R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7-16 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-7 / Section 16-7-16
§ 16-7-16. Definitions.
Status: in_force

The following words and phrases used in §§ 16-7-15 to 16-7-34 have the following meanings:

(1) Adjusted equalized weighted assessed valuation means the equalized weighted assessed valuation of a community as determined by the department of revenue or as apportioned by the commissioner pursuant to the provisions of § 16-7-21.

(2)(i) Average daily membership means the average number of pupils in a community during a school year as determined pursuant to the provisions of § 16-7-22, less any students who are served in a program operated by the state and funded through the permanent foundation education aid formula pursuant to chapter 7.2 of this title.

(ii) For FY 2022, average daily membership means the greater of the average number of pupils in a community during a school year as determined pursuant to the provisions of § 16-7-22 in March 2020 or March 2021, less any students who are served in a program operated by the state and funded through the permanent foundation education aid formula pursuant to chapter 7.2 of this title. State aid to charter public schools, Davies, and the Met Center shall be determined based on the districts of residence in whichever year had the greater total average daily membership.

(A) For the purposes of determining the number of students in poverty, the department shall divide the average daily membership of students reported as living in poverty in each district of residence by the total average daily membership of students enrolled in the district of residence in both March 2020 and March 2021. The greater percentage shall be applied to the average daily membership used in the calculation of foundation education aid. For charter public schools, Davies, and the Met Center, the average daily membership of students reported as living in poverty shall be consistent with March 2020 or March 2021, whichever year had the greater total average daily membership.

(B) If the average daily membership in March 2020 is greater for any given community than in March 2021, the number of pupils shall be reduced by the number of students attending new or expanding charter schools in FY 2022.

(iii) For FY 2023, average daily membership means the greater of the average number of pupils in a community during a school year as determined pursuant to the provisions of § 16-7-22 in March 2020, March 2021, or March 2022, less any students who are served in a program operated by the state and funded through the permanent foundation education aid formula pursuant to chapter 7.2 of this title. State aid to charter public schools, Davies, and the Met Center shall be determined based on the districts of residence in whichever year had the greater total average daily membership.

(A) For the purposes of determining the number of students in poverty, the department shall divide the average daily membership of students reported as living in poverty in each district of residence by the total average daily membership of students enrolled in the district of residence in March 2020, March 2021, and March 2022. The greater percentage shall be applied to the average daily membership used in the calculation of foundation education aid. For charter public schools, Davies, and the Met Center, the average daily membership of students reported as living in poverty shall be consistent with March 2020, March 2021, or March 2022, whichever year had the greater total average daily membership.

(B) If the average daily membership in March 2020 is greater for any given community than in March 2021 and March 2022, the number of pupils shall be reduced by the number of students attending new or expanding charter schools in FY 2022 and FY 2023.

(C) If the average daily membership in March 2021 is greater for any given community than in March 2022, the number of pupils shall be reduced by the number of students attending new or expanding charter schools in FY 2023.

(iv) Notwithstanding subsection (2)(iii) above, for FY 2023 only, for any local education agency in which the calculation of aid under subsection (2)(i) of this section and § 16-7-20(a) would be greater than the calculation of aid under subsection (2)(iii) of this section, such local education agency shall receive an additional appropriation equivalent to twenty percent (20%) of the difference in aid that would have been received under subsection (2)(i) of this section. The additional appropriation shall be as follows:

Barrington - $302,169

East Greenwich - $148,478

Exeter - $106,335

North Smithfield - $30,508

Richmond - $502

Smithfield - $75,374

Beacon Charter School - $22,731

Blackstone Academy - $11,212

Village Green Charter School - $1,073

Davies Career and Technical School - $2,808

(3) Basic education program means the cost of education of resident pupils in grades twelve (12) and below in average daily membership for the reference year as determined by the mandated minimum program level.

(4) Certified personnel means all persons who are required to hold certificates issued by or under the authority of the council on elementary and secondary education.

(5) Community means any city, town, or regional school district established pursuant to law and/or the department of children, youth and families; provided, however, that the department of children, youth and families shall not have those administrative responsibilities and obligations as set forth in chapter 2 of this title; provided, however, that the member towns of the Chariho regional high school district, created by P.L. 1958, ch. 55 as amended, shall constitute separate and individual communities for the purpose of determining and distributing the foundation level school support including state aid for noncapital excess expenses for the special education of children with disabilities provided for in § 16-24-6 for all grades financed in whole or in part by the towns irrespective of any regionalization and any school operated by the state department of elementary and secondary education.

(6) Department of children, youth and families means that department created pursuant to chapter 72 of title 42. For purposes of this section, §§ 16-7-20, 16-24-2, and 42-72-5(b)(22), children means those children who are placed, assigned, or otherwise accommodated for residence by the department of children, youth and families in a state operated or supported community residence licensed by a state agency and the residence operates an educational program approved by the department of elementary and secondary education.

(7) Equalized weighted assessed valuation means the equalized weighted assessed valuation for a community as determined by the division of property valuation pursuant to the provisions of § 16-7-21.

(8) Full time equivalency students means the time spent in a particular activity divided by the amount of time in a normal school day.

(9) Incentive entitlement means the sum payable to a local school district under the formula used.

(10) Mandated minimum program level means the amount that shall be spent by a community for every pupil in average daily membership as determined pursuant to the provisions of § 16-7-18.

(11) Reference year means the next year prior to the school year immediately preceding that in which the aid is to be paid. For the purposes of calculating the permanent foundation education formula aid as described in § 16-7.2-3, the reference date shall be one year prior to the year in which aid is paid.

(12) Regularly employed and service as applied to certified personnel have the same meaning as defined in chapter 16 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-16 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-16 / Section 16-16-16
§ 16-16-16. Retirement for accidental disability.
Status: in_force

(a) Medical examination of an active teacher for accidental disability, and investigation of all statements and certificates by him or her or in his or her behalf in connection with the accidental disability, shall be made upon the application of the head of the department in which the teacher is employed or upon application of the teacher, or of a person acting in his or her behalf, stating that the teacher is physically or mentally incapacitated for the performance of service as a natural and proximate result of an accident, while in the performance of duty, and certify the definite time, place, and conditions of the duty performed by the teacher resulting in the alleged disability, and that the alleged disability is not the result of willful negligence or misconduct on the part of the teacher, and is not the result of age or length of service, and that the teacher should, therefore, be retired.

(b) The application shall be made within five (5) years of the alleged accident from which the injury has resulted in the teachers present disability, and shall be accompanied by an accident report and a physicians report certifying to the disability; provided, that, if the teacher was able to return to his or her employment and subsequently reinjures or aggravates the same injury, the application shall be made within the later of five (5) years of the alleged accident or three (3) years of the reinjury or aggravation. The application may also state that the teacher is permanently and totally disabled from any employment.

(c) If a medical examination conducted by three (3) physicians engaged by the retirement board, and any investigation that the retirement board may desire to make, shall show that the teacher is physically or mentally incapacitated for the performance of service as a natural and proximate result of an accident, while in the performance of duty, and that the disability is not the result of willful negligence or misconduct on the part of the teacher, and is not the result of age or length of service, and that the teacher has not attained the age of sixty-five (65) years, and that the teacher should be retired, the physicians who conducted the examination shall so certify to the retirement board stating the time, place, and conditions of service performed by the teacher resulting in the disability, and the retirement board may grant the teacher an accidental disability benefit.

