2019 -- H 5366

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LC000369

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS RIGHTS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Marshall, Corvese, McNamara, and
Blazejewski

     Date Introduced: February 08, 2019

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-12-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-12 entitled "Rights and

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Duties of Teachers Generally" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-12-1. "Teacher" defined.

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     The term "teacher," as used in this chapter, is deemed to include every person employed

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as a teacher, supervisor, school nurse, school guidance counselor, school social worker, school

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psychologist, principal, or superintendent or assistant superintendent, of schools, whether

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employed in schools supported in whole or in part by public funds, or in colleges, or in public

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institutions, or in the department of elementary and secondary education.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 16-12 of the General Laws entitled "Rights and Duties of Teachers

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Generally" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     16-12-12. Teachers' bill of rights.

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     All teachers shall be afforded the following rights:

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     (1) A safe and healthy school environment, which shall:

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     (i) Facilitate a constructive working relationship between teachers and administrators;

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     (ii) Be free from discriminatory attitudes and practices and acts of hate and violence;

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     (iii) Promote overall cleanliness on school grounds, buildings, common areas, and

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individual rooms.

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     (2) To be treated with civility and respect;

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     (3) To have all teachers work in an environment free from bullying and harassment from

 

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administrators, students, parents and/or teachers;

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     (4) To be provided a safe, caring, orderly environment, in which the school district shall

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expect civility from all who engage in school activities including mutual respect, professionalism

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and common courtesy;

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     (5) To not be subject to harassment, abusive language, and/or upbraiding by parents,

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other citizens, students and/or other school employees;

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     (6) To not be required, coerced, intimidated, or subjected to discipline in any manner by

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school administration to change a grade or a test score;

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     (7) To not be required to use their personal out-of-pocket money to appropriately equip a

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classroom with the supplies needed to teach and reach students;

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     (8) To be provided with up-to-date technology, books and whatever else it take to help

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students succeed;

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     (9) To be free to share information regarding a student's educational experience, health,

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or safety with the student's parent or legal guardian unless otherwise prohibited by state law or

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the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA);

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     (10) To be allowed to appropriately discipline students;

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     (11) To have their professional judgment and discretion respected by their school and its

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administrators with respect to any disciplinary action taken by that teacher in accordance with

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school and district policy;

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     (12) To freely communicate with and be allowed to request the participation of parents in

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appropriate student discipline decisions;

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     (13) To have their authority respected which is essential to creating an environment

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conducive to learning, effective instruction in the classroom, and proper administration public

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schools;

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     (14) To have their professional judgment and discretion respected;

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     (15) To report any errant, offensive, or abusive content or behavior of students to school

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officials or appropriate agencies;

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     (16) To academic freedom which shall be guaranteed to employees, and no special

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limitations shall be placed upon study, investigation, presenting and interpreting facts and ideas

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concerning people, human society, the physical and biological world, and other branches of

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learning subject to accepted standards of professional responsibility;

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     (17) To undergo board of education approved evaluations, that are not commenced more

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frequently than three (3) school years after the completion of the last evaluation, as long as the

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teacher's most recent rating earned was "highly effective," or a number "four" (4) or any

 

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equivalent thereof, or not more than two (2) school years after the completion of the last

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evaluation, as long as the teacher's most recent ratings earned was "effective" or a number "three"

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(3) or any equivalent thereof;

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     (18) To be afforded full freedom in expressing personal opinions on all matters relevant

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to course content, so long as the teacher makes every effort to indicate that they are speaking

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personally and not on behalf of the school, its administration, or the board; and

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     (19) To have the school department post on its website a summary of laws governing the

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rights and protections afforded to public school teachers under state and federal law.

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     SECTION 3. 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 -- TEACHERS RIGHTS

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     This act would broaden the definition of "teacher" and create a comprehensive bill of

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rights for school teachers.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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