2016 -- S 2867 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- PUBLIC PREPARATORY ACADEMIES

     Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, Crowley, Metts, Gallo, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: March 31, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-3.1 of the General Laws entitled "Cooperative Service Among

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

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-3.1-21. YouthBuild Preparatory Academy. – (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of

any general or special law to the contrary, the school committees of the cities of Providence and

Central Falls are authorized and empowered to initiate and implement cooperative efforts,

including, but not limited to, collaborative use of technology, to provide an alternative, diploma-

granting secondary education program to be known as the YouthBuild Preparatory Academy

(hereinafter "academy") for their respective resident students ages fourteen (14) to twenty-one

(21) who are achieving limited success in traditional settings.

     (1) The purpose of this section is to further enable the school committees of the cities of

Providence and Central Falls:

     (i) To support students at risk of school failure, with a special focus on the diverse needs

of urban students, to create an environment for individual growth, and to cultivate social and

emotional development;

     (ii) To offer a rigorous and relevant standards-driven experiential learning community,

and to provide college and career preparatory education based on guided, project-based core

curriculum with an emphasis on education, human services, and community development; and

     (iii) To provide an alternative learning environment for disconnected and at-risk students

desiring to complete their academic careers in a setting that offers comprehensive support

services, accelerated academic curriculum, leadership development, and life skills that will enable

them to become resilient, self-sufficient adults.

     (2) The YouthBuild Preparatory Academy shall be operated under the provisions of this

chapter. Students attending the YouthBuild Preparatory Academy will do so on a full-time basis

with the costs for their education at the academy being shared by the state and the district of

residence as described in §16-7.2-5.

     (3) The YouthBuild Preparatory Academy shall be governed by a board of trustees, with

the exception of those powers and duties reserved by the commissioner of elementary and

secondary education, the board of education, and the school committees of the cities of

Providence and Central Falls, the board of trustees shall have the powers and duties of school

committees.

     (4) Composition of the board of trustees - The board of trustees of the YouthBuild

Preparatory Academy shall consist of:

     (i) One appointee of the board of trustees of the Central Falls school district;

     (ii) One appointee of the school board of the city of Providence; and

     (iii) The council on elementary and secondary education shall appoint the remaining

members of the board of trustees of the YouthBuild Preparatory Academy with input from the

commissioner of elementary and secondary education. Prior to enrolling students, the board of

trustees shall present a plan for the governance, administration, and operation of the YouthBuild

Preparatory Academy, including the nature and extent of parental, professional educator, and

community involvement in the governance and operation of the YouthBuild Preparatory

Academy, and the means of ensuring accountability, to the commissioner, the Providence and

Central Falls school districts, and the council on elementary and secondary education.

     (5) The academy authorized under this section shall be subject to educational and

financial standards and reporting as deemed necessary by the department of elementary and

secondary education.

     (b) The YouthBuild Preparatory Academy shall be eligible to receive other aid, grants,

Medicaid revenue, and any other revenue according to Rhode Island law, as though it is a school

district. Federal aid received by the state shall be used to benefit students in the YouthBuild

Preparatory Academy, if the school qualifies for the aid, as though it is a school district.

     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 -- PUBLIC PREPARATORY ACADEMIES

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     This act would authorize the cities of Providence and Central Falls to create an alternative

academy for students having difficulty in traditional public school settings.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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