2023 -- H 6506

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LC003197

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT 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: Representatives Slater, Corvese, and Diaz

     Date Introduced: June 08, 2023

     Referred To: House Education

     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 the 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, Approximately 85 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 joint legislative commission be and the same is hereby

created consisting of nine (9) 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;

three (3) of whom shall be members of the House, not more than two (2) from the same political

party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Commissioner of

the Rhode Island Department of Education, or designee; and two (2) of whom shall be non-voting

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

commission, one of whom shall be appointed by the Senate President, and one of whom shall be

appointed by the Speaker of the House.

     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/Speaker of the House 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

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 Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate by July

31, 2023, and shall organize and select from among the legislators, two (2) co-Chairpersons.

     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

General Assembly, no later than January 24, 2024, and said commission shall expire on June 30,

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2024.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT 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 nine (9) member special joint 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 General Assembly no later than January 24, 2024, and whose life would expire on

June 30, 2024.

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