2016 -- S 2739

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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 - FUNDING OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Pearson, Satchell, Picard, Miller, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: March 10, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 16-7.2-4 and 16-7.2-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7.2

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entitled "The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act" are hereby amended to read as

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follows:

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     16-7.2-4. Determination of state's share. -- (a) For each district, the state's share of the

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foundation education aid calculated pursuant to § 16-7.2-3(a) shall use a calculation that

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considers a district's revenue generating capacity and concentration of high-need students. The

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calculation is the square root of the sum of the state share ratio for the community calculation

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(SSRC), pursuant to § 16-7-20, squared plus the district's percentage of students eligible for

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USDA reimbursable school meals in grades PK-6 (PK6FRPL) squared, divided by two.

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      (b) For purposes of determining the state's share, school district student data used in this

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calculation shall include charter school and state school students. These ratios are used in the

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permanent foundation education aid formula calculation described in § 16-7.2-5. Provided,

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effective July 1, 2016, the state shall fund mayoral academies for both state and local shares,

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pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

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     16-7.2-5. Charter public schools, the William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical

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High School, and the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center. -- (a) Charter

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public schools defined in chapter 77 of this title, the William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical

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High School (Davies) and the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center (the Met

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Center) shall be funded pursuant to § 16-7.2-3, except as provided for in subsections (c),(d), and

 

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(e) of this section. If the October 1 actual enrollment data for any charter public school shows a

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ten percent (10%) or greater change from the prior year enrollment which is used as the reference

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year average daily membership, the third and fourth quarter payments to the charter public school

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will be adjusted to reflect actual enrollment. The state share of the permanent foundation

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education aid shall be paid by the state directly to the charter public schools, Davies, and the Met

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Center pursuant to § 16-7.2-9 and shall be calculated using the state share ratio of the district of

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residence of the student as set forth in § 16-7.2-4. The department of elementary and secondary

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education shall provide the general assembly with the calculation of the state share of permanent

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foundation education aid for charter public schools delineated by school district. The department

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shall also provide the general assembly a performance dashboard indicating the per-pupil

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expenditures of each school district and charter school broken down by revenue sources and

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expenditure categories. The department shall provide, within the same dashboard, student

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performance indicators for each school district or charter school. The local share of education

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funding, as defined by the department of elementary and secondary education and approved by

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the General Assembly, shall be paid to the charter public school, Davies, and the Met Center by

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the district of residence of the student and shall be the local per-pupil cost calculated by dividing

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the local appropriation to education from property taxes, net of debt service and capital projects,

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as defined in the uniform chart of accounts by the average daily membership for each city and

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town, pursuant to § 16-7-22, for the reference year.

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      (b) Local district payments to charter public schools, Davies, and the Met Center for

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each district's students enrolled in these schools shall be made on a quarterly basis in July,

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October, January and April; however, the first local district payment shall be made by August 15

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instead of July. Failure of the community to make the local district payment for its student(s)

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enrolled in a charter public school, Davies, and/or the Met Center may result in the withholding

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of state education aid pursuant to § 16-7-31.

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     (c) Effective July 1, 2016, the state shall fund the state and local share for all mayoral

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academies as calculated under §§16-7.2-3, 16-7.2-4, and 16-7.2-5. The local share shall be paid

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by the state, not the sending district.

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     (d) Charter public schools other than mayoral academies, including district and

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independent charter public schools, which are in existence as of July 1, 2016, shall continue to be

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funded pursuant to the provisions of this section, but in the event such charter public schools seek

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to expand beyond what has already been approved by the board of education, the council on

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elementary and secondary education, or a successor to such entities, then such expansion shall be

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subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section.

 

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     (e) As to any proposed new charter public school or any existing charter public school

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which is seeking to expand at any time after July 1, 2016, such schools shall be funded either in

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full by the state or by the state paying its share pursuant to §16-7.2-4 and the sending district(s)

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paying the local share calculated pursuant to §16-7.2-5(a). The department of elementary and

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secondary education shall establish a dual pathway application process for such proposed charter

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public schools. Provided:

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     (i) A proposed new charter public school or an existing charter public school seeking to

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expand which seeks funding in full from the state shall need the approval of the commissioner of

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education, the council on elementary and secondary education, and the general assembly in order

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to open or expand; and

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     (ii) A proposed new charter public school or an existing charter public school seeking to

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expand which seeks funding from both the state and the local sending district(s) shall require the

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approval of the commissioner of education, the council on elementary and secondary education,

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and the city or town council of each of the local sending districts identified in the school's

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application or proposal, in order to open or expand.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 16-7.2 of the General Laws entitled "The Education Equity and

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Property Tax Relief Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

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     16-7.2-11. Municipal core instruction fund. -- (a) Findings.

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     (1) Core education spending includes teachers’ salaries, textbooks, and programming,

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and other elements required as part of the state’s basic education program.

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     (2) Non-core education spending includes a variety of services ancillary to but necessary

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to the operation of a public school system and include elements such as, but not limited to, food

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service, busing, maintenance, and charter school tuitions.

