2024 -- S 2284 | |
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LC004093 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- INNOVATION SCHOOLS | |
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Introduced By: Senators de la Cruz, Ciccone, Burke, Rogers, E Morgan, and Zurier | |
Date Introduced: February 12, 2024 | |
Referred To: Senate Education | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by |
2 | adding thereto the following chapter: |
3 | CHAPTER 77.5 |
4 | INNOVATION SCHOOLS |
5 | 16-77.5-1. Establishment and purpose of innovation schools. |
6 | An innovation school shall be a public school, operating within a public school district, |
7 | that is established for the purpose of improving school performance and student achievement |
8 | through increased autonomy and flexibility. An innovation school may be established as a new |
9 | public school or as a conversion of an existing public school. A student who is enrolled in a school |
10 | at the time it is established as an innovation school shall retain the ability to remain enrolled in the |
11 | school if the student chooses to do so. |
12 | 16-77.5-2. Advisory board. |
13 | (a) An innovation school may establish an advisory board of trustees. |
14 | (1) An innovation school shall have increased autonomy and flexibility in one or more of |
15 | the following areas: |
16 | (i) Curriculum; |
17 | (ii) Budget; |
18 | (iii) School schedule and calendar; |
19 | (iv) Staffing policies and procedures, including waivers from or modifications to, contracts |
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1 | or collective bargaining agreements; |
2 | (v) School district policies and procedures; and |
3 | (vi) Professional development. |
4 | (2) An innovation school shall receive each school year from the school committee the |
5 | same per pupil allocation as any other district school receives. An innovation school may retain |
6 | any unused funds and use the funds in subsequent school years. An innovation school may establish |
7 | a nonprofit organization that may, among other things, assist the school with fundraising. A district |
8 | shall not reduce its funding to an innovation school as a result of the school's fundraising activities. |
9 | 16-77.5-3. Innovation plan. |
10 | (a) An innovation school established under this chapter shall be authorized by the local |
11 | school committee and shall operate according to an innovation plan, which shall articulate the areas |
12 | of autonomy and flexibility under this chapter. |
13 | (1) To the extent practicable, the innovation plan shall be based on student outcome data, |
14 | including, but not limited to: |
15 | (i) Student achievement on the Rhode Island comprehensive assessment system; |
16 | (ii) Other measures of student achievement, approved by the commissioner, as appropriate; |
17 | (iii) Student promotion, graduation rates and dropout rates; |
18 | (iv) Achievement data for different subgroups of students, including low-income residents |
19 | as defined by § 45-24.2-2, English language learners, and students receiving special education |
20 | services; and |
21 | (v) Student attendance, dismissal rates and exclusion rates. |
22 | (2) An innovation school shall operate in accordance with the law regulating other public |
23 | schools, except as the law conflicts with this section or any innovation plans created thereunder. |
24 | (b) An innovation school is a school in which: |
25 | (1) Faculty and leadership are primarily responsible for developing the innovation plan |
26 | under which the school operates and leadership is responsible for meeting the terms of the |
27 | innovation plan; or |
28 | (2) An external partner is primarily responsible for developing the innovation plan under |
29 | which the school operates and the external partner is responsible for meeting the terms of the |
30 | innovation plan. |
31 | (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit: |
32 | (1) The establishment of an innovation school as an academy within an existing public |
33 | school; |
34 | (2) The establishment of an innovation school serving students from two (2) or more school |
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1 | districts; provided, however, that all of the provisions of this section are met by each school district; |
2 | or |
3 | (3) The simultaneous establishment of two (2) or more innovation schools as an innovation |
4 | schools zone within a school district. |
5 | 16-77.5-4. Eligible applicants. |
6 | (a) The following shall be eligible applicants for the purposes of establishing an innovation |
7 | school: |
8 | (1) Parents; |
9 | (2) Teachers; |
10 | (3) Parent-teacher organizations; |
11 | (4) Principals; |
12 | (5) Superintendents; |
13 | (6) School committees; |
14 | (7) Teacher unions; |
15 | (8) Colleges and universities; |
16 | (9) Nonprofit community-based organizations; |
17 | (10) Nonprofit business or corporate entities; |
18 | (11) Nonprofit charter school operators; |
19 | (12) Nonprofit education management organizations; |
20 | (13) Educational collaboratives; |
21 | (14) Consortia of these groups; and |
22 | (15) Nonprofit entities authorized by the commissioner. Private and parochial schools shall |
23 | not be eligible to operate an innovation school. |
24 | 16-77.5-5. Procedure to establish an innovation school. |
25 | (a) The local school committee, local teacher's union and superintendent of the school |
26 | district shall follow a process, consistent with this chapter, for which an existing district school |
