2017 -- H 5661

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LC001366

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- PRIVATE SCHOOLS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Messier, Morin, Kazarian, McNamara, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2017

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     (Office of Postsecondary Commissioner)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 16-40-1 and 16-40-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-40

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entitled "Private Schools [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]"

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are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-40-1. Approval of secondary and higher schools by board -- Certification to

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secretary of state.

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     (a) No academy, college, university, or other institution of secondary or higher education

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shall be incorporated or established in this state or be permitted to transact business, unless

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exempt pursuant to § 16-40-10, within this state unless and until:

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     (1) Suitable provision, approved by the council on elementary and secondary education

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or the council on postsecondary education, shall be made that the academy, college, university, or

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institution is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and with the regulations and

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standards for approval adopted by the appropriate council or full board to implement this chapter;

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and

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     (2) For institutions offering an associates degree or higher, the institution has initiated

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discussions, that are evidenced by a writing, with the New England Association of Schools and

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Colleges (NEASC) regarding potential accreditation. ; or

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     (3) For distance learning purposes only a degree granting institution has full accreditation

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by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and

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equivalent to NEASC.

 

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     (b) The secretary of state, upon the receipt by him or her under the provisions of the

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general laws of articles of association purporting to establish an educational institution, shall

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transmit the articles of association to the appropriate council and shall not issue the certificate of

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incorporation provided by the general laws unless and until the commissioner of elementary and

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secondary education or the commissioner of the office of post-secondary education shall file with

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the secretary of state a certificate over his or her signature that the appropriate council has

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approved the application for incorporation as complying with the requirements of this section.

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     16-40-2. Authority to grant degrees not presumed.

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     Authority to grant academic, collegiate, professional, or other degrees recognizing

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learning, scholarship, or achievement shall not be included in, or presumed to be part of, the

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functions of a corporation or of an institution of education unless its charter or the articles of

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association shall specifically indicate that the institution is nonprofit and specifically indicate the

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power to grant degrees and the nature of the degrees to be granted; and no corporation or

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association shall grant academic, collegiate, professional, or similar degrees without specific

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authorization; and for institutions offering an associates degree or higher, has received full New

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England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) accreditation or for distance learning

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purposes only a degree granting institution has full accreditation by a regional accrediting agency

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recognized by the United States Department of Education and equivalent to NEASC within five

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(5) years of its incorporation or establishment within this state or five (5) years of being permitted

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to transact business within this state unless exempt pursuant to § 16-40-10.

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     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 -- PRIVATE SCHOOLS

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     This act would require accreditation by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the

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United States Department of Education for distance learning institutions to transact business or

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grant degrees in Rhode Island.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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