(d) The retirement board shall establish uniform eligibility requirements, standards, and criteria for accidental disability which shall apply to all members who make application for accidental disability benefits.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-63-7 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-63 / Section 16-63-7
§ 16-63-7. Functions of office.
Status: repealed

The functions of the office may include, but may not necessarily be limited to, the following:

(1) The development of recommendations to the commissioner and the implementation of any approved recommendations, including:

(i) The utilization of federal and state funds for any purpose prescribed or allowed by the laws and/or regulations authorizing and/or appropriating those funds;

(ii) The sub-granting of those federal and state funds to selected deliverers of programs and services, including those contemplated in subdivisions (2) and (3);

(iii) The operation and networking of statewide adult level guidance services;

(iv) The operation of a high school equivalency or general educational development, testing, and certification program;

(v) Administration of the provisions for the approval and regulation of private career, trade, and technical schools, pursuant to chapter 40 of this title, and of any other nonpublic entities, whether non-business or proprietary, which provide or purport to provide adult education programs and services to residents of the state;

(vi) Professional development of administrators, teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals, and other personnel employed or engaged in delivering adult education programs and services within the state; and

(vii) Continuous research and planning in adult education, including assistance to the commission in conducting the comprehensive study of adult education prescribed in § 16-58-6 [repealed], needs assessments in conjunction with local planning and assessment processes, and the development and utilization of relevant data.

(2) Coordination with programs and services administered and/or operated by other agencies and institutions, including:

(i) All programs in categories 1, 2, 3, and 5 as defined by this chapter;

(ii) Outreach, recruitment, and intake for program components throughout the delivery system defined in this chapter;

(iii) Dissemination of information on financial aid for adult learners, including loans, grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid, in cooperation with the Rhode Island division of higher education assistance, pursuant to chapters 56 and 57 of this title;

(iv) Psychological testing in relation to education and training, basic skills diagnostic and evaluation services, and multi-phasic vocational testing;

(v) Competency based adult high school diploma assessment and certification, as conducted by local education agencies in accordance with this chapter; and

(vi) The college level examination program and other mechanisms for establishing and recording postsecondary achievement and competencies in terms of academic credit.

(3) General advocacy and communicative relationships with other agencies, institutions, and organizations engaged in or interested in adult education or related activities in the state, including:

(i) Programs and services for adult learners in public and private colleges, schools, and other settings, at elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels;

(ii) Adult education programs and services, in any of the categories defined in this chapter, conducted in libraries and other community based settings;

(iii) Pre-service, in-service, and upgrading education and training programs, generally in category 2 as defined by this chapter, conducted in employment settings;

(iv) Activities, generally in category 2 as defined by this chapter, conducted in the state pursuant to the Job Training Partnership Act, 29 U.S.C. § 1501 et seq., and any amendments to it, extensions of it, or successor legislation;

(v) All activities in categories 4 and 6, as defined by this chapter;

(vi) Programs and services, generally in categories 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7, as defined by this chapter, conducted in custodial, correctional, and curative institutions in the state;

(vii) Programs and services for adults with special needs, such as people with disabilities, immigrants and refugees, women and displaced homemakers, senior citizens, persons of multilingual or multicultural backgrounds, and persons being discharged from the care of institutions referenced in subdivision (3)(vi);

(viii) Programs of family and homelife education and parent effectiveness training;

(ix) Educational and public service programming on radio and television, including that transmitted electronically and through cable systems; and

(x) Automobile and motorcycle driver safety education; and

(4) Staff support services for the commission.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-67-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-67 / Section 16-67-4
§ 16-67-4. Funding.
Status: in_force

(a) Funding of programs. The programs described in this chapter shall be funded as follows:

(1) Screening for all children first entering school. This program shall be supported by an annual appropriation. All children first entering school will be screened. Allocations to school districts will be determined by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

(2) Literacy focus in instruction in kindergarten through grade three (3) for all students and supplementary literacy instruction for educationally disadvantaged students in grades Kindergarten through twelve (12).

(i) These (2) programs shall be supported by funds set aside from the state operations aid to be provided to school districts; these programs may be supported with funds from the Educational Improvement Block Grant. The amount to be set aside will be four percent (4%) in each fiscal year. Each district will be informed of the set aside amount by November 1 of each year. The full set aside amount will be available for use by the district. Use of this set aside amount will be based on a plan submitted by local school districts to the department of elementary and secondary education for approval. All funds must be used to supplement, not supplant, existing activities. Use of these funds must be coordinated with other funds, including Chapter I and Section 4 funds. Provided, that the commissioner of elementary and secondary education may waive the requirement for use of all or part of the set aside amount for these purposes when it is shown to his or her satisfaction that the ongoing level of literacy instruction meets the standards set with regard to student achievement of the specified outcomes in literacy. The commissioner must respond to this request for waiver within sixty (60) days of receipt of the request. If no action is taken by the commissioner within the sixty (60) days time period the request shall be deemed approved.

(ii) The commissioner shall consider and shall address in a written decision each of the following factors in reaching a decision on whether or not a waiver shall be granted: (A) the average standardized test scores for the school district and each school within the district; (B) the number and percent of students in the school district who fall below the cut-off score established by the commissioner; (C) whether or not the scores and number of students referenced to in (A) and (B) have improved over the preceding three (3) years; (D) the percent of students for each of the preceding three (3) years who failed to graduate from high school; (E) the extent to which the literacy program of the district includes provision for: (I) integrating the literacy skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening, (II) incorporating the literacy skills across content areas, (III) supplementing the basal reader program with the use of literature, (IV) incorporating process writing into the language arts curriculum, (V) supplementing instruction in literacy skills for low achieving students; and (F) the pupil teacher ratio in grades kindergarten through three (3). The commissioner will reply in detail to the community within the sixty (60) day period giving reasons for approval or denial of waiver.

(3) Dropout prevention programs. These programs shall be supported by an annual appropriation. Projects shall be selected and funds shall be allocated at the discretion of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

(4) State level program support. These activities shall be supported by an annual appropriation. Funds shall be allocated at the discretion of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

(b) Commissioners report. The commissioner shall report to the governor and general assembly regarding the implementation of the literacy and dropout prevention programs and the need to continue the set-aside provision contained in this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-19-1.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-19 / Section 16-19-1.1
§ 16-19-1.1. Grants and gifts  Acceptance and expenditure  Coventry  Woonsocket.
Status: in_force

(a) The Coventry and Woonsocket school departments or school committees may accept any and all donations, gifts and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services, conditional or otherwise, from any state, the federal government, or any governmental entity or agency; or from any person, firm, association, foundation or corporation, and shall receive, utilize and dispose of the same pursuant to the express terms or conditions stipulated by such donation, gift or grant.

(b) Any amounts so received shall be deposited with the city/town treasurer and shall be held as a separate account and may be expended by such school department or school committee receiving the grant, gift or donations without further appropriation.

(c) If the express terms or conditions of the donation, gift or grant so stipulate, interest on the donated, gifted or granted funds may remain with and become a part of the donation, gift or grant account and may be expended as part of the donation, gift or grant by the school department or school committee receiving the donation, gift or grant without further appropriation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-80-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-80 / Section 16-80-1
§ 16-80-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known as the Rhode Island School-to-Career Transition Act of 1996. When in the general or public laws there appear the words, The Rhode Island School-to-Work Transition Act of 1996, it shall now read, The Rhode Island School-to-Career Transition Act of 1996. When in the general or public laws there appear the words, School-to-Work, it shall now read, School-to-Career.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-64-1.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-64 / Section 16-64-1.1
§ 16-64-1.1. Payment and reimbursement for educational costs of children placed in foster care, group homes, or other residential facility by a Rhode Island state agency.
Status: in_force

(a) Children placed in foster care by a Rhode Island-licensed child-placing agency or a Rhode Island governmental agency shall be entitled to the same free, appropriate public education provided to all other residents of the city or town where the child is placed. The city or town shall pay the cost of the education of the child during the time the child is in foster care in the city or town.

