Chapter 433

2003 -- H 5458 AS AMENDED

Enacted 08/06/03

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COOPERATIVE SERVICE AMONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Introduced By: Representative S Anderson

Date Introduced: February 05, 2003

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 16-3.1-7, 16-3.1-8, 16-3.1-9, 16-3.1-9.1, 16-3.1-10 and 16-3.1-11

of the General Laws in Chapter 16-3.1 entitled "Cooperative Service Among School Districts" are

hereby amended to read as follows:

16-3.1-7. Newport County regional special education program. -- Notwithstanding the

provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the school committees of the towns of

Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Little Compton are authorized and empowered to

continue their cooperative efforts to provide special education programs and diagnostic services

required by law or regulation, and related functions, through participation in the Newport County

regional special education program and, for that purpose, to assign and delegate to their

respective school committee chairs or designee or superintendents of schools or designee, acting

as a regional board of superintendents, duties, responsibilities, and powers as the committees may

deem necessary or desirable for the conduct, administration, and management of the regional

special education program. In matters pertaining to the regional special education program, the

regional board of superintendents shall constitute and act as the school board referred to in

chapter 24 of this title.

16-3.1-8. Regional center collaborative -- Northern Rhode Island. -- Notwithstanding

the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the school committees of the cities

and towns of Lincoln, Cumberland, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Woonsocket, Smithfield, North

Smithfield, North Providence, Johnston, Foster, Glocester, Foster-Glocester regional school

district, and Burrillville are authorized and empowered to continue and/or initiate cooperative

efforts to provide special education programs and diagnostic services required by law or

regulation, to utilize technology, including without limitation television, to provide limited

interest curriculum, and to provide programs for the gifted and talented, all on a collaborative

basis. The various school committees may assign and delegate to their respective school

committee chairs or designee or superintendents of schools or designee, acting as a regional board

of superintendents, any duties, responsibilities, and powers that the committees may deem

necessary for the conduct, administration, and management of the regional center collaborative of

northern Rhode Island.

16-3.1-9. Regional collaborative. -- Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or

special law to the contrary, the school committees of the towns and school districts of Westerly,

New Shoreham, Chariho regional school district, Narragansett, Jamestown, South Kingstown,

North Kingstown, East Greenwich, and the Exeter-West Greenwich regional school district are

authorized and empowered to continue and/or initiate cooperative efforts to provide services

included but not limited to special education programs and diagnostic services required by law or

regulation; to utilize technology without restriction; to provide limited interest curriculum; and to

provide programs for the gifted and talented, all on a collaborative basis. The intent of the

regional collaborative is to provide the opportunity for all children to receive educational services

locally. The various school committees may assign and delegate to their respective school

committee chairs or designee or superintendents of schools or designee, acting as a regional board

of superintendents, any duties, responsibilities and powers that the committees may deem

necessary for the conduct, administration, and management of the regional collaborative --

southern Rhode Island. A bylaw committee shall be named by the commission to study the

feasibility of creating a south county regional network center to provide multiple services for

students with disabilities. The committee's membership should consist of three (3) special

education directors, three (3) superintendents, three (3) parents, and two (2) other interested

persons from the participating towns and school districts and any other person that the governing

regional board of superintendents may deem necessary. This regionalized collaborative shall

enjoy any regionalized bonus aid wherever applicable to collaboratives or cooperative service

areas.

16-3.1-9.1. Regional collaborative -- West Bay Rhode Island. -- Notwithstanding the

provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the school committees of the towns and

school districts of West Warwick, Providence, Warwick, Coventry, Cranston, Scituate, Foster-

Glocester regional school district, Foster, and Glocester are authorized and empowered to study

and/or continue and/or initiate cooperative efforts to provide services included but not limited to

special education programs and diagnostic services required by law or regulation; to utilize

technology without restriction; to provide limited interest curriculum; and to provide programs

for the gifted and talented, all on a collaborative basis in an effort to improve efficiency and cost

effectiveness. The intent of the regional collaborative is to provide the opportunity for all children

to receive educational services locally. The various school committees may assign and delegate to

their respective school committee chairs or designee or superintendents of schools or designee,

acting as a regional board of superintendents, any duties, responsibilities and powers that the

committees may deem necessary for the conduct, administration and management of the regional

collaborative -- West Bay Rhode Island.

16-3.1-10. Regional center collaborative -- East Bay educational collaborative. --

Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the school

committees of the cities and towns of Barrington, Bristol, East Providence, Little Compton,

Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Warren are authorized and empowered to

continue and/or initiate cooperative efforts to provide educational programs and/or services on a

collaborative basis. The various school committees may assign and delegate to their respective

school committee chairs or designee or superintendents of schools or designee, acting as a

regional board of directors, any duties, responsibilities, and powers that the committees may

deem necessary for the conduct, administration, and management of the East Bay educational

collaborative.

16-3.1-11. Urban collaborative. -- Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or

special law to the contrary, the school committees of the cities of Providence, Pawtucket, East

Providence, Central Falls and other Rhode Island school districts as may be approved for

inclusion by existing member districts in accordance with collaborative bylaws are authorized and

empowered to continue and/or initiate cooperative efforts to provide alternate education programs

and/or diagnostic services required by law or regulation for students achieving limited success in

traditional settings and to do all things necessary including, but not limited to utilization of

technology, including television, all on a collaborative basis. The various school committees may

assign and delegate to their respective school committee chairs or designee or superintendents of

schools or designee, acting as a regional board of superintendents, any duties, responsibilities,

and powers that the committees may deem necessary for the conduct, administration, and

management of the urban collaborative.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 16-3.1 of the General Laws entitled "Cooperative Service Among

School Districts" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

16-3.1-13. Reporting. – Any collaborative established under this chapter shall implement

a uniform program to track their expenditures and investments and file a report on said

expenditures and investments by October 1, of each year, with the Rhode Island board of regents

for elementary and secondary education, the Rhode Island senate committee on education, the

Rhode Island house of representatives committee on education accountability and local school

committees. Each collaborative shall also file periodic reports, to the board of regents, the senate

education committee and the house education accountability committee, detailing their activities

and programs.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01376

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