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     (3) The general assembly recognizes that when faced with financial and other mounting

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pressures by the increasing cost of high-quality public education, some communities have not met

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their share of both core education and non-core educational spending.

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     (b) Establishment of municipal education incentive fund. The general assembly hereby

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establishes the municipal education incentive fund, hereinafter referred to in this chapter as the

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"incentive fund," to improve the ability of cities and towns to support core instructional activities

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through local expenditures, while also ensuring that local education agencies ("LEAs") are

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limiting the amounts they spend on non-core expenses.

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     16-7.2-12. Operation of fund. -- (a) As used herein, the term "eligible school district or

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LEA" means a school district or local education agency which receives funds through the state

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funding formula established in §16-7.2-3.

 

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     (b) Eligible school districts and LEAs shall receive:

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     (1) One dollar ($1.00) in aid for each dollar by which the municipality increases its local

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contribution to its local share of the total foundation education in excess of the amount expended

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in the immediately preceding fiscal year, provided the municipality is currently underfunding the

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local share of the core amount; and

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     (2) One dollar ($1.00) in aid for each dollar reduction in non-core expenditures the

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district or LEA makes in comparison to the amount expended in the immediately preceding fiscal

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year.

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     (c) The department of elementary and secondary education (the "department") shall

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prorate the funds available for distribution among those eligible school districts if the total

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eligible adjustments for which school districts and LEAs are seeking reimbursement exceed the

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amount of funding available in any fiscal year.

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     (d) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of

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this section.

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     SECTION 3. Section 16-77-5.1 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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     16-77-5.1. Oversight by commissioner. -- (a) Individuals or groups may complain to a

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charter public school's governing body concerning any claimed violation of the provisions of this

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chapter by the school. If, after presenting their complaint to the governing body, the individuals

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or groups believe their complaint has not been adequately addressed, they may submit their

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complaint to the commissioner who shall hear and decide the issue pursuant to §§ 16-39-1 and

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16-39-2. Provided, the term "charter public schools" as used herein means and includes district

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charter schools, independent charter schools, or mayoral academies, as defined by §16-77-2.1.

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      (b) Charter public school approval for establishment or continuation shall be for up to a

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five (5) year period. In either case, board of regents approval of the council on elementary and

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secondary education is required. However, the charter may be revoked at any time if the school:

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      (1) Materially violates provisions contained in the charter;

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      (2) Fails to meet or pursue the educational objectives contained in the charter;

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      (3) Fails to comply with fiscal accountability procedures as specified in the charter;

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      (4) Violates provisions of law that have not been granted variance by the board of

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regents; or

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      (5) After three (3) consecutive years of operation, is not a "high-performing charter

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school," defined as a charter public school that has demonstrated overall success, including: (i)

 

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Substantial progress in improving student achievement; and (ii) The management and leadership

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necessary to establish a thriving, financially viable charter public school.

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      (c) After denying or prior to non-renewing or revoking a charter, the department of

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elementary and secondary education will hold a hearing on the issues in controversy under § 16-

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39-1.

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      (d) The establishment of new charter public schools or the expansion of existing charter

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public schools, which establishment or expansion has not been approved prior to (the effective

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date of this act), shall be contingent upon state approval and appropriation. subject to a dual-path

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application process as follows:

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     (i) A proposed new charter public school or an existing charter public school seeking to

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expand which seeks funding in full from the state shall need the approval of the commissioner of

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education, the council on elementary and secondary education, and the general assembly in order

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to open or expand; and

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     (ii) A proposed new charter public school or an existing charter public school seeking to

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expand which seeks funding from both the state and the local sending district(s) shall require the

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approval of the commissioner of education, the council on elementary and secondary education,

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and the city or town council of each of the local sending districts identified in the school's

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application or proposal, in order to open or expand.

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     (e) On and after July 1, 2016, any new charter public school or any proposed expansion

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of an existing charter public school shall need to receive final approval from the council on

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elementary and secondary education on or before May 15 in order to be eligible for state

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education aid, provided pursuant to chapter 7.2 of title 16 ("the education equity and property tax

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relief act") for the new school or the expanded school, in the subsequent fiscal year.

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     SECTION 4. Sections 16-77.4-2, 16-77.4-3 and 16-77.4-5 of the General Laws in

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Chapter 16-77.4 entitled "Mayoral Academies [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board

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of Education Act]" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-77.4-2. Procedure for creation of a mayoral academy. -- (a) Any persons or entities

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eligible to establish a mayoral academy may submit a proposed charter to the commissioner. The

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proposed charter shall:

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

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

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

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

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

 

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educational goals and standards;

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

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year;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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what terms and conditions it is to be provided;

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

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

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

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

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

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and staff;

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

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

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

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      (11) Explain the student discipline procedures;

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

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

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

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pursuant to state law and regulation.

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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defined in chapter 16 of this title.

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

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

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

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the regulation or provision will be addressed;

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      (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

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

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

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

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academy's charter; and

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

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      (18) Provide a fiscal impact statement which details the anticipated fiscal impact of the

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mayoral academy on the state budget if the mayoral academy is permitted to operate and grows to

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its highest projected enrollment for the five (5) year period following approval.