(b) Children placed by the department of children, youth and families (DCYF) in a group home or other residential facility that does not include the delivery of educational services are to be educated by the community in which the group home or other residential facility is located, and those children shall be entitled to the same free, appropriate public education provided to all other residents of the city or town where the child is placed. For purposes of payment and reimbursement for educational costs under this chapter, the term group home or other residential facility shall not include independent-living programs or the Childrens Residential and Family Treatment (CRAFT) program located on the East Providence campus of Bradley Hospital. Each city and town that contains one or more group homes or other residential facilities that do not include delivery of educational services will receive funds as part of state aid to education in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) On December 31 of each year, the DCYF shall provide the department of elementary and secondary education with a precise count of how many group home or other residential facility beds exist in each Rhode Island city or town, counting only those beds in facilities that do not include the delivery of educational services. The number of beds in each group home or other residential facility shall be equal to the maximum number of children who may be placed in that group home or other residential facility on any given night according to the applicable licensure standards of the DCYF.

(2) For all fiscal years beginning after June 30, 2016, education aid for each school district shall include seventeen thousand dollars ($17,000) for each bed certified by DCYF by the preceding December 31. For all fiscal years beginning after June 30, 2008, whenever the number of beds certified by DCYF for a school district by December 31 is greater than the number certified the prior December 31 upon which the education aid for that fiscal year was appropriated, the education aid for that district as enacted by the assembly during the prior legislative session for that fiscal year will be increased by the number of increased beds multiplied by the amount per bed authorized for that fiscal year. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall include the additional aid in equal payments in March, April, May, and June, and the Governors budget recommendations pursuant to §35-3-8 shall include the amounts required to provide the increased aid.

(c) Children placed by DCYF in a residential-treatment program, group home, or other residential facility, whether or not located in the state of Rhode Island, which includes the delivery of educational services provided by that facility (excluding facilities where students are taught on grounds for periods of time by teaching staff provided by the school district in which the facility is located), shall have the cost of their education paid for as provided for in subsection (d) and §16-64-1.2. The city or town determined to be responsible to DCYF for a per-pupil special-education cost pursuant to §16-64-1.2 shall pay its share of the cost of educational services to DCYF or to the facility providing educational services.

(d) Children placed by DCYF in group homes, child-caring facilities, community residences, or other residential facilities shall have the entire cost of their education paid for by DCYF if:

(1) The facility is operated by the state of Rhode Island or the facility has a contract with DCYF to fund a pre-determined number of placements or part of the facilitys program;

(2) The facility is state licensed; and

(3) The facility operates an approved, on-grounds educational program, whether or not the child attends the on-grounds program.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other law, effective June 30, 2025, neither the East Providence public schools nor the city of East Providence shall be responsible to provide any educational or related services or instruction or have any financial responsibility for any student attending the CRAFT program unless East Providence is that students district of origin. The school district of origin shall be responsible to provide any pay for such services and instruction consistent with applicable state law and regulation. For purposes of this section, school district of origin means the school district in which the student was last registered to attend prior to admission to the CRAFT program. The East Providence school district shall not be paid reimbursement as provided in this statute for such students.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-12-10 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-12 / Section 16-12-10
§ 16-12-10. Immunity for reports of suspected substance abuse.
Status: in_force

Any teacher, school administrator, school guidance counselor, school psychologist, school drug counselor, school nurse, supervisor of attendance, attendance teacher, or attendance officer having reasonable cause to suspect that an elementary or secondary school student is abusing a controlled substance or alcohol, or is under the influence of a dangerous drug or alcohol, or has in his or her possession a controlled substance or alcohol, who reports this information to the appropriate elementary or secondary school officials pursuant to the schools drug policy, or if the school has no drug policy to the schools principal or the parents of the student under eighteen (18) years of age, or to a police agency, shall have immunity from any civil liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed as a result of the making of the report.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-32-13 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-32 / Section 16-32-13
§ 16-32-13. Investment of state funds in student loans.
Status: in_force

Any loans made to societies of students at the university under the terms and provisions of §§ 16-32-12 and 16-32-15 shall be eligible for investment for the state investment commission of this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-53-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-53 / Section 16-53-4
§ 16-53-4. Qualifications of members.
Status: in_force

Each appointed member of the board of trustees, before entering upon his or her duties, shall take an oath to administer the duties of his or her office faithfully and impartially, and the oath shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-29-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-29 / Section 16-29-1
§ 16-29-1. Establishment of free evening schools.
Status: in_force

One or more public evening schools, in which attendance shall be free for persons resident in the city or town in which the school shall be located, and in which the speaking, reading, and writing of the English language shall be taught for two (2) hours on each of at least one hundred (100) nights between the first of September and the first of June in each year, shall be established and maintained by the school committee of every city or town in which twenty (20) or more persons more than sixteen (16) and less than twenty-one (21) years of age, who cannot speak, read, and write the English language, are resident; provided, that the school committee of two (2) adjoining cities or towns may unite for the purpose of establishing and maintaining jointly, at some convenient place, an evening school for persons resident in these cities or towns.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-71-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-71 / Section 16-71-4
§ 16-71-4. Decisions.
Status: in_force

Should a decision be rendered against the school system, the records shall be corrected by the school system in accordance with the decision.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-97-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-97 / Section 16-97-1
§ 16-97-1. Rhode Island board of education established.
Status: in_force

(a) Effective January 1, 2013, there is created a board of education that shall be responsible for and shall exercise the purposes, powers, and duties of, this chapter and chapters 59 and 60 of this title. The board is responsible for the coordination of education from pre-K through higher education and shall set goals and policies for the effective coordination of these public education systems.

(b) The board of education shall consist of seventeen (17) public members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, eight (8) of whom shall be designated to serve on the council on elementary and secondary education and eight (8) of whom shall be designated to serve on the council on postsecondary education. The chairperson of the board shall serve as a member of both councils. Six (6) of the members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of three (3) years; six (6) members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of two (2) years; and, four (4) members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of one year. To the greatest extent possible, the initial staggered terms shall be equitably divided among the councils so as to protect against sudden changes in membership and reversal of policy. Thereafter, all members appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of three (3) years. At the expiration of their terms, members shall remain and continue in their official capacity until their successor is appointed and qualified. Members shall not be appointed to more than three (3), successive three-year (3) terms each; provided that the chair of the board shall have no term and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. Any vacancy among the members of the board shall be filled by appointment of the governor for the remainder of the unexpired term. In the selection and appointment of the board, the governor shall seek persons who best serve the needs of the entire state. No person shall be eligible for appointment to the board after the effective date of this act unless a resident of this state. Members of the board shall not be compensated for their service in attending board or council meetings.

(c) The chair of the Governors workforce board, or designee; the chair of the Rhode Island commerce corporation, or designee; the chair of the university of Rhode Island board of trustees, or designee; and the Rhode Island teacher of the year shall serve as non-voting, ex-officio members of the board.

(d) The Rhode Island teacher of the year shall serve on the board for one year, beginning after their term as teacher of the year has expired. If the teacher of the year is unable or unwilling to serve, a former Rhode Island teacher of the year may be selected to serve on the board by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education; provided that, the individual is still teaching in Rhode Island public schools.

