general assembly, in

enacting this legislation, to ensure that all eligible public school students have equal access and

equal opportunity to attend mayoral academies.

     (b) The department of education, public school districts, and mayoral academies shall

develop policies and procedures to allow all students attending public schools in districts

containing students eligible to attend a mayoral academy ("eligible public school students") to be

eligible for a random lottery to attend the mayoral academy.

     (c) In selecting students for enrollment in a mayoral academy, said mayoral academies

shall make randomized offers to public school students utilizing a confidential process set forth

herein.

     (d) The department of education and public schools shall coordinate with the mayoral

academy so that all eligible public school students are assigned a number, and the mayoral

academy shall select eligible public school students according to numbers. The name and identity

of the students shall not be provided to the mayoral academy. The mayoral academy shall utilize

a process that randomly selects eligible public school students, and inform the applicable public

school of the selection. The mayoral academy shall issue invitations to said students to enroll in

the mayoral academy, and these invitations shall be forwarded to the public school, which school

shall then forward the invitations to the students. A student may choose to accept the offer, or

reject said invitation. In the event a student rejects the invitation to enroll, another student shall be

selected utilizing the same process, until all available slots for students are filled; provided, that

mayoral academies shall offer an equal number of enrollments to students from urban and non-

urban communities.

     (e) The parent and/or guardian of a student may inform the public school that they do not

want their child considered for placement in a mayoral academy. In such event, the public school

shall inform the mayoral academy of the parent or guardian’s decision, and said student shall not

be included in the selection process.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC003503

========

LC003503 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- MAYORAL ACADEMIES

***

     This act would require mayoral academies to use a random selection process to select

eligible public school students who would be invited to attend the mayoral academy.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC003503

========

LC003503 - Page 3 of 3