2018 -- S 2646

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LC005242

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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 - COUNCIL ON ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY

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

EDUCATION]

     

     Introduced By: Senators Pearson, Gallo, Lynch Prata, McCaffrey, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: March 20, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-60-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-60 entitled "Council on

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Elementary and Secondary Education [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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     16-60-6. Commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

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     The council on elementary and secondary education, with the advice and consent of the

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board of education The governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint a

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commissioner of elementary and secondary education who shall serve at the pleasure of the

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council on elementary and secondary education governor, provided that the commissioner's initial

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engagement by the council governor shall be for a period of not more than three (3) years. For the

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purpose of appointing, retaining, or dismissing a commissioner, the governor shall serve as an

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additional voting member of the council on elementary and secondary education. The position of

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commissioner shall be in the unclassified service of the state and he or she shall serve as the chief

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executive officer of the council on elementary and secondary education and as the chief

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administrative officer of the department of elementary and secondary education. The

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commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall have the duties that are defined in this

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section and in this title and any other additional duties that may be determined by the council on

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elementary and secondary education, and shall perform any other duties that may be vested in the

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commissioner by law. In addition to the general supervision of the department of elementary and

 

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secondary education and the appointment of the several officers and employees of the

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department, it shall be the duty of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education:

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     (1) To develop and implement a systematic program of information gathering,

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processing, and analysis addressed to every aspect of elementary and secondary education in the

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state, especially as that information relates to current and future educational needs.

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     (2) To prepare a master plan for elementary and secondary education in the state; to

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coordinate the goals and objectives of the public elementary and secondary education sector with

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the activities of the nonpublic elementary and secondary education sector where feasible.

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     (3) To communicate with and seek the advice of those concerned with and affected by the

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board of education's and the council's determinations.

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     (4) To implement broad policy as it pertains to the goals and objectives established by the

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board of education; to enforce standards and to exercise general supervision over public

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elementary and secondary education in the state and over all elementary and secondary nonpublic

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education in the state as provided in subdivision (8) of this section; to assist in the preparation of

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the budget for elementary and secondary education and to be responsible upon direction of the

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council on elementary and secondary education for the allocation of appropriations, the

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acquisition, holding, disposition, and general management of property.

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     (5) To be responsible for the coordination of the various elementary and secondary

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educational functions among the educational agencies of the state including local school districts

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and to encourage and to assist in the cooperation among them so that maximum efficiency and

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economy may be achieved.

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     (6) To assist the council on elementary and secondary education in the preparation and

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presentation annually to the state budget officer, in accordance with § 35-3-4, of a total state

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elementary and secondary educational budget which shall include, but not be limited to, the

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budget of the department of elementary and secondary education, subcommittees and agencies,

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and state aid to local school districts.

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     (7) To supervise the operation of the department of elementary and secondary education,

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to have the duties as defined in § 16-1-5 and in this title or in law wherever outlined, and other

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additional duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the council on elementary and

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secondary education.

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     (8) To perform the duties vested in the board of education and council on elementary and

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secondary education with relation to nonpublic elementary and secondary educational institutions

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within the state under the terms of chapter 40 of this title, and other laws that affect nonpublic

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elementary and secondary education in the state.

 

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     (9) To supervise the following specific functions:

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     (i) To recommend the basic subjects and courses of study to be taught and instructional

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standards to be maintained in the public elementary and secondary schools in the state.

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     (ii) To recommend standards and qualifications of teachers and to issue certificates upon

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approval of standards and qualifications by the council on elementary and secondary education.

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     (iii) To distribute state school funds in accordance with law and regulations of the council

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on elementary and secondary education.

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     (iv) To certify as to the necessity of school construction and that standards and design are

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in accordance with law and regulations of the council on elementary and secondary education and

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to approve a design for school construction throughout the state.

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     (v) To certify that school library standards and services are in accordance with law and

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regulations of the council on elementary and secondary education.

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     (vi) To recommend to the council on elementary and secondary education relating to the

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transportation of pupils to school.

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     (vii) To require the observance of all laws relating to elementary and secondary schools

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and education.

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     (viii) To interpret school law and to decide any controversies that may be appealed to him

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or her from decisions of local school committees.

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     (ix) To prepare and recommend standard forms for the use of local schools when

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reporting to the department of elementary and secondary education.

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     (x) To prepare standard accounting and auditing procedures for local school districts,

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except for the purposes of subdivision (3) of § 16-24-2 which shall be done in conjunction with

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the auditor general.

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     (xi) To prepare uniform budgeting procedures for local school districts.

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     (xii) To determine when special purpose grants made to local school districts shall be

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eligible for reimbursement through the school operations aid formula in accordance with chapter

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7 of this title, and to designate the purpose(s) for which the local school district may use the

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school operations aid reimbursement, including reimbursement on local matching funds used to

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support the special purpose grant. The commissioner shall promulgate and adopt rules and

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regulations to carry out the intent of this subsection.

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     (10) To approve and accredit elementary and secondary schools in accordance with the

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policy and regulations of the council on elementary and secondary education.

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     (11) To be responsible for the administration of policies, rules, and regulations of the

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board of education and the council on elementary and secondary education with relation to the

 

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entire field of elementary and secondary education within the state not specifically granted to any

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other department, board, or agency and not incompatible with law.

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     (12) To receive from law enforcement agencies a list periodically of the names of Rhode

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Island missing children and to disseminate these lists to local school districts.

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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 - COUNCIL ON ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY

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

EDUCATION]

***

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     This act would provide that the commissioner of elementary and secondary education

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would be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The commissioner

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of elementary and secondary education would serve at the pleasure of the governor.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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