2023 -- S 1131

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LC003236

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL AND LABOR-MANAGEMENT

STANDARDS THAT PROVIDE SCHOOL-BASED FLEXIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE PROVIDENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

     Introduced By: Senator Samuel D. Zurier

     Date Introduced: June 15, 2023

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, The Providence Public Schools (PPS) comprise the largest school district in

the State, with more than 21,000 students and more than 2,000 educators; and

     WHEREAS, The PPS student body is one of most diverse in the State, with a student

population that is 65 percent Hispanic, 16 percent White, 5 percent Asian, 4 percent Multi-Racial,

and 1 percent Native American; and

     WHEREAS, Nearly one-third of Providence students are English Language Learners, and

the majority of Providence students’ families speak one of 54 primary languages that is not

English; and

     WHEREAS, Eighty-five percent of the PPS student body qualifies for free or reduced

lunch, the second highest incidence of poverty in Rhode Island public schools as measured by this

criterion; and

     WHEREAS, The socioeconomic diversity of the student body in Providence presents

unique challenges and opportunities for the district’s professional staff; and

     WHEREAS, Too few PPS students have been able to obtain academic proficiency for too

many years, as measured by the State’s and Nation’s Report Card assessments; and

     WHEREAS, Enrollment in PPS has declined as students have transferred out of the

district into charter schools, creating displacements and disruptions within the schools and their

staff; and

     WHEREAS, The basic framework under State law governing the delivery of public

education, as applied to the Providence Public Schools, has not been significantly modified in

many years; and

     WHEREAS, The quality of the education Providence Public Schools students receive in

their schools depends critically upon its professional educators; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of fifteen (15) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more

than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of

whom shall be the Turnaround Superintendent, or designee; one of whom shall be the

Commissioner of the Rhode Island Department of Education, or designee; one of whom shall be

the Mayor of the City of Providence, or designee; one of whom shall be a member of the

Providence City Council, to be appointed by the President of the Providence City Council; one of

whom shall be a member of the Providence School Board, to be appointed by the President of the

Providence School Board; one of whom shall be the building administrator, to be appointed by

the Superintendent of Providence Public Schools; one of whom shall be a teacher, to be appointed

by the President of the Providence Teachers Union; one of whom shall be the President of the

Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, or designee; one of whom shall be

a parent of children in the Providence public schools, to be appointed by the Senate President;

one of whom shall be a student currently enrolled or recently graduated from the Providence

public schools, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; and two (2) of whom shall be ex-

officio public members with experience in education to serve in an advisory capacity to the

commission, to be appointed by the Senate President.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study

commission, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in

place of a legislator; provided that, the Senate President or the Minority Leader of the political

party that is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general

public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to:

     • Review the professional standards and the labor-management relationship for

employees of the Providence Public Schools, particularly as defined by State law; and

     • Develop recommendations that promote a rewarding professional environment and

great school-based flexibility and accountability for the district’s professional educators.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall be

appointed and meet at the call of the President of the Senate by July 31, 2023, and shall organize

and select from among the legislators, a Chairperson.

     A quorum for the commission’s formation and activity will be a minimum of eight (8)

voting members.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall develop and submit its recommendations to the

Senate, no later than January 24, 2024, and said commission shall expire on June 30, 2024.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL AND LABOR-MANAGEMENT

STANDARDS THAT PROVIDE SCHOOL-BASED FLEXIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE PROVIDENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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     This resolution would create a fifteen (15) member special legislative commission whose

purpose it would be to review and provide recommendations for professional and labor-

management standards for employees of the Providence Public Schools, and who would report

back to the Senate no later than January 24, 2024, and whose life would expire on June 30, 2024.

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