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     16-77.4-3. Process for consideration of proposed charter. -- (a) If the commissioner

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finds the proposed charter to be incomplete, further information may be requested and required.

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The commissioner shall develop regulations for amending an approved charter, consistent with

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the provisions of this chapter.

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      (b) After having received a satisfactory proposed charter, the commissioner will provide

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for a public comment period of not less than sixty (60) days, during which they will hold at least

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two (2) public hearings on the proposed charter. These hearings will be held in the district where

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the proposed mayoral academy is to be located. Any person may file with the committee and/or

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the commissioner comments, recommendations, and/or objections relevant to the granting of a

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charter.

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      (c) The commissioner will decide whether to recommend the granting of the charter to

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the board of regents within ninety (90) days after the conclusion of the public comment period.

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      (d) If the commissioner recommends the granting of the proposed charter, the matter

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shall be referred to the board of regents council on elementary and secondary education

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(hereinafter referred to as the "council") for a decision on whether to grant a charter. The board of

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regents council may grant a charter for a period of up to five (5) years. In making its decision, the

 

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council shall consider among its deliberations the fiscal impact of the school on the state's

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finances and budget. The decision of the board of regents, council, complete with reasons and

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conditions, shall be made available to the public and to the applicant. Charter public school

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approval for establishment or continuation shall be for up to a five (5) year period. At the

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conclusion of each five (5) year period, the board of regents council may conduct a subsequent

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review of the mayoral academy's charter. If the board of regents council does not conduct such a

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review, the charter shall renew for another five (5) year period. The commissioner, with approval

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of the board of regents council, shall promulgate rules and regulations for these five (5) year

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reviews.

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      (e) The commissioner, with the approval of the board of regents council, may grant a

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variance to any provision of title 16 other than those enumerated in § 16-77.4-7 and to any

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department of education regulation and to any school district regulation which does not affect the

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health and safety or civil rights of pupils in a mayoral academy.

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      (f) All proposed charters shall be matters of public record and will be provided to

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members of the public upon request.

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     16-77.4-5. Budgets and funding. -- (a) It is the intent of the general assembly that

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funding pursuant to this chapter shall be neither a financial incentive nor a financial disincentive

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to the establishment of a mayoral academy. Funding for each mayoral academy shall consist of

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state revenue and municipal or district revenue in the same proportions that funding is provided

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for other schools within the sending school district(s). Provided, effective July 1, 2016, the state

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of Rhode Island shall assume all funding of charter public schools pursuant to §16-7.2-5.

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      (b) The amount of funding which shall be allocated to the mayoral academy by the

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sending school district(s) shall be equal to a percentage of the total budgeted expenses of the

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sending school district(s) which is determined by dividing the number of students enrolled in the

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mayoral academy by the total resident average daily number of students in the sending school

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district(s). Provided, effective July 1, 2016, the state of Rhode Island shall assume all funding of

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charter public schools pursuant to §16-7.2-5, and the local school district shall have no obligation

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to provided funding to a mayoral academy.

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     (c) Funding additional to that authorized from the sending school district(s) by subsection

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(b) may be allocated to the mayoral academy from the sending school district(s) to the extent that

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the combined percentage of students eligible for free or reduced cost lunch, students with limited

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English proficiency, and students requiring special education exceed the combined percentage of

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those students in the sending school district(s) as a whole. The commissioner shall promulgate

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rules and regulations consistent with this section regarding the allocation of funds from sending

 

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school districts to mayoral academies. Provided, effective July 1, 2016, the state of Rhode Island

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shall assume all funding of charter public schools pursuant to §16-7.2-5.

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      (d) A mayoral academy shall be eligible to receive other aids, grants, Medicaid revenue,

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and other revenue according to Rhode Island law, as though it were a school district. Federal aid

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received by the state shall be used to benefit students in a mayoral academy, if the school

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qualifies for the aid, as though it were a school district.

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      (e) A mayoral academy may negotiate and contract directly with third parties for the

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purchase of books, instructional materials, and any other goods and services. which are not being

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provided by the sending school district(s) pursuant to the charter.

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      (f) Any career/technical charter public school enrolling special education students from

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outside school districts with verifiable individual education program (IEP) designations shall

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receive from the sending school district(s) the average per pupil special education cost of the

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sending district(s), in accordance with standards established by the Rhode Island department of

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elementary and secondary education.

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     SECTION 5. 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 - FUNDING OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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     This act would: (1) Provide that mayoral academies would be funded in full by the state

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for both core and non-core expenditures; (2) Provide a dual-path application process for charter

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schools other than mayoral academies to be funded either in full by the state, or by both local

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communities and the state; (3) Require applicants for mayoral academies to provide a fiscal

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impact statement which details the anticipated fiscal impact of the mayoral academy on the state

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budget if the mayoral academy is permitted to operate and grows to its highest projected

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enrollment for the five year period following approval; (4) Establish a municipal core instruction

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fund to improve the ability of cities and towns to support core instructional activities through

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local expenditures; and (5) Provide that local city and town councils would have the opportunity

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to approve applications for new charter public schools or the expansion of charter public schools

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in their communities if the charter public schools are seeking to be funded by the local

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communities.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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