2018 -- S 2504

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LC004969

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- STATE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND

SECONDARY EDUCATION [SEE TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 - THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD

OF EDUCATION ACT -- DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER]

     

     Introduced By: Senators Quezada, Crowley, Metts, and Jabour

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-1-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-1 entitled "State

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Department of Elementary and Secondary Education [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island

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

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     16-1-5. Duties of commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

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     It shall be the duty of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education:

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     (1) To carry out the policies and program formulated by the board of regents for

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elementary and secondary education.

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     (2) To evaluate credentials of applicants for certificates, to verify that the certification of

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teachers is in accordance with law and established standards, and to issue certificates at the

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direction of the board.

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     (3) To certify the approval of accredited schools.

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     (4) To recommend to the board an outline of the subjects and courses of study and the

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instructional standards for elementary and secondary schools.

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     (5) To approve the distribution of state school funds in accordance with law and the

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regulations of the board.

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     (6) To verify that school sites and school building plans are in accordance with law and

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regulations.

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     (7) To exercise supervision over school libraries and library services.

 

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     (8) To certify that school bus routes and schedules and all contracts for pupil

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transportation conform with provisions of law and the rules and regulations of the board.

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     (9) To require the observance of all laws relating to schools and education.

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     (10) To interpret school law and to decide such controversies as may be appealed to the

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commissioner from decisions of local school committees.

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     (11) To prepare and recommend standard forms for the use of local schools.

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     (12) (i) To prepare, with the assistance of the department of administration, manuals of

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uniform budgetary and standard financial records and procedures for local school officers. The

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board of regents shall adopt uniform local school budgeting procedures no later than July 1, 1989,

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and those procedures should include, at a minimum, the following:

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     (A) Provision for uniform classification of revenues and expenditures;

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     (B) Requirements of detailed expenditure estimates and a table of organization including

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the proposed staffing of each school;

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     (C) Estimates of receipts and expenditures for the last two (2) completed fiscal years, the

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current and ensuing fiscal years; and

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     (ii) To carry out the purpose of this subsection a sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000)

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not otherwise appropriated shall be included in the appropriation made to support the department

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of elementary and secondary education.

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     (13) To receive general supervision from the board of regents for elementary and

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secondary education and to appoint the several officers and employees of the department subject

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to the provisions of the State Merit System Act, chapters 3 and 4 of title 36.

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     (14) To establish health education, alcohol and substance abuse programs for students in

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grades kindergarten (K) through twelve (12), in accordance with ยง 35-4-18. The program will

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consist of the following: A mandated state health education, alcohol and substance abuse,

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curriculum for grades kindergarten (K) through twelve (12), a mandated assessment program in

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the areas of health, fitness, alcohol and substance abuse, and an in-service training program which

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will be developed specifically for the implementation of the mandated curriculum.

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     (15) (i) To appoint a three (3) member committee for the purpose of choosing a "teacher

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of the year" among teachers in public school grades kindergarten (K) through twelve (12). The

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"teacher of the year" shall receive an award of one thousand dollars ($1,000).

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     (ii) It is the intent of the general assembly that the funds necessary to carry out the

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provisions of this subdivision shall be provided within the annual appropriations act.

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     (16) To prepare and promulgate regulations to ensure that students in public schools are

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not permitted to use cellular telephones or similar devices during the school day unless such

 

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devices are required for use in connection with a particular assignment or as an approved part of

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the curriculum.

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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 -- STATE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND

SECONDARY EDUCATION [SEE TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 - THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD

OF EDUCATION ACT -- DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER]

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     This act would direct the commissioner of elementary and secondary education to issue

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regulations restricting cell phone use by students in the public schools during the school day

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unless they are being used in connection with an assignment or curriculum.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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