2025 -- H 5165

========

LC000761

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

TEAMS

     Introduced By: Representatives Cotter, Noret, Read, McNamara, Potter, Solomon,
Casimiro, Spears, Carson, and Kennedy

     Date Introduced: January 24, 2025

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-53.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-53.1 entitled "Rhode

Island School Improvement Team Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-53.1-2. Establishment of school improvement teams.

     (a)(1) The school board or school committees of the cities and towns shall establish a

school improvement team for each school in the district, and shall develop procedures for the

election and appointment of school improvement team members. Each school improvement team

shall be composed of the principal and an appropriately balanced number of teachers, education

support employees, students, parents, and other business and community citizens who are

representative of the ethnic, racial, and economic community served by the school, provided that

vocational-technical center and high school school-improvement teams shall include students, and

middle and junior high school school-improvement teams may include students. Members

representing teachers, education support employees, students, and parents shall be selected by their

peer groups at the school in a fair and equitable manner. At the middle and high school levels,

where there are designated department heads, those department heads will also be included on the

school improvement team. At a minimum, these school improvement teams at this middle and high

school level shall include at least one department head from a humanities subject area and at least

one department head from one of the science, technology, engineering, or mathematics subject

areas.

     (2) Business and other community members shall be selected by the school according to a

procedure established by the school board. The school board shall review the membership

composition of each school improvement team. Should the school board determine that the

membership elected by the school is not representative of the ethnic, racial, and economic

community served by the school, the board shall appoint additional members to achieve proper

representation. For the purposes of school improvement teams, the term “teacher” includes

classroom teachers, certified student services personnel, and media specialists. For purposes of this

subsection, “education support employee” means any person employed by a school who is not

defined as instructional or administrative personnel pursuant to law and whose duties require

twenty (20) or more hours in each normal working week.

     (3) The school board or school committees of the cities and towns shall establish a

districtwide student safety and behavioral health committee ("SSBHC"). Each committee shall

have representation from administration (to be appointed by the superintendent), at least two (2)

certified staff (to be appointed by the local collective bargaining agent), and at least two (2) support

staff (to be appointed by the local collective bargaining agent), and may also include a school

resource officer to be appointed by the superintendent. The school board or school committee shall

strive to have staff representation from the elementary, middle, and high school level on the

SSBHC. The SSBHC shall be responsible for:

     (i) Ensuring that the district has a comprehensive policy to provide mental health support

to students in need and address student behaviors to minimize disruptions of the learning

environment for all students, in line with best practice and student needs;

     (ii) Ensuring such policies are properly implemented;

     (iii) Assessing the mental health supports available to students;

     (iv) Monitoring behavioral incidents and discussing possible improvements to policies and

procedures;

     (v) Making recommendations to the school board or school committee regarding potential

policy changes; and

     (vi) Providing an annual report to the school board or school committee on student safety,

mental health, and behaviors, including any recommendations to improve student safety and

outcomes while ensuring a stable learning environment for all students. The SSBHC shall work

with the school improvement teams to improve student safety and behavioral outcomes at the

school building level.

     (b) The school board may establish a district school improvement team representative of

the district and composed of teachers, students, parents, and other citizens or a district school

LC000761 - Page 2 of 4

improvement team which may be comprised of representatives of each school improvement team.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC000761

========

LC000761 - Page 3 of 4

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

TEAMS

***

     This act would require the school board or committees of cities and towns to establish a

safety and behavioral health committee (SSBHC). This act would also lay out the representation

requirements and committee responsibilities to ensure a stable learning environment for all

students.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC000761

========

LC000761 - Page 4 of 4