(e) The governor shall select from the appointed members a chairperson and vice chairperson. A quorum shall consist of nine (9) members of the board. A majority vote of those present shall be required for action.

(f) Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, members of the board shall be removable by the governor for cause only. Removal solely for partisan or personal reasons unrelated to performance, capacity, or fitness for the office shall be unlawful.

(g) The statutory responsibilities of the department of elementary and secondary education, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, and the commissioner of postsecondary education shall remain unchanged.

(h) The chair of the board of education shall consult with the chairs of the council on elementary and secondary education, the council on postsecondary education, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, and the commissioner of postsecondary education in developing agendas, goals, policies, and strategic plans for the board.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-92-10 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-92 / Section 16-92-10
§ 16-92-10. Interstate commission on educational opportunity for military children.
Status: in_force

The member states hereby create the Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The activities of the interstate commission are the formation of public policy and are a discretionary state function. The interstate commission shall:

(1) Be a body corporate and joint agency of the member states and shall have all the responsibilities, powers and duties set forth herein, and such additional powers as may be conferred upon it by a subsequent concurrent action of the respective legislatures of the member states in accordance with the terms of this compact.

(2) Consist of one interstate commission voting representative from each member state who shall be that states compact commissioner:

(i) Each member state represented at a meeting of the interstate commission is entitled to one vote;

(ii) A majority of the total member states shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless a larger quorum is required by the bylaws of the interstate commission;

(iii) A representative shall not delegate a vote to another member state. In the event the compact commissioner is unable to attend a meeting of the interstate commission, the governor or state council may delegate voting authority to another person from their state for a specified meeting;

(iv) The bylaws may provide for meetings of the interstate commission to be conducted by telecommunication or electronic communication, which shall:

(3) Consist of ex-officio, non-voting representatives who are members of interested organizations. Such ex-officio members, as defined in the bylaws, may include, but not be limited to, members of the representative organizations of military family advocates, local education agency officials, parent and teacher groups, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Education Commission of the States, the Interstate Agreement on the Qualification of Educational Personnel and other interstate compacts affecting the education of children of military members.

(4) Meet at least once each calendar year. The chairperson may call additional meetings and, upon the request of a simple majority of the member states, shall call additional meetings.

(5) Establish an executive committee, whose members shall include the officers of the interstate commission and such other members of the interstate commission as determined by the bylaws. Members of the executive committee shall serve a one year term. Members of the executive committee shall be entitled to one vote each. The executive committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the interstate commission, with the exception of rulemaking, during periods when the interstate commission is not in session. The executive committee shall oversee the day-to-day activities of the administration of the compact including enforcement and compliance with the provisions of the compact, its bylaws and rules, and other such duties as deemed necessary. The U.S. Dept. of Defense, shall serve as an ex-officio, nonvoting member of the executive committee.

(6) Establish bylaws and rules that provide for conditions and procedures under which the interstate commission shall make its information and official records available to the public for inspection or copying. The interstate commission may exempt from disclosure information or official records to the extent they would adversely affect personal privacy rights or proprietary interests.

(7) Give public notice of all meetings and all meetings shall be open to the public, except as set forth in the rules or as otherwise provided in the compact. The interstate commission and its committees may close a meeting, or portion thereof, where it determines by two-thirds ( ) vote that an open meeting would be likely to:

(i) Relate solely to the interstate commissions internal personnel practices and procedures;

(ii) Disclose matters specifically exempted from disclosure by federal and state statute;

(iii) Disclose trade secrets or commercial or financial information which is privileged or confidential;

(iv) Involve accusing a person of a crime, or formally censuring a person;

(v) Disclose information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;

(vi) Disclose investigative records compiled for law enforcement purposes; or

(vii) Specifically relate to the interstate commissions participation in a civil action or other legal proceeding.

(8) Cause its legal counsel or designee to certify that a meeting may be closed and shall reference each relevant exemptible provision for any meeting, or portion of a meeting, which is closed pursuant to this provision. The interstate commission shall keep minutes which shall fully and clearly describe all matters discussed in a meeting and shall provide a full and accurate summary of actions taken, and the reasons therefore, including a description of the views expressed and the record of a roll call vote. All documents considered in connection with an action shall be identified in such minutes. All minutes and documents of a closed meeting shall remain under seal, subject to release by a majority vote of the interstate commission.

(9) Collect standardized data concerning the educational transition of the children of military families under this compact as directed through its rules which shall specify the data to be collected, the means of collection and data exchange and reporting requirements. Such methods of data collection, exchange and reporting shall, in so far as is reasonably possible, conform to current technology and coordinate its information functions with the appropriate custodian of records as identified in the bylaws and rules.

(10) Create a process that permits military officials, education officials and parents to inform the interstate commission if and when there are alleged violations of the compact or its rules or when issues subject to the jurisdiction of the compact or its rules are not addressed by the state or local education agency. This section shall not be construed to create a private right of action against the interstate commission or any member state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-44-6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-44 / Section 16-44-6
§ 16-44-6. Management of community colleges.
Status: in_force

The board of governors for higher education shall be responsible for the control, management, and operation of community colleges in the same manner as it has been responsible for the control, management, and operation of the University of Rhode Island and of Rhode Island College.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-99-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-99 / Section 16-99-2
§ 16-99-2. Legislative findings.
Status: in_force

The general assembly hereby finds and declares as follows:

(1) According to the National Center for Education Statistics, children in full-day kindergarten classes make greater academic gains in both reading and mathematics compared to those in half-day classes;

(2) According to Kids Count RI, full-day kindergarten can contribute to closing academic achievement gaps between lower and higher income children;

(3) According to the National Center for Education Statistics, full-day kindergarten classes are more likely than half-day classes to instruct students daily in the areas of mathematics, social studies and science; and

(4) According to Kids Count RI, children in full-day kindergarten are more likely to be ready for first grade than those in half-day programs, regardless of family income, parental education and school characteristics.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-21.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-21 / Section 16-21-21.1
§ 16-21-21.1. Penalties for drug, alcohol or weapons offenses.
Status: in_force

The discipline of any public school student for violating a school policy relating to the possession or use of alcohol, drugs or weapons not described in § 16-21-18 of this chapter, shall be imposed on a case-by-case basis pursuant to guidelines developed and promulgated by the school committee for that district. The guidelines and any discipline imposed shall take into account the nature and circumstances of the violation and the applicability of any federal laws governing students with disabilities.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-12-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-12 / Section 16-12-4
§ 16-12-4. Register of pupils  Reports required by school authorities.
Status: in_force

(a) Every teacher in any public or private school shall keep a register of the names of all the students attending the school, their sex and age, names of parents or guardians, the time when each student enters and leaves the school, and their daily attendance, and shall prepare any report required by the school committee or department of elementary and secondary education.

