2024 -- S 2807

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LC004921

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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 -- SHEILA C. "SKIP" NOWELL ACADEMY

     Introduced By: Senator Sandra Cano

     Date Introduced: March 22, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Education

     (Dept. of Education)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by

adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 114

SHEILA C. "SKIP" NOWELL ACADEMY

     16-114-1. Sheila C. "Skip" Nowell Academy.

     Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the Sheila C.

"Skip" Nowell Academy (hereinafter the "academy") is hereby reconstituted and created as a public

school and local educational agency authorized to operate pursuant to this chapter. The academy

shall, upon the approval of the council for elementary and secondary education, cease operating as

an independent charter school under chapter 77.3 of title 16.

     16-114-2. Purpose and mission.

     (a) The purpose of this chapter and the mission of the Sheila C. "Skip" Nowell Academy

is:

     (1) To primarily support students at risk of school failure, with a special focus on the

diverse needs of pregnant and parenting teens, to create an environment for their individual growth,

and to cultivate their social and emotional development;

     (2) To additionally provide an alternative learning environment for disconnected and at-

risk students, and for students who have recently arrived in the country, desiring to complete their

academic careers in a setting that offers comprehensive support services, accelerated academic

curriculum, leadership development, and life skills that will enable them to become resilient, self-

sufficient adults; and

     (3) To offer a rigorous and relevant standards-driven, experiential learning community, and

to provide college and career preparatory education based on guided, project-based core

curriculum, that is aligned to the state's high-quality curricular standards.

     16-114-3. Accountability.

     The academy shall be subject to educational accountability and financial standards and

reporting requirements promulgated in accordance with chapter 35 of title 42 ("administrative

procedures") by the department of elementary and secondary education.

     16-114-4. Board of Trustees.

     The academy shall be governed by a board of trustees that shall have the powers and duties

of a school committee. The board of trustees of the academy on the date of passage of this

legislation shall constitute the founding board of trustees of the academy. The council on

elementary and secondary education shall thereafter appoint the members of the board of trustees

from nominations made by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. The

chairperson of the board of trustees shall also be selected in this manner. The council on elementary

and secondary education shall determine the qualifications and terms of office of members of the

board of trustees.

     16-114-5. Construction with other laws.

     Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter or any law to the contrary, the academy shall

be subject to applicable federal and state law. All students and prospective students of the academy

shall have all the same rights under applicable federal and state law as students and prospective

students at other public schools.

     16-114-6. Admission and enrollment.

     The academy may receive direct applications from resident students in any school district

and may receive referrals for resident students in any school district consistent with the purpose of

this chapter and the mission of the academy. The academy shall enroll resident students up to

twenty-two (22) years of age and consistent with the purpose of this chapter and the mission of the

academy. Students attaining twenty-two (22) years of age in their senior year shall continue to

remain eligible for enrollment through their date of graduation or the end of the academic year,

whichever is later.

     16-114-7. School Funding.

     Students attending the academy shall do so on a full-time basis with the costs of their

education being shared by the state and the district of residence as set forth under § 16-7.2-5.

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Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary, the district of residence shall be

responsible for its share of school funding as provided herein for all district residents attending the

academy who meet the enrollment requirements set forth in § 16-114-6. The academy shall be

eligible to receive state or federal aid, grants, Medicaid revenue, and any other state or federal

revenue as a local educational agency according to applicable federal and state law.

     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 -- SHEILA C. "SKIP" NOWELL ACADEMY

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     This act would reconstitute the "Sheila C. "Skip" Nowell Academy" and provide for

changes to the operating structure establishing a cooperative agreement among school districts.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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