2023 -- S 0761

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LC002333

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE PAUL W. CROWLEY RHODE ISLAND

INVESTMENT INITIATIVE

     Introduced By: Senators Goodwin, Cano, and Zurier

     Date Introduced: March 23, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-7.1-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7.1 entitled "The Paul

W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode

Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-7.1-5. Intervention and support for failing schools.

     (a) The board of regents council on elementary and secondary education shall adopt a series

of progressive support and intervention strategies consistent with the Comprehensive Education

Strategy and the principles of the “School Accountability for Learning and Teaching” (SALT) of

the board of regents council on elementary and secondary education for those schools and school

districts that continue to fall short of performance goals outlined in the district strategic plans. These

strategies shall initially focus on include, but not be limited to: (1) technical assistance in

improvement planning, curriculum alignment, student assessment, instruction, and family and

community involvement; (2) policy support; (3) resource oversight to assess and recommend that

each school has adequate resources necessary to meet performance goal; and (4) creating supportive

partnerships with education institutions, business, governmental, or other appropriate nonprofit

agencies. If after a three (3) year period of support there has not been improvement in the education

of students as determined by objective criteria to be developed by the board of regents council on

elementary and secondary education, then there shall be progressive levels of control by the

department of elementary and secondary education over the school and/or district budget, program,

and/or personnel. This control by the department of elementary and secondary education may be

exercised in collaboration with the school district and the municipality. If further needed, the school

shall be reconstituted. Reconstitution responsibility is delegated to the board of regents council on

elementary and secondary education and may range from restructuring the school’s governance,

budget, program, personnel, and/or may include decisions regarding the continued operation of the

school. The board of regents council on elementary and secondary education shall assess the

district’s capacity and may recommend the provision of additional district, municipal and/or state

resources. If a school or school district is under the board of regents' council on elementary and

secondary education's control as a result of actions taken by the board council pursuant to this

section, the local school committee shall be responsible for funding that school or school district at

the same level as in the prior academic year increased by the same percentage as the state total of

school aid is increased. Commencing July 1, 2023, an order of control and reconstitution of a school

or school district by the department of elementary and secondary education and the council on

elementary and secondary education shall expire at the conclusion of two (2) academic school

years. Any order of control and reconstitution by the department of elementary and secondary

education and council on elementary and secondary education in effect at the time this section takes

effect shall conclude not later than June 30, 2025. If at any time within six (6) months prior to the

expiration of an order of control and reconstitution, there is agreement by the department of

elementary and secondary education, the council on elementary and secondary education and the

appropriate body within the city or town for the school or school district, that substantial progress,

consistent with the objectives of the order of control and reconstitution has been achieved, the

duration of the order of control and reconstitution may be extended by six (6) months to complete

those objectives.

     (b) For FY 2007, the department shall dedicate one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000)

from funds appropriated to support progressive support and intervention and SALT visits to support

the Rhode Island Consortium for Instructional Leadership and Training. This consortium is

engaged in training school leaders to be more effective instructional leaders in the standards based

instruction environment.

     SECTION 2. Section 16-60-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-60 entitled "Council on

Elementary and Secondary Education [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of

Education Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-60-12. Meaning of terms in existing law.

     When in any law, resolution, document, record, instrument, proceeding, or other place the

words “board of education,” “state board of education,” "board of regents," or “board of regents

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for education” as they shall apply to elementary and secondary education shall appear they shall be

construed to mean "board of regents for elementary and secondary education" "council on

elementary and secondary education".

     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 -- THE PAUL W. CROWLEY RHODE ISLAND

INVESTMENT INITIATIVE

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     This act would provide commencing in fiscal year 2023, that reconstitution and control of

a school or district by the department of elementary and secondary education would not exceed two

(2) years except for a possible six (6) month extension when substantial progress is achieved. Any

reconstitution in effect at the time of passage would conclude no later than June 30, 2024.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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