(b) The school committee may establish an alternative method of keeping the register provided that all required information is furnished to the department of elementary and secondary education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-40-8 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-40 / Section 16-40-8
§ 16-40-8. Penalty for violations.
Status: in_force

Any academy, college, university, or institution of education or any person being an officer or agent of any academy, college, university, or institution of education incorporated under the laws of this state or transacting business within this state, who shall as an officer or agent, by vote or in any manner or capacity admit or participate in admitting any scholar or student, or any person in recognition of attainment or achievement, to any grade of a degree by conferring or participating in conferring a degree upon the scholar or student or person contrary to the provisions of this chapter, or contrary to the regulations or standards for approval adopted by the board of regents for elementary and secondary education or the board of governors for higher education to implement this chapter, or who shall sign any certificate or diploma as evidence of the conferring of the degree, shall be liable to a penalty of three hundred dollars ($300) for each offense to be sued for and recovered by and in the name of the department of elementary and secondary education or the office of higher education but to the use of the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-107-6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-107 / Section 16-107-6
§ 16-107-6. Eligibility for scholarship.
Status: in_force

(a) Beginning with the students who enroll at the community college of Rhode Island in the fall of 2017, to be considered for the scholarship, a student:

(1) Must qualify for in-state tuition and fees pursuant to the residency policy adopted by the council on postsecondary education, as amended, supplemented, restated, or otherwise modified from time to time (residency policy); provided, that, the student must have satisfied the high school graduation/equivalency diploma condition prior to reaching nineteen (19) years of age; provided, further, that in addition to the option of meeting the requirement by receiving a high school equivalency diploma as described in the residency policy, the student can satisfy the condition by receiving other certificates or documents of equivalent nature from the state or its municipalities as recognized by applicable regulations promulgated by the council on elementary and secondary education;

(2) Must be admitted to, and must enroll and attend the community college of Rhode Island on a full-time basis by the semester immediately following high school graduation or the semester immediately following receipt of a high school equivalency diploma;

(3) Must complete the FAFSA and any required FAFSA verification, or for persons who are legally unable to complete the FAFSA must complete a comparable form created by the community college of Rhode Island, by the deadline prescribed by the community college of Rhode Island for each year in which the student seeks to receive funding under the scholarship program;

(4) Must continue to be enrolled on a full-time basis;

(5) Must maintain an average annual cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or greater, as determined by the community college of Rhode Island;

(6) Must remain on track to graduate on time as determined by the community college of Rhode Island;

(7) Must not have already received an award under this scholarship program; and

(8) Must commit to live, work, or continue their education in Rhode Island after graduation.

The community college of Rhode Island shall develop a policy that will secure this commitment from recipient students.

(b) Notwithstanding the eligibility requirements under subsection (a) of this section (specified conditions):

(1) In the case of a recipient student who has an approved medical or personal leave of absence or is unable to satisfy one or more specified conditions because of the students medical or personal circumstances, the student may continue to receive an award under the scholarship program upon resuming the students education so long as the student continues to meet all other applicable eligibility requirements;

(2) In the case of a recipient student who is a member of the national guard or a member of a reserve unit of a branch of the United States military and is unable to satisfy one or more specified conditions because the student is or will be in basic or special military training, or is or will be participating in a deployment of the students guard or reserve unit, the student may continue to receive an award under the scholarship program upon completion of the students basic or special military training or deployment; and

(3) Any student with a disability, otherwise eligible for a scholarship pursuant to the provisions of this section, as of May 15, 2021, shall be entitled to access this program and shall be afforded all reasonable accommodations, as required by the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, including, but not limited to, enrolling on a part-time basis, attaining a high school diploma/GED by age twenty-one (21), and taking longer than two (2) years to graduate with an associates degree.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-26 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-16 / Section 16-16-26
§ 16-16-26. Spouses, former spouse divorced, or domestic partners benefits.
Status: in_force

(a) Spouses, former spouse divorced, and domestic partners benefits are payable following the decease of a member as provided in §§ 16-16-25  16-16-38.

(b) The spouse, former spouse divorced, or domestic partner shall be entitled to benefits upon attaining the age of sixty (60) years.

(c) The spouse, former spouse divorced, or domestic partner was living with the deceased member at the time of the members death. A spouse, former spouse divorced, or domestic partner is deemed to have been living with the deceased member if they were both members of the same household on the date of the deceased members death, or the spouse, former spouse divorced, or domestic partner was receiving contributions from the deceased member toward support on that date, or the deceased member had been ordered by a court to contribute to the spouses, former spouse divorced, or domestic partners support.

(d) Remarriage of the spouse, former spouse divorced, or domestic partner or establishment of a domestic partnership shall render the person ineligible to receive current or future benefits under this section.

(e) The spouse or domestic partner of a member, as defined in this section, shall be entitled to monthly benefits payable in accordance with the following table:

(f) The former spouse divorced shall be entitled to monthly benefits, payable in accordance with the table provided in subsection (e) of this section, only if there are no dependent children, parents, or other spouse or domestic partner entitled to benefits.

(g) A yearly cost-of-living adjustment for spouses, former spouse divorced, or domestic partners benefits shall be based on the annual social security adjustment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-62-12 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-62 / Section 16-62-12
§ 16-62-12. Exemption from taxation.
Status: in_force

(a) The exercise of the powers granted by this chapter will be in all respects for the benefit of the people of this state, the increase of their commerce, welfare, and prosperity, and for the improvement of their living conditions, and will constitute the performance of an essential government function; and the authority shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon or in respect of any transaction or of any property or money of the authority levied by any municipality or political subdivision of the state.

(b) The authority shall not be required to pay state taxes of any kind, and the authority, its property, and money, and, except for estate, inheritance, and gift taxes, any bonds or notes issued under the provisions of this chapter and the income, including gain from sale or exchange from it shall at all times be free from taxation of every kind by the state and by the municipalities and all political subdivisions of the state. The authority shall not be required to pay any transfer tax of any kind on account of instruments recorded by it or on its behalf.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-35 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-2 / Section 16-2-35
§ 16-2-35. The Middletown public schools sponsorship program.
Status: in_force

(a) The school committee of the town of Middletown shall be authorized to adopt by resolution the Middletown public schools sponsorship program (the program). The purpose of said program shall be to provide funding to aid the Middletown school district in maintaining its current extra-curricular program offerings by creating paid advertising and sponsorship opportunities through the Middletown public schools.

(b) Such program shall meet the following guidelines and criteria:

(1) Proposals for sponsorships shall be reviewed by the superintendent of schools, and if approved by the superintendent, such approval shall be submitted to the Middletown school committee for final approval;

(2) Paid advertising and business sponsorships shall be permitted on school district grounds only with the prior approval of both the superintendent and the school committee of the town of Middletown.

(3) The Middletown school committee shall promulgate a policy on advertising and business sponsorship. Any advertising on school property, in district publications, and distribution or display that is paid for by a private, business, or commercial sponsor shall be consistent with the provisions of such policy. In promulgating such policy, the school district shall be especially cognizant of the requirements of chapter 21 of this title in regard to health and safety of pupils.

(i) Advertising and business sponsorships shall be limited to products, services, and issues that support and promote a positive educational atmosphere.

(ii) Approved advertising, signage, and other promotions shall be in good taste, use good production quality, and shall not detract from the educational environment.

(c) Prohibited advertising and business sponsorships shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) Anything that is illegal, obscene, profane, vulgar, prurient, defamatory, violent, abusive, impolite, or that contains sexual content, sexual imagery, or sexual overtones, or that is otherwise not suitable for minors;

(2) Anything that is discriminatory or promotes goods or services not suitable for use or consumption by minors;

(3) Materials in support of or promoting a specific religion or religious viewpoint; and

(4) Materials in support of or promoting a specific political candidate or viewpoint.