27 | may be converted to an innovation school or by which a new innovation school may be established |
28 | within the district. |
29 | (1) This process shall require that an eligible applicant proposing to establish an innovation |
30 | school prepare a prospectus regarding the proposed school. The prospectus shall include, but not |
31 | be limited to, a description of: |
32 | (i) Whether the school will be a new school or a conversion of an existing school; |
33 | (ii) If the school is a new school, the proposed location of the school; |
34 | (iii) If the school is a conversion of an existing school, the school that is being proposed |
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1 | for conversion; |
2 | (iv) The external partners, if any, that will be involved in the school; |
3 | (v) The number of students the school is anticipated to serve and the number of staff |
4 | expected to be employed at the school; |
5 | (vi) The overall vision for the school, including improving school performance and student |
6 | achievement; |
7 | (vii) Specific needs or challenges the school shall be designed to address; |
8 | (viii) A preliminary assessment of the autonomy and flexibility that the school will seek; |
9 | (ix) Why such flexibility is desirable to carry out the objectives of the school; |
10 | (x) Anticipated components of the school's innovation plan; |
11 | (xi) A preliminary description of the process that shall be used to involve appropriate |
12 | stakeholders in the development of the innovation plan; and |
13 | (xii) A proposed timetable for development and establishment of the proposed school. |
14 | (b) Upon completion of the prospectus required under subsection (a) of this section, an |
15 | eligible applicant shall submit the prospectus to the superintendent, who shall within thirty (30) |
16 | days convene a screening committee consisting of the superintendent, or designee, a school |
17 | committee member, or designee selected by the school committee and a representative from the |
18 | leadership of the local teacher's union. |
19 | (1) The screening committee shall review the prospectus for the purpose of determining |
20 | whether the prospectus: |
21 | (i) Presents a sound and coherent plan for improving school performance and student |
22 | achievement; |
23 | (ii) Supports or enhances existing educational efforts in the school district; and |
24 | (iii) Reasonably can be expanded into a comprehensive innovation plan. In the case of a |
25 | new school, the committee will prepare an impact statement describing how the new school will |
26 | affect the children and faculty in the district. |
27 | (2) Within thirty (30) days of receiving a prospectus, the screening committee shall decide, |
28 | on the basis of a two-thirds (2/3) vote, to accept or reject the prospectus, or return the prospectus |
29 | to the eligible applicant for revisions. If a prospectus is rejected or returned, the screening |
30 | committee shall submit a detailed explanation for the decision to the applicant. A prospectus that |
31 | is rejected or returned may be revised and resubmitted for subsequent consideration. |
32 | (c)(1) Upon the acceptance of a prospectus by the screening committee, the applicant shall |
33 | form an innovation plan committee of not more than eleven (11) members within thirty (30) days. |
34 | (2) The purpose of the innovation plan committee shall be to: |
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1 | (i) Develop the innovation plan described in this chapter; |
2 | (ii) Assure that appropriate stakeholders are represented in the development of the |
3 | proposed innovation school; and |
4 | (iii) Provide meaningful opportunities for the stakeholders to contribute to the development |
5 | of such school. |
6 | (d)(1) The size and composition of the innovation plan committee shall be determined by |
7 | the applicant; provided, however, that the committee shall include: |
8 | (i) The applicant; |
9 | (ii) The superintendent or designee; |
10 | (iii) A school committee member or designee; |
11 | (iv) A parent who has one or more children enrolled in the school, or in the case of a new |
12 | school, from the school district; |
13 | (v) A principal employed by the school district; and |
14 | (vi) Two (2) teachers employed by the school district. The applicant shall select the parent |
15 | from among nominees submitted by parent-teacher organizations in the school district. If the school |
16 | district does not contain a parent-teacher organization or if the organization does not submit |
17 | nominees, the applicant shall select the parent from among volunteers in the area or community the |
18 | proposed school is expected to serve. The applicant shall select the principal and one teacher from |
19 | among volunteers in the school district and one teacher from among nominees submitted by the |
20 | local teacher's union. |
21 | (e)(1) Upon the formation of the innovation plan committee, the committee shall develop |
22 | the innovation plan for the proposed innovation school. The purpose of the innovation plan shall |
23 | be to comprehensively articulate the areas of autonomy and flexibility that the proposed school will |
24 | use. |
25 | (2) The innovation plan shall include, but not be limited to: |
26 | (i) A curriculum plan, which shall include a detailed description of the curriculum and |
27 | related programs for the proposed school and how the curriculum is expected to improve school |
28 | performance and student achievement; |
29 | (ii) A budget plan, which shall include a detailed description of how funds shall be used |
