2014 -- H 7836

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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 - BOARD OF REGENTS FOR ELEMENTARY AND

SECONDARY EDUCATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, E Coderre, Ferri, Amore, and O`Grady

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-60-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-60 entitled "Board of

Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-60-6. Commissioner of elementary and secondary education. -- The regents shall

appoint a commissioner of elementary and secondary education who shall serve at the pleasure of

the regents, provided that the commissioner's initial engagement by the regents shall be for a

period of not more than three (3) years. For the purpose of appointing, retaining, or dismissing a

commissioner, the governor shall serve as an additional voting member of the board of regents,

and provided that in the case of a tie, the president of the senate shall cast the deciding vote. The

position of commissioner shall be in the unclassified service of the state and he or she shall serve

as the chief executive officer of the board of regents and as the chief administrative officer of the

department of elementary and secondary education. The commissioner of elementary and

secondary education shall have the duties that are defined in this section and in this title and any

other additional duties that may be determined by the regents, and shall perform any other duties

that may be vested in the commissioner by law. In addition to the general supervision of the

department of elementary and secondary education and the appointment of the several officers

and employees of the department, it shall be the duty of the commissioner of elementary and

secondary education:

      (1) To develop and implement a systematic program of information gathering,

processing, and analysis addressed to every aspect of elementary and secondary education in the

state, especially as that information relates to current and future educational needs.

      (2) To prepare a master plan for elementary and secondary education in the state; to

coordinate the goals and objectives of the public elementary and secondary education sector with

the activities of the nonpublic elementary and secondary education sector where feasible.

      (3) To communicate with and seek the advice of those concerned with and affected by

the board of regents' determinations.

      (4) To implement broad policy as it pertains to the goals and objectives established by

the regents; to enforce standards and to exercise general supervision over public elementary and

secondary education in the state and over all elementary and secondary nonpublic education in

the state as provided in subdivision (8) of this section; to establish secondary school graduation

requirements which shall be based on a holistic assessment of each student’s readiness for

graduation, made by a qualified group of professionals in each secondary school, and having

reference, without limitation, to each student’s course record, senior project or portfolio, and

performance state wide on assessments; to assist in the preparation of the budget for elementary

and secondary education and to be responsible upon direction of the regents for the allocation of

appropriations, the acquisition, holding, disposition, and general management of property.

      (5) To be responsible for the coordination of the various elementary and secondary

educational functions among the educational agencies of the state including local school districts

and to encourage and to assist in the cooperation among them so that maximum efficiency and

economy may be achieved.

      (6) To assist the regents in the preparation and presentation annually to the state budget

officer, in accordance with section 35-3-4, of a total state elementary and secondary educational

budget which shall include, but not be limited to, the budget of the department of elementary and

secondary education, subcommittees and agencies, and state aid to local school districts.

      (7) To supervise the operation of the department of elementary and secondary education,

to have the duties as defined in section 16-1-5 and in this title or in law wherever outlined, and

other additional duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the regents.

      (8) To perform the duties vested in the board of regents with relation to nonpublic

elementary and secondary educational institutions within the state under the terms of chapter 40

of this title, and other laws that affect nonpublic elementary and secondary education in the state.

      (9) To supervise the following specific functions:

      (i) To recommend the basic subjects and courses of study to be taught and instructional

standards to be maintained in the public elementary and secondary schools in the state.

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      (ii) To recommend standards and qualifications of teachers and to issue certificates upon

approval of standards and qualifications by the regents.

      (iii) To distribute state school funds in accordance with law and regulations of the board

of regents.

      (iv) To certify as to the necessity of school construction and that standards and design

are in accordance with law and regulations of the regents and to approve a design for school

construction throughout the state.

      (v) To certify that school library standards and services are in accordance with law and

regulations of the board of regents.

      (vi) To recommend to the board of regents matters relating to the transportation of pupils

to school.

      (vii) To require the observance of all laws relating to elementary and secondary schools

and education.

      (viii) To interpret school law and to decide any controversies that may be appealed to

him or her from decisions of local school committees.

      (ix) To prepare and recommend standard forms for the use of local schools when

reporting to the department of elementary and secondary education.

      (x) To prepare standard accounting and auditing procedures for local school districts,

except for the purposes of subdivision (3) of section 16-24-2 which shall be done in conjunction

with the auditor general.

      (xi) To prepare uniform budgeting procedures for local school districts.

      (xii) To determine when special purpose grants made to local school districts shall be

eligible for reimbursement through the school operations aid formula in accordance with chapter

7 of this title, and to designate the purpose(s) for which the local school district may use the

school operations aid reimbursement, including reimbursement on local matching funds used to

support the special purpose grant. The commissioner shall promulgate and adopt rules and

regulations to carry out the intent of this subsection.

      (10) To approve and accredit elementary and secondary schools in accordance with the

policy and regulations of the board of regents.

      (11) To be responsible for the administration of policies, rules, and regulations of the

board of regents with relation to the entire field of elementary and secondary education within the

state not specifically granted to any other department, board, or agency and not incompatible with

law.

      (12) To receive from law enforcement agencies a list periodically of the names of Rhode

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Island missing children and to disseminate these lists to local school districts.

     SECTION 2. 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 - BOARD OF REGENTS FOR ELEMENTARY AND

SECONDARY EDUCATION

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     This act would direct the board of regents for elementary and secondary education to

establish school graduation requirements based on a holistic assessment of each student’s

readiness for graduation, made by a qualified group of professionals in each secondary school,

and having reference, without limitation, to each student’s course record, senior project or

portfolio, and performance on statewide assessments.

      This act would take effect upon passage.

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