2019 -- S 0266

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LC000993

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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

     

     Introduced By: Senators Quezada, Bell, Crowley, Euer, and Valverde

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

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by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 110

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THE 2019 ONE STATE FOUR DISTRICT ACT

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     16-110-1. Legislative findings.

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     The General Assembly finds and declares the following:

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     (1) Rhode Island's economic future relies on the successful education of its children.

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     (2) Rhode Island's small geographic size in comparison to the other forty-nine (49) states

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is an asset which the state can utilize to its advantage in regard to education.

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     (3) Consolidation of the state's school districts as proposed in this one state four districts

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act would allow the state to mobilize the state's limited resources in a way that would optimize

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the educational opportunities offered by our state.

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     16-110-2. Consolidation of school districts.

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     (a) As used in this chapter, the term "public school district" means local educational

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agencies in Rhode Island operated by municipalities or the state, or any combination thereof, and

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those charter schools established pursuant to chapters 77.2, 77.3, and 77.4 of title 16. Mayoral

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academies are considered charter schools for purposes of this chapter.

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     (b) Effective August 1, 2022:

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     (1) All public school districts in this state shall be consolidated into one of four (4) school

 

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districts aligned and organized by county, except that all public school districts within the

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counties of Newport and Bristol shall be consolidated into one district.

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     (2) The council on the department of elementary and secondary education shall maintain,

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publish, and annually review and update as necessary at least three (3) model curricula in the

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subjects of:

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     (i) Language arts;

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     (ii) Mathematics;

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     (iii) Science; and

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     (iv) Social studies and history. The curricula shall indicate the proposed grade and age-

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appropriate levels at which the curricula is expected to be taught; provided, that these grade and

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age levels shall be models and may be modified by teaching staff based upon the needs of

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particular students.

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     (3) Cities and towns and charter schools shall adopt one of the model curricula for use in

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the schools located within their municipal boundaries or in the charter schools. The state shall

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adopt one of the model curricula for use in the state schools. Cities and towns shall act through

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their school committees, state schools shall act through the department of education, and charter

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schools shall act through their board of directors.

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     16-110-3. One statewide district.

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     (a) All school districts shall be subject to governance by the council on elementary and

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secondary education (the "council") as provided for herein. Provided, local school committees

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may still be maintained by municipalities and boards of trustees may be maintained for charter

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schools, for the administration of schools on all matters not covered by the council.

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     (b) The council shall negotiate a base teacher salary scale for all teachers and support

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staff. This scale may be a sliding or adjustable scale based upon the number of students located

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within a district and/or upon other particular factors unique to a district. The council shall

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articulate such factors in making its scale. Provided, it is the intent of this chapter to provide all

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students in this state with a base level of financial support from the state.

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     (c) The council shall negotiate a statewide teacher contract for health care.

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     (d) Municipalities may provide for additional salary, health care, and other benefits,

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provided that any such additional benefits shall be funded by the municipality or revenue streams

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other than state aid.

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     (e) The school funding formula shall remain in effect, except that the state shall pay for

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all funding for out-of-district placements of students with learning differences or disabilities.

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Local school districts may conduct evaluations and make recommendations to the council as to

 

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when an out-of-district placement needs to be made, and may suggest the particular placement.

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The final decision on such placement shall be made by the council.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on August 1, 2022.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION

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     This act would combine all public school districts, and charter schools into one of four

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(4) school districts, based on counties effective August 21, 2022. The act also provides that the

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council on elementary and secondary education would establish statewide curricula, and negotiate

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statewide teacher contracts as to salary and healthcare. The act would also provide that the school

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funding formula would remain in effect, except that the state would pay for all out-of-district

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placements for students with learning differences.

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     This act would take effect on August 1, 2022.

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