2015 -- S 0366

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LC001543

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS

     Introduced By: Senator Roger Picard

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-2-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-2 entitled "School

Committees and Superintendents [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of

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

     16-2-2. City and town schools required -- School year -- Location -- Kindergartens. -

- (a) (1) Except as specifically provided in this section, every city or town shall establish and

maintain for at least one hundred eighty (180) days annually or the equivalent thereof, exclusive

of holidays a sufficient number of schools in convenient places under the control and

management of the school committee and under the supervision of the board of regents for

elementary and secondary education. In lieu of convenient location the school committee may

provide transportation for pupils to and from school in accordance with the provisions of chapter

21 of this title. Provided, that a school district may establish a school year which is the equivalent

of one hundred eighty (180) days through the use of longer school days in terms of hours or

pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, and which may total less than one hundred eighty (180)

separate days, so long as through the use of the longer school day, the school district annually

provides a minimum of one thousand eighty (1080) school hours in a single school year. This

figure is based on a minimum of six (6) hours per school day. For purposes of clarification, the

intent herein is to permit school districts to amend their school year to provide for longer school

days while reducing the actual number of days in which the school facilities must be fully staffed

and maintained, but to insure that in doing so, school districts shall still provide the minimum

amount of instruction time contemplated by this section. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit

a school district from exceeding the minimum amounts of days and hours set forth herein.

      (2) School districts intending to make use of the option provided herein to lengthen

school days and shorten the school year shall submit a detailed school day plan and a proposed

school calendar to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education for approval. The

commissioner shall review the submitted school day plan and the submitted calendar to determine

whether the plan and calendar are academically sound and fiscally efficient. The commissioner

may grant or deny approval of the plan and/or the calendar.

      (b) School facilities shall include a sufficient number of kindergartens.

     (c) A school district may submit a detailed plan at any time to the commissioner of

elementary and secondary education for approval that would allow the schools to conduct

instruction through virtual education when school has been closed due to inclement weather or

other emergency that would count as a school day provided that:

     (1) The assignments and instruction must be equivalent in effort and rigor to typical class

work;

     (2) At least seventy-five (75%) percent of the students must participate and complete the

assignments;

     (3) The plan must include procedures for participation by students who may not have

access to the virtual instruction method utilized;

     (4) The plan must include a process for monitoring participation and a sample lesson

provided through virtual education and a sample lesson provided for students without access;

     (5) The plan must indicate the school year for which the district is seeking approval and

any school district opting to participate in a plan for virtual instruction as provided herein, shall

submit a plan to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education for approval on or

before August 31 for each school year;

     (6) The plan complies with any requirements as mandated by the commissioner of

elementary and secondary education.

     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 -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS

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     This act would provide for the establishment of a virtual education plan by school

districts for use during inclement weather, with the approval and consent of the commissioner of

elementary and secondary education.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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