(d) The provisions of the section shall not apply to information, promotions, or announcements issued by the town of Middletown and/or the state of Rhode Island.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-28 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-16 / Section 16-16-28
§ 16-16-28. Childrens benefits.
Status: in_force

(a) Childrens benefits are payable to the child, including a stepchild or adopted child of a deceased member, if:

(1) The child is unmarried and under the age of eighteen (18) years or twenty-three (23) years and a full time student, and was dependent upon the member at the time of the members death; or

(2) The dependent child regardless of age was under a disability which began before the child attained the age of eighteen (18) years. A child shall not be considered disabled unless proof is furnished to the retirement board.

(b)(1) A child is considered dependent if living with the member at the time of the members death and he or she was contributing to the support of the child. If the member at the time of the members death was not living with the child or contributing to the childs support, the child, if legitimate, is considered dependent upon the member unless the child:

(i) Was adopted by some other individual; or

(ii) Was living with and receiving more than one-half ( 1 / 2 ) of his or her support from either one or both stepparents.

(2) An adopted child is considered dependent upon his or her adopting parents under the same conditions as those that apply to parents and their natural children.

(c) A child is considered dependent upon either one or both stepparents at the time of the death if the child was:

(1) Living with his or her stepparent(s); or

(2) Receiving at least one-half ( 1 / 2 ) of his or her support from either one or both of the stepparents.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-97-7 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-97 / Section 16-97-7
§ 16-97-7. Tuition waivers  Disclosure as a prerequisite to receipt.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no employee of the state board of education, or the board of trustees for the university of Rhode Island, his or her spouse, domestic partner or dependent, shall receive a tuition waiver as a result of employment status with the state board of education, or the board of trustees for the university of Rhode Island without first consenting to the public disclosure of the existence and amount of the waiver. This section shall apply to any tuition waivers, including, but not limited to, any such waiver at the community college of Rhode Island, Rhode Island college, and/or the university of Rhode Island.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-113-9 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-113 / Section 16-113-9
§ 16-113-9. Applicability to current students.
Status: in_force

Currently enrolled students at Rhode Island college who have attained junior status as of July 1, 2023, or July 1, 2024, and who otherwise meet the requirements of this chapter, shall be eligible for a hope scholarship under this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-57-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-57 / Section 16-57-2
§ 16-57-2. Findings.
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to authorize a system of financial assistance, consisting of loan guaranties, savings programs, and other aids, for qualified students, parents, and others responsible for paying the costs of education to enable them to obtain an education beyond the high school level by attending public or private educational institutions. The general assembly has found and declares that it is in the public interest and essential to the welfare and well being of the inhabitants of the state and to the proper growth and development of the state to foster and provide financial assistance to qualified students, parents, and others responsible for paying the costs of education in order to help prospective students to obtain an education beyond the high school level. The general assembly has found that many inhabitants of the state who are fully qualified to enroll in appropriate educational institutions for furthering their education beyond the high school level lack the financial means and are unable, without financial assistance as authorized under this chapter, to pay the cost of their education, with a consequent irreparable loss to the state of valuable talents vital to its welfare. The general assembly also recognizes that educational institutions for higher education are in need of appropriate additional means to provide financial assistance to qualified students, parents, and others responsible for paying the costs of education. The general assembly has determined that the establishment of a proper system of financial assistance, containing eligibility opportunities for students and residents of this state and other states serves a public purpose and is fully consistent with the long established policy of the state to encourage, promote, and assist the education of the people of the state. The general assembly further finds that higher education financial assistance needs of Rhode Islanders will be better served by transferring all of the functions and programs of the former Rhode Island higher education assistance authority and of the Rhode Island division of higher education assistance to the office of postsecondary commissioner and the office of the general treasurer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-9-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-9 / Section 16-9-2
§ 16-9-2. Annual statement  Contents.
Status: in_force

The town treasurer shall, before the tenth (10th) day of July in each year, submit to the school committee a statement of all money applicable to the support of public schools for the current school year, specifying the sources of the money.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-110-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-110 / Section 16-110-1
§ 16-110-1. Legislative findings.
Status: in_force

The General Assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(1) Rhode Island holds a unique place in history with the establishment of its Royal Charter on July 8, 1663, that marked the first time that a sovereign leader signed a charter guaranteeing that individuals within a society were free to practice the religion of their choice without any interference from the government.

(2) As Rhode Island became the first American colony to declare its independence from Great Britain on May 4, 1776, it simultaneously was one of the most active slave ports in British North America within the Transatlantic Slave Trade transporting thousands of enslaved Africans to the colony, with the first documented slave ship arriving at Newport in 1696.

(3) The contributions of African Heritage Peoples from across the African Diaspora representing all walks of life and their endeavors to learn and thrive throughout history and make unforgettable marks in our state and nation as artists, scientists, educators, businesspeople, influential thinkers, members of the faith community, athletes, and political and governmental leaders, reflects the greatness of the state of Rhode Island.

(4) The United States Department of Education says education is primarily a state and local responsibility in the United States. It is states and communities, as well as public and private organizations of all kinds that establish schools and colleges and develop curricula.

(5) The state of Rhode Island also has previously demonstrated its concerns and interests regarding raising awareness on the subject of African Heritage and History through the work of the 1696 Historical Commission as established by the general assembly and signed into law on July 1, 2014, and was tasked with developing a comprehensive African Heritage History curriculum for Rhode Island public schools from kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) and the commission led by our secretary of state and comprised of scholars, civic and educational leaders developed and submitted a comprehensive report that included units of instruction and educational resources.

(6) With the unifying call that Black Lives Matter, for racial reconciliation, and for social justice during the summer of 2020, and citizen equity being reflected across the state, nation, and world, the establishment of an African Heritage History curriculum in Rhode Island is long overdue. Given the importance of the issue to the political affairs of the United States, as well as the responsibility of the state to educate its citizens, it is a fundamental responsibility of the state of Rhode Island to ensure that the critical subject of African Heritage History is included as part of the curriculum in all public schools. In the words of civil rights leader, Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character  that is the goal of a true education. Doctor King further stated, History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.

(7) It is the judgment of the Rhode Island general assembly to encourage that every board of education in the state shall include instruction on the subject of African Heritage History studies in an appropriate place in the curriculum, for all elementary and secondary students.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-7.2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-16 / Section 16-16-7.2
§ 16-16-7.2. Peace corps, teacher corps, and volunteers in service to America  Credit.
Status: in_force

(a) Any active teacher who served in the peace corps, teacher corps, or in volunteers in service to America may purchase credit for that service, up to a maximum of four (4) years. Any teacher on an official leave of absence for illness or injury shall be eligible to purchase the credits while on the leave of absence.

(b) The cost to purchase these credits shall be the full actuarial cost as defined in § 36-8-1(10).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-44-7 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-44 / Section 16-44-7
§ 16-44-7. Annual appropriations.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum as it may deem necessary for the maintenance and support of the community colleges. The state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the sum, or so much of the sum as may be required from time to time, upon receipt by the controller of properly authenticated vouchers.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-36 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-16 / Section 16-16-36
§ 16-16-36. Teachers survivors benefit fund.
Status: in_force

There shall be established by the retirement board a special reserve account to be designated as the teachers survivors benefit fund and all contributions made and other money received under §§ 16-16-25 through 16-16-38 shall be credited to and all payments for benefits shall be charged to this reserve account.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-21 / Section 16-21-4
§ 16-21-4. Fire, evacuation, and lockdown drills required  Failure to comply.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) It shall be the duty of the principal or other person in charge of every public school or private school, college, university, or postsecondary institutions or educational institution within the state, having more than twenty-five (25) pupils, to instruct and train the pupils by means of drills, so that they may in a sudden emergency be able to leave school buildings and dormitories in the shortest possible time and without confusion or panic.

