2022 -- H 7538

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LC004702

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF TEACHERS GENERALLY

     Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Amore, Barros, Abney, Hull, and Slater

     Date Introduced: February 18, 2022

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

     16-12-1. "Teacher" defined.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     All teachers shall be afforded the following rights:

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

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

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

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

individual rooms.

     (2) To be treated with civility and respect;

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

administrators, students, parents and/or teachers;

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

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

and common courtesy;

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

citizens, students and/or other school employees;

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

school administration to change a grade or a test score;

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

classroom with the supplies needed to teach and reach students;

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

students succeed;

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

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

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

     (10) To be allowed to appropriately discipline students;

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

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

school and district policy;

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

appropriate student discipline decisions;

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

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

schools;

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

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

officials or appropriate agencies;

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

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

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

learning subject to accepted standards of professional responsibility;

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

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

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

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

as the teacher's most recent ratings earned was "effective" or a number "three" (3) or any equivalent

thereof;

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

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

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

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

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

     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 -- RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF TEACHERS GENERALLY

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

for school teachers.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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