2018 -- H 8121

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LC005471

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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 - INDEPENDENT CHARTER SCHOOLS [SEE TITLE 16

CHAPTER 97 - THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT]

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Phillips, and Edwards

     Date Introduced: April 26, 2018

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-77.3-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-77.3 entitled

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"Independent Charter Schools [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education

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Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-77.3-2. Procedure for creation and expansion of independent charter schools.

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     (a) Any persons or entities eligible to establish an independent charter public school may

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submit a proposed charter, or an amendment to a charter for an expansion, to the commissioner.

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For purposes of this chapter, "expansion" shall be an increase in total enrollment; an increase in

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the grade levels previously authorized in the charter, or the addition of a school district to the

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catchment area. The proposed charter shall:

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     (1) Be submitted to the commissioner no later than December 1st of the school year

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before the school year in which the independent charter school is to be established;

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     (2) Describe a plan for education, including the mission, objective, method of providing a

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basic education, measurable student academic goals that the independent charter school will meet,

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and process for improving student learning and fulfilling the charter and fulfilling state and

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national educational goals and standards;

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     (3) Provide a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days of instruction to students per

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year;

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     (4) Indicate performance criteria that will be used to measure student learning and to

 

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comply with the charter, state, and national educational goals and standards;

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     (5) Include an agreement to provide a yearly report to parents, the community, the

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sending school districts, and the commissioner, that indicates the progress made by the

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independent charter school during the previous year in meeting the charter objectives;

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     (6) Present a plan for the governance, administration, and operation of the independent

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charter school, including the manner in which the governing board of the school will be chosen,

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the nature and extent of parental, professional educator, and community involvement in the

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governance and operation of the independent charter school, and the means of ensuring

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accountability to the commissioner, the sending school districts, and the council on elementary

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and secondary education;

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     (7) Identify the building that will house the independent charter school and from whom,

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and under what terms and conditions, it is to be provided;

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     (8) Describe what support services will be provided by the sending school district(s), and

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under what terms and conditions those services are to be provided, and describe what support

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services the independent charter school will obtain directly from third parties and, to the extent

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known, under what terms and conditions those services are to be provided;

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     (9) Explain the procedures that will be followed to ensure the health and safety of pupils

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and staff;

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     (10) Describe enrollment procedures, including the permissible criteria for admission in

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accordance with applicable state and federal law such as admissions criteria for career preparation

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programs approved by the department of elementary and secondary education, along with a

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policy, or policies, that outline outreach and recruitment programs to encourage the enrollment of

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a diverse student population;

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     (11) Explain the student discipline procedures;

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     (12) Explain the relationship that will exist between the proposed independent charter

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school and its employees, including the terms and conditions of employment and the

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qualifications that the employees must meet. Teachers and administrators in independent charter

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schools must be certified pursuant to state law and regulation. Teachers and administrators in

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independent charter schools shall be entitled to prevailing wages and benefits as enjoyed by other

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Rhode Island public school teachers and administrators. Employment in an independent charter

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school shall be considered "service" as that term is defined in chapter 16 of this title for purposes

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of determining the appropriate step on a salary schedule for certified personnel. Employment in

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an independent charter school can be considered "service" as that term is defined in chapter 16 of

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this title for determining status in the teachers' retirement system. All employees, and prospective

 

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employees of an independent charter school shall be deemed to be public school employees,

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having the same rights under Rhode Island and federal law as employees, and prospective

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employees at a non-chartered public school;

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     (13) Identify, with particularity, the state statutes, state regulations, and sending school

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district(s) rules from which variances are sought in order to facilitate operation of the independent

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charter school. Explain the reasons for each variance and the alternative method by which the

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concern that gave rise to the regulation or provision will be addressed;

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     (14) Provide a financial plan, including a proposed budget for the term of the charter, and

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an annual audit of the financial and administrative operations of the independent charter school,

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and the manner in which the funds allocated to the independent charter school will be managed

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and disbursed;

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     (15) Provide procedures by which teaching personnel and parents can legally challenge

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decisions of the governing board of the school that do not conform to the school's charter;

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     (16) Provide a copy of the proposed bylaws of the independent charter school; and

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     (17) Provide written support from town or city council(s) in the proposed catchment area

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if required pursuant to ยง 16-77-5.1.

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     (b) Any nonprofit organization that seeks to establish an independent charter school must

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submit its financial records and financial plan for operating the school to the auditor general, who

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shall review the records, the financial plan, and the financial integrity of the organization. At the

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time of submission of a proposed charter, the financial records and financial recordkeeping

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system of the nonprofit organization and the proposed financial plan for the independent charter

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school shall be reviewed by the auditor general and the auditor general shall, while the proposed

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charter is being considered for preliminary approval by the council on elementary and secondary

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education, provide an initial determination to the council on elementary and secondary education,

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the commissioner, and the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate

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indicating that the auditor general is satisfied that the nonprofit organization is financially

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responsible. Final approval for operation of the independent charter school shall not be granted by

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the council on elementary and secondary education until the auditor general has approved the

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financial plan and financial-record keeping system and is satisfied that the nonprofit organization

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is financially responsible. The auditor general shall notify the council on elementary and

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secondary education, the commissioner, the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house

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of representatives of the findings. During the year immediately preceding the September in which

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the independent charter school is to begin operation, the charter applicant shall make any

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additional submissions to the auditor general prescribed by the auditor general in the initial

 

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determination. Additional submissions during the year prior to the September in which the

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independent charter school is to begin operation shall include, but not be limited to evidence

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submitted to the auditor general, not later than June 1st prior to the opening of the independent

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charter school, of the existence of an agreement, option for lease or purchase, lease agreement, or

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purchase agreement, contingent upon general assembly funding, for a facility in which the

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independent charter school will operate in its first year of operation. The auditor general shall

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have the authority to review independent charter schools affiliated with nonprofit organizations

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on an annual basis or require the school to have an annual, certified audit in accordance with the

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same federal and state standards that are applicable to local public school districts. If, as a result

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of any annual audit, the auditor general believes there are financial irregularities, the auditor

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general shall withdraw the original approval and the council on elementary and secondary

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education shall withdraw its approval for the independent charter school to continue operation.

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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 - INDEPENDENT CHARTER SCHOOLS [SEE TITLE 16

CHAPTER 97 - THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT]

***

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     This act would include "admissions criteria for career preparation programs" as an

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enrollment procedure required to be included in proposals for the creation or expansion of charter

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schools.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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