(2) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, in all schools or buildings used for educational purposes through the twelfth grade by six (6) or more persons for four (4) or more hours per day or more than twelve (12) hours per week, there shall be not less than one emergency egress drill conducted every month the facility is in session with all occupants of the building participating in said drill. One additional emergency egress drill shall be conducted in buildings that are not open on a year-round basis within the first (1st) thirty (30) days of operation. At least one out of every four (4) emergency egress drills or rapid dismissals shall be obstructed by means of which at least one or more exits and stairways in the school building are blocked off or not used. In addition, there shall be two (2) lockdown drills. Lockdown drills shall be designed and conducted for use to protect school building occupants from potential dangers in the building, and one shall be held in September and one in January, and in conjunction with the local police whenever possible.

(3) An administrator may, in the administrators discretion, replace one fire drill with an evacuation drill to incorporate emergency procedures for responding to explosive hazard(s) in the school such as a bomb threat or gas leak, which hazard necessitates moving the students farther from the school than the students would do for a fire drill.

(b)(1) In colleges, universities, postsecondary institutions, and residence facilities in public schools or private schools there shall be at least four (4) drills or rapid dismissals during the academic year for each school building or residence facility, at least two (2) of which shall be held between the months of September through December. The remaining two (2) drills shall be held between the months of January through June. Any college, university, or postsecondary institution that holds a summer session shall hold a drill or rapid dismissal during the first full week of the summer session.

(2) At least one drill or rapid dismissal shall be obstructed so that at least one or more exits or stairways in the school building or dormitory are blocked off or not used.

(c) For purposes of this section residence facility means a dormitory, fraternity, sorority, or any other type of residence hall, whether on campus or off campus, owned or leased by a college, university, postsecondary institutions, public schools, or private school with accommodations for twenty (20) or more students.

(d) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, fire drills shall be required in colleges or universities only for buildings which are used for a residence facility.

(e) Neglect by any principal or any person in charge of any public or private school or educational institution to comply with the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).

(f) Written reports, on forms supplied by the department of elementary and secondary education, of each fire drill shall be completed immediately upon termination of every drill and shall be available for review by the fire marshal, assistant deputy fire marshal, or local fire authority. The fire marshal, assistant deputy fire marshal, or local fire authority may require that a fire drill be conducted in his or her presence.

(g) Lockdown drills may be announced in advance at the discretion of the school administrator.

(h) Emergency drills shall be age appropriate and developmentally appropriate and shall include and involve all school personnel, including school-based mental health professionals as well as substitute teachers. School officials shall work towards and implement, wherever possible, trauma-informed practices into emergency drills to address the concerns and well-being of students and school personnel. As used herein, the term emergency drills has the same meaning as in chapter 21.8 of this title (school emergency drills act).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-76-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-76 / Section 16-76-3
§ 16-76-3. Penalty.
Status: in_force

Any institution which fails to comply with this chapter shall be subject to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-84-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-84 / Section 16-84-2
§ 16-84-2. The University of Rhode Island.
Status: in_force

Subject to appropriation, the state of Rhode Island may contribute funds to the University of Rhode Island Foundation in an amount necessary to match private donations for the purposes listed below. Subject to appropriation, the state may contribute an amount not to exceed one dollar ($1.00) for every two dollars ($2.00) or one dollar ($1.00) for such greater dollars as may be established by the board of governors for higher education, privately contributed to the University of Rhode Island or the University of Rhode Island Foundation for the creation of new academic chairs, the support of existing academic chairs, other educational enhancements and capital infrastructure investments; provided, that the maximum total contributions from the state to the University of Rhode Island Foundation shall be five million dollars ($5,000,000). Appropriations of Rhode Island capital plan funds shall be considered matching funds for the purposes of this section. Any contributions made to the University of Rhode Island Foundation for these purposes shall be reported to the board of governors for higher education which shall verify their eligibility for this matching program.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-22-24 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-22 / Section 16-22-24
§ 16-22-24. Dating violence education.
Status: in_force

(a) Each school district shall incorporate dating violence education that is age-appropriate into the annual health curriculum framework for students in grades seven (7) through twelve (12).

(1) Dating violence education shall include, but not be limited to: defining dating violence; recognizing dating violence warning signs; and characteristics of healthy relationships. Additionally, students shall be provided with the school districts dating violence policy as provided in § 16-21-30(c).

(2) For the purposes of this section:

(i) At school means in a classroom, on or immediately adjacent to the school premises, on a school bus or other school-related vehicle, at an official school bus stop, or at any school sponsored activity or event whether or not it is on school grounds.

(ii) Dating partner means any person involved in an intimate association with another primarily characterized by the expectation of affectionate involvement whether casual, serious, or long-term.

(iii) Dating violence means a pattern of abusive or coercive behaviors used to exert power and control over a current or former dating partner. Behaviors may occur online, in person, or through the use of technology. Abuse may be physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, financial, or psychological and includes threats, isolation, and intimidation.

(3) To assist school districts in developing a dating violence education program, the department of education shall review and approve the grade-level topics relating to dating violence and healthy relationships in the health literacy for all students: the Rhode Island health education framework.

(4) The provisions of this section shall be amended in the health education curriculum sections of the Rhode Island rules and regulations for school health programs, R16-21-SCHO, and the Rhode Island basic education program at their next revisions.

(b) Upon written request to the school principal, a parent or legal guardian of a pupil less than eighteen (18) years of age, within a reasonable period of time after the request is made, shall be permitted to examine the dating violence education program instruction materials at the school in which his or her child is enrolled.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-91-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-91 / Section 16-91-1
§ 16-91-1. Findings of fact.
Status: in_force

The general assembly hereby finds and declares: (1) Concussions are one of the most commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and recreational activities. A concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. The risk of catastrophic injuries or death is significant when a concussion or head injury is not properly evaluated and managed.

(2) Concussions are a type of brain injury that can range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or unorganized sport or recreational activity and can result from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the ground, or with obstacles. Concussions occur with or without loss of consciousness, but the vast majority occurs without loss of consciousness.

(3) Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of a head injury leaves the young athlete especially vulnerable to greater injury and even death. The general assembly also recognizes that, despite having generally recognized return-to-play standards for concussion and head injury, some affected youth athletes are prematurely returned to play resulting in actual or potential physical injury or death to youth athletes in the state of Rhode Island.

(4) Concussions can occur in any sport or recreational activity, furthermore, symptoms of concussions may manifest themselves after the injury during school hours and in the classroom setting. All school nurses, coaches, parents, and athletes shall be advised of the signs and symptoms of concussions as well as the protocol for treatment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-57-4.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-57 / Section 16-57-4.1
§ 16-57-4.1. Dissolution of division of higher education assistance  Transfer of functions.
Status: in_force

(a) Effective July 1, 2025, the division of higher education assistance shall be dissolved. Upon said dissolution and date, all functions, powers, duties, and authority of the division of higher education assistance shall transfer to the office of postsecondary commissioner.

(b) On July 1, 2025, the office of postsecondary commissioner shall assume all rights, responsibilities, duties, assets, liabilities, and obligations of the dissolved division of higher education assistance, and the office of postsecondary commissioner shall be considered for all purposes the successor in interest to the division of higher education assistance.

(c) All contracts and agreements of whatsoever kind of the division of higher education assistance are hereby assigned, transferred to, and assumed by the office of postsecondary commissioner.

