2014 -- H 7755

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LC004887

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - ESTABLISHMENT OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, O'Brien, Walsh, Ferri, and Amore

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-77-2.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-77 entitled

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"Establishment of Charter Public Schools [ See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of

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Education Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-77-2.1. Definitions. -- As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the

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following meanings:

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      (1) "District charter schools" means schools created by existing public schools, groups of

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public school personnel, public school districts, or a group of school districts.

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      (2) "Independent charter schools" means schools created by: (I) Rhode Island nonprofit

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organizations provided that these nonprofit organizations shall have existed for at least two (2)

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years and must exist for a substantial reason other than to operate a school; or (ii) Colleges or

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universities within the State of Rhode Island.

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      (3) "Mayoral academies" means schools created by a mayor of any city or town within

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the State of Rhode Island, acting by or through a nonprofit organization (regardless of the time

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said nonprofit organization is in existence) to establish a mayoral academy as hereinafter

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described in chapter 16-77.4 ("Mayoral Academies"). For purposes of this chapter the term

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"mayor" shall include any elected town administrator.

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      (4) "Charter public schools" means district charter schools, independent charter schools,

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or mayoral academies.

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      (5) "Board of regents" means the Rhode Island board of regents for elementary and

 

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secondary education.

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      (6) "Commissioner" means the Rhode Island commissioner of elementary and secondary

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education.

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      (7) "Sending school district" means the district where the student attending or planning

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to attend a charter public school resides.

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     (8) "Virtual schooling" means the teaching of courses through online methods with online

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instructors, rather than with the instructor and student being physically present at the same

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physical location at the same time. "Virtual schooling" includes, without limitation, instruction

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provided by full-time, online virtual schools or virtual-blended schools.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 16-77 of the General Laws entitled "Establishment of Charter

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Public Schools [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     16-77-13. Moratorium on virtual schooling. – From July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2017,

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there is a moratorium on the establishment of charter public schools with virtual schooling

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components. This moratorium shall not apply to a charter public school with virtual schooling

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components existing or approved prior to July 1, 2014, or to the renewal of the charter of a

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charter public school with virtual schooling components already approved prior to July 1, 2014.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - ESTABLISHMENT OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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     This act would define virtual schooling, and impose a three (3) year moratorium on the

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establishment of charter public schools with virtual schooling components, commencing on July

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1, 2014. This moratorium would not apply to charter public schools with virtual schooling

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components that exist or are approved prior to July 1, 2014.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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