30 | differently in the proposed school to support school performance and student achievement; |
31 | (iii) A school schedule plan, which shall include a detailed description of the ways, if any, |
32 | the program or calendar of the proposed school will be enhanced or expanded; |
33 | (iv) A staffing plan, which shall include a detailed description of how the school principal, |
34 | administrators, faculty and staff will be recruited, employed, evaluated and compensated in the |
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1 | proposed school and any proposed waivers or modifications of collective bargaining agreements; |
2 | (v) A policy and procedures plan, which shall include a detailed description of the unique |
3 | operational policies and procedures to be used by the proposed school and how the procedures shall |
4 | support school performance and student achievement; and |
5 | (vi) A professional development plan, which shall include a detailed description of how |
6 | the school may provide high-quality professional development to its administrators, teachers and |
7 | staff. |
8 | (3) In order to assess the proposed school across multiple measures of school performance |
9 | and student success, the innovation plan shall also include measurable annual goals including, but |
10 | not limited to, the following: |
11 | (i) Student attendance; |
12 | (ii) Student safety and discipline; |
13 | (iii) Student promotion and graduation and dropout rates; |
14 | (iv) Student achievement on the Rhode Island comprehensive assessment system; |
15 | (v) Progress in areas of academic underperformance; and |
16 | (vi) Progress among subgroups of students, including low-income residents as defined by |
17 | § 45-24.2-2. |
18 | (4) A majority vote of the innovation plan committee shall be required for approval of the |
19 | innovation |
20 | (f) The provisions of the collective bargaining agreements applicable to the administrators, |
21 | teachers and staff in the school shall be considered to be in operation at an innovation school, except |
22 | to the extent the provisions are waived or modified under the innovation plan and such waivers or |
23 | modifications are approved |
24 | (g) In the case of a school conversion, upon completion of the innovation plan the applicant |
25 | shall submit the innovation plan to teachers in the school that is proposed for conversion for |
26 | approval by secret ballot within thirty (30) days. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the teachers shall be |
27 | required to approve the plan. Upon approval of an innovation plan by the applicable union members |
28 | the plan shall, within seven (7) days, be submitted to the school committee. If a two-thirds (2/3) |
29 | vote is not achieved, the innovation plan committee may revise the innovation plan as necessary |
30 | and submit the revised plan to the teachers for a subsequent vote. |
31 | 16-77.5-6. School committee approval - New schools. |
32 | (a) In the case of a new school, upon the completion of the innovation plan the applicant, |
33 | a local union and the superintendent shall negotiate waivers or modifications to the applicable |
34 | collective bargaining agreement necessary for the school to implement the innovation plan. Upon |
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1 | the conclusion of the negotiations, the innovation plan shall be submitted immediately to the school |
2 | committee. If the negotiations have not resulted in an agreement within forty (40) days, either party |
3 | may petition the department of labor and training (the "department") relations for the selection of |
4 | an arbitrator. The department shall select an arbitrator within three (3) days of the petition from a |
5 | list submitted by the parties. The arbitrator shall conduct a hearing within fourteen (14) days of the |
6 | arbitrator's selection. The arbitrator shall consider the parties' positions and the needs of the students |
7 | in the district. The arbitrator's decision shall be consistent with the contents of the innovation plan |
8 | developed by the applicant. The arbitrator shall, within fourteen (14) days of the close of the |
9 | hearing, submit a decision which shall be final and binding on the parties. |
10 | (b) Upon receipt of an innovation plan regarding an innovation school, a school committee |
11 | shall hold at least one public hearing on the innovation plan. After the public hearing, but not later |
12 | than sixty (60) days after the receipt of the innovation plan, the school committee shall, on the basis |
13 | of the quality of the plan and in consideration of comments submitted by the public, undertake a |
14 | final vote to authorize the innovation school for a period of not more than five (5) years. Approval |
15 | of the majority of the school committee as fully constituted shall be required to authorize an |
16 | innovation school. If the approval is not obtained, an innovation plan committee may revise the |
17 | innovation plan and: |
18 | (1) In the case of a new school, submit the revised plan to the school committee for a |
19 | subsequent vote; or |
20 | (2) In the case of a conversion, submit the revised plan to the teachers in the school that is |
21 | proposed for conversion for a vote; provided, however, that the plan meets the requirements for |
22 | approval, submit the revised plan to the school committee for a subsequent vote. A school |
23 | committee shall vote on a revised plan submitted pursuant to this subsection within sixty (60) days |
24 | of the receipt of such plan and contract. |
