2015 -- S 0700

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LC002111

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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 - MAYORAL ACADEMIES

     Introduced By: Senators Jabour, Lombardi, Goldin, Ciccone, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: March 18, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 16-77.4-2 and 16-77.4-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-77.4

entitled "Mayoral Academies" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-77.4-2. Procedure for creation of a mayoral academy. --

      (a) Any persons or entities eligible to establish a mayoral academy may submit a

proposed charter to the commissioner. The proposed charter shall:

     (1) Be submitted to the commissioner no later than December 1st of the school year

before the school year in which the mayoral academy is to be established;

     (2) Describe a plan for education, including the mission, objective, method of providing a

basic education, measurable student academic goals that the mayoral academy will meet, and

process for improving student learning and fulfilling the charter and fulfilling state and national

educational goals and standards;

     (3) Provide a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days of instruction to students per

year;

     (4) Indicate performance criteria that will be used to measure student learning and to

comply with the charter, state, and national educational goals and standards;

     (5) Include an agreement to provide a yearly report to parents, the community, the school

committee of the sending districts, and the commissioner, which indicates the progress made by

the mayoral academy during the previous year in meeting the charter objectives;

     (6) Present a plan for the governance, administration, and operation of the mayoral

academy, including the manner in which the governing board of the school will be chosen, the

nature and extent of parental, professional educator, and community involvement in the

governance and operation of the mayoral academy, and the means of ensuring accountability to

the commissioner, the sending school district(s), and the board of regents;

     (7) Identify the building that will house the mayoral academy and from whom and under

what terms and conditions it is to be provided;

     (8) Describe what support services will be provided by the sending school district(s) and

under what terms and conditions those services are to be provided, and describe what support

services the mayoral academy will obtain directly from third parties and, to the extent known,

under what terms and conditions those services are to be provided;

     (9) Explain the procedures that will be followed to ensure the health and safety of pupils

and staff;

     (10) Describe enrollment procedures including the permissible criteria for admission in

accordance with applicable state and federal law, along with a policy or policies that outline

outreach and recruitment programs to encourage the enrollment of a diverse student population;

     (11) Explain the student discipline procedures;

     (12) Explain the relationship that will exist between the proposed mayoral academy and

its employees, including the terms and conditions of employment and the qualifications that the

employees must meet. Teachers and administrators in mayoral academies must be certified

pursuant to state law and regulation.

     (13) Each mayoral academy established pursuant to this chapter may, by written notice to

the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, elect to have this subsection apply (or

not apply) to its teachers, administrators, and employees:

     (i) Teachers and administrators in a mayoral academy shall be entitled to prevailing

wages and benefits as enjoyed by other public school teachers and administrators;

     (ii) Teachers and administrators in a mayoral academy shall be entitled to participate in

the state teachers' retirement system under chapter 8 of title 36;

     (iii) Employment in a mayoral academy shall be considered "service" as that term is

defined in chapter 16 of this title.

     (14) Identify with particularity the state laws, state regulations, and school district rules

from which variances are sought in order to facilitate operation of the mayoral academy. Explain

the reasons for each variance and the alternative method by which the concern that gave rise to

the regulation or provision will be addressed;

     (15) Provide a financial plan including a proposed budget for the term of the charter, and

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an annual audit of the financial and administrative operations of the mayoral academy, and the

manner in which the funds allocated to the mayoral academy will be managed and disbursed;

     (16) Provide procedures by which teaching personnel and parents can legally challenge

decisions of the governing board of the mayoral academy which do not conform to the mayoral

academy's charter; and

     (17) Provide a copy of the proposed bylaws of the mayoral academy.

     16-77.4-7. Portions of title 16 applicable to mayoral academies. -- The following

provisions of this title shall be binding on mayoral academies and may not be waived by the

commissioner under § 16-77.4-3:

     (1) Section 16-2-2 (minimum length of school year);

     (2) Section 16-2-17 (right to a safe school);

     (3) Section 16-8-10 (federal funds for school lunch);

     (4) Section 16-11-1 (certification of public school teachers);

     (5) Section 16-12-3 (duty to cultivate principles of morality);

     (6) Section 16-12-10 (immunity for report of suspected substance abuse);

     (7) Chapter 16-16 (teachers' retirement);

     (7)(8) Section 16-19-1 (compulsory attendance);

     (8)(9) Section 16-20-1 (school holidays enumerated);

     (9)(10) Sections 16-21-3 and 16-21-4 (fire safety);

     (10)(11) Sections 16-21-10, 16-21-14, and 16-21-16 (health screenings);

     (11)(12) Section 16-22-9 (uniform testing);

     (12)(13) Section 16-24-2 (regulations of state board);

     (13)(14) Section 16-38-1 (discrimination because of race or age);

     (14)(15) Section 16-38-1.1 (discrimination because of sex);

     (15)(16) Section 16-38-2 (immunizations);

     (16)(17) Section 16-38-4 (exclusive club);

     (17)(18) Section 16-38-6 (commercial activities prohibited);

     (18)(19) Section 16-38-9 (misconduct of school officers);

     (19)(20) Section 16-38-10 (power of officials to visit schools);

     (20)(21) Section 16-39-1 (appeal of matters of dispute to commissioner);

     (21)(22) Section 16-39-2 (appeal of school committee actions to commissioner);

     (22)(23) Section 16-39-3 (appeal to state board);

     (23)(24) Section 16-39-3.1 (enforcement of final decision);

     (24)(25) Section 16-39-3.2 (interim protective orders);

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     (25)(26) Section 16-39-8 (subpoena power of commissioner);

     (26)(27) Section 16-40-16 (student records);

     (27)(28) Section 16-71-1 (Educational Record Bill of Rights Act);

     (28)(29) Section 16-21-21.1 (Penalties for drug, alcohol or weapons offenses);

     (29)(30) Chapter 16-21.5 (Student interrogations).

     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 - MAYORAL ACADEMIES

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     This act would change mayoral academy teachers' and administrators' participation in the

state retirement system from voluntary to mandatory.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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