25 | (c) All innovation schools authorized shall be evaluated by the superintendent at least |
26 | annually. The superintendent shall transmit the evaluation to the school committee and the |
27 | commissioner of elementary and secondary education. The purpose of the evaluation shall be to |
28 | determine whether the school has met the annual goals in its innovation plan and assess the |
29 | implementation of the innovation plan at the school. If the school committee determines, on the |
30 | advice of the superintendent, that the school has not met one or more goals in the innovation plan |
31 | and that the failure to meet the goals may be corrected through reasonable modification of the plan, |
32 | the school committee may amend the innovation plan as necessary. After the superintendent |
33 | assesses the implementation of the innovation plan at the school, the school committee may, on the |
34 | advice of the superintendent, amend the plan if the school committee determines that the |
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1 | amendment is necessary in view of subsequent changes in the district that affect one or more |
2 | components of the plan, including, but not limited to, changes to contracts, collective bargaining |
3 | agreements or school district policies; provided, however, that an amendment involving a |
4 | subsequent change to a teacher contract shall first be approved by teachers at the school under the |
5 | procedures in this chapter. |
6 | (d) If the school committee determines, on the advice of the superintendent, that the school |
7 | has substantially failed to meet multiple goals in the innovation plan, the school committee may: |
8 | (1) Limit one or more components of the innovation plan; |
9 | (2) Suspend one or more components of the innovation plan; or |
10 | (3) Terminate the authorization of the school; provided, however, that the limitation or |
11 | suspension shall not take place before the completion of the second full year of the operation of the |
12 | school and the termination shall not take place before the completion of the third full year of the |
13 | operation of the school. |
14 | 16-77.5-7. Extension of authorization. |
15 | (a) At the end of the period of authorization of an innovation school approved here under, |
16 | the leadership of the school may petition the school committee to extend the authorization of the |
17 | school for an additional period of not more than five (5) years. Before submitting the petition, the |
18 | leadership of the school shall convene a selection of school stakeholders, including, but not limited |
19 | to, administrators, teachers, other school staff, parents and external partners, as applicable, to |
20 | discuss whether the innovation plan at the school requires revision and to solicit recommendations |
21 | as to the potential revisions. After considering the recommendations of the stakeholder group, the |
22 | leadership of the school and the applicable superintendent shall jointly update the innovation plan |
23 | as necessary; provided, however, that a proposal regarding a new waiver or exemption from the |
24 | local teacher's union contract shall be approved by teachers at the school. Approval of the majority |
25 | of the school committee as fully constituted shall be required to extend the period of authorization |
26 | of an innovation school. If the approval is not obtained, the leadership of the school and |
27 | superintendent may jointly revise the innovation plan and submit the revised plan to the school |
28 | committee for a subsequent vote. If the school committee does not extend the authorization of the |
29 | school, the leadership of the school may seek the authorization from the board of elementary and |
30 | secondary education. The board shall vote on the requested extension within sixty (60) days of its |
31 | receipt for approval of such extension. |
32 | (b) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education (the "commissioner") shall, |
33 | to the extent practicable, be responsible for the following: |
34 | (1) The provision of planning and implementation grants to eligible applicants to establish |
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1 | innovation schools; |
2 | (2) Provision of technical assistance and support to eligible applicants; |
3 | (3) The collection and publication of data and research related to the innovation schools |
4 | initiative; |
5 | (4) The collection and publication of data and research related to successful programs |
6 | serving English language learners attending innovation schools; and |
7 | (5) The collection and dissemination of best practices in innovation schools that may be |
8 | adopted by other public schools. |
9 | (c) The board of education shall promulgate regulations necessary to carry out this section. |
10 | Annually, the commissioner shall report to the board of education, the house and senate committees |
11 | on education, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the senate president, on the |
12 | implementation and fiscal impact of this section. |
13 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC004093 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- INNOVATION SCHOOLS | |
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1 | This act would allow for the establishment of innovation schools for the purpose of |
2 | improving school performance and student achievement through increased autonomy and |
3 | flexibility. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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