(d) Whenever in any general law, public law, or rule or regulation reference is made to the division of higher education assistance, the reference shall be deemed to refer to and mean the office of postsecondary commissioner, which also may be referred to as the office.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-63-9 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-63 / Section 16-63-9
§ 16-63-9. Delivery system.
Status: in_force

(a) Adult education throughout the state shall be delivered through the appropriate utilization of a combination of agencies, institutions, organizations, and other mechanisms and settings, including but not necessarily limited to the following:

(1) The schools and other facilities maintained by local education authorities, pursuant to chapter 2 of this title, or area combinations of it, in accordance with chapter 3 of this title and this chapter;

(2) The area vocational-technical schools, maintained and conducted in accordance with chapter 45 of this title;

(3) The state operated institutions of higher education, including the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and the community college system, maintained in accordance with chapters 31 through 33.1 and chapter 44 of this title;

(4) Private and proprietary academies, colleges, universities, and other institutions of secondary and higher education operated in accordance with chapter 40 of this title;

(5) Correspondence schools, home study, and related courses available to residents of the state in accordance with chapter 50 of this title;

(6) The custodial, correctional, and curative institutions referenced in this chapter;

(7) The states interrelated library system;

(8) Community based private, nonprofit, and proprietary agencies and facilities maintained and operated fully or partially for the purpose of providing adult education programs and services;

(9) Employment settings in business and industry; and

(10) The broadcast and cable system media referenced in this chapter.

(b) The listing in subsection (a) of an agency, institution, organization, or other entity shall not, in itself, constitute it as being under the administrative control of the board, department, or office.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-5-31 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-5 / Section 16-5-31
§ 16-5-31. Educational improvement block grant.
Status: in_force

(a) There is created an educational improvement block grant.

(b) The dollar equivalents resulting from the difference in the statewide local tax rate as defined in § 16-7-19(a) and (b), and as divided in § 16-7-19(c), may be expended for any of the purposes set forth below:

(1) Providing preschool programs, of at least one-half (Â½) days duration, for four (4) year old children who are at risk of school failure;

(2) Providing parent education programs including the provision of resource materials on home learning activities, private and group educational guidance, individual and group learning experiences for the parent and child, and other activities that enable the parent to improve learning in the home;

(3) Reducing class size with the ultimate goal of an average pupil/teacher ratio of 15-1 in grades pre-kindergarten through three (3); and

(4) Providing full day kindergarten programs with first priority given to children who are at risk of school failure.

(c) Education improvement block grant funds shall be allocated to every community in the proportion to which each communitys share bears to the total state share as computed under § 16-7-19(a) and as further adjusted by minimum share and regional school district provisions as provided for in § 16-7-20. In order to be eligible to obtain funds provided in this section a school district must submit, for the commissioners approval, an application which clearly and specifically describes how the funds will be used for the purposes intended.

(d) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall establish and promulgate regulations for the purpose of carrying out the intent of this section. Funds granted under this section shall not be used by districts to supplant local funds. School districts may carry over to the next fiscal year a maximum of fifteen percent (15%) of their allocation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-22-12 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-22 / Section 16-22-12
§ 16-22-12. Required courses on alcohol and substance abuse.
Status: in_force

(a) The school committees of the several cities, towns, and school districts shall provide for the incorporation of mandatory instruction of students in grades one through twelve (12) on the effects of alcohol and substance abuse upon the human system in existing health education or other courses.

(b) The board of regents for elementary and secondary education shall institute courses of instructions for teachers in the public school system on the effects of alcohol and substance abuse.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-21 / Section 16-21-3
§ 16-21-3. Standards for school building.
Status: in_force

(a) The state building codes standards committee, the state fire marshal, the state health department, and the department of labor and training  division of occupational health and safety shall determine whether the school buildings in the several cities and towns or on state property conform to appropriate state law and regulation. Further, it shall be the responsibility of each local fire chief, local building inspector, the director of the state department of health, and the director of the state department of labor and training to determine and notify each local school superintendent or private school official by August 1 of each year as to whether the public and private nursery and elementary and secondary school buildings conform to appropriate state law and regulation. In the case of those schools on state property, it shall be the responsibility of the state building commissioner, the state fire marshal, the director of the department of health, and the department of labor and training to notify the department director responsible for the operation of the school as to whether these schools conform to appropriate state law and regulation.

(b) The state building code standards committee shall establish building code standards necessary for the implementation of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-8 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-2 / Section 16-2-8
§ 16-2-8. Regular meetings of committee.
Status: in_force

The school committee of each city or town shall hold at least four (4) regular meetings in every year, at a time and place within the city or town as the committee shall by general order fix and determine.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-92-12 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-92 / Section 16-92-12
§ 16-92-12. Organization and operation of the interstate commission.
Status: in_force

(a) The interstate commission shall, by a majority of the members present and voting, within twelve (12) months after the first interstate commission meeting, adopt bylaws to govern its conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the compact, including, but not limited to:

(1) Establishing the fiscal year of the interstate commission;

(2) Establishing an executive committee, and such other committees as may be necessary;

(3) Providing for the establishment of committees and for governing any general or specific delegation of authority or function of the interstate commission;

(4) Providing reasonable procedures for calling and conducting meetings of the interstate commission, and ensuring reasonable notice of each such meeting;

(5) Establishing the titles and responsibilities of the officers and staff of the interstate commission;

(6) Providing a mechanism for concluding the operations of the interstate commission and the return of surplus funds that may exist upon the termination of the compact after the payment and reserving of all of its debts and obligations;

(7) Providing start up rules for initial administration of the compact.

(b) The interstate commission shall, by a majority of the members, elect annually from among its members a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and a treasurer, each of whom shall have such authority and duties as may be specified in the bylaws. The chairperson or, in the chairpersons absence or disability, the vice-chairperson, shall preside at all meetings of the interstate commission. The officers so elected shall serve without compensation or remuneration from the interstate commission; provided that, subject to the availability of budgeted funds, the officers shall be reimbursed for ordinary and necessary costs and expenses incurred by them in the performance of their responsibilities as officers of the interstate commission.

(c) Executive committee, officers and personnel:

(1) The executive committee shall have such authority and duties as may be set forth in the bylaws, including but not limited to:

(i) Managing the affairs of the interstate commission in a manner consistent with the bylaws and purposes of the interstate commission;

(ii) Overseeing an organizational structure within, and appropriate procedures for the interstate commission to provide for the creation of rules, operating procedures, and administrative and technical support functions; and

(iii) Planning, implementing, and coordinating communications and activities with other state, federal and local government organizations in order to advance the goals of the interstate commission.

(2) The executive committee may, subject to the approval of the interstate commission, appoint or retain an executive director for such period, upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation, as the interstate commission may deem appropriate. The executive director shall serve as secretary to the interstate commission, but shall not be a member of the interstate commission. The executive director shall hire and supervise such other persons as may be authorized by the interstate commission.

(d) The interstate commissions executive director and its employees shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for a claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused or arising out of or relating to an actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred, within the scope of interstate commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided, that such person shall not be protected from suit or liability for damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of such person.

(1) The liability of the interstate commissions executive director and employees or interstate commission representatives, acting within the scope of such persons employment or duties for acts, errors, or omissions occurring within such persons state may not exceed the limits of liability set forth under the constitution and laws of that state for state officials, employees, and agents. The interstate commission is considered to be an instrumentality of the states for the purposes of any such action. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to protect such person from suit or liability for damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of such person.

(2) The interstate commission shall defend the executive director and its employees and, subject to the approval of the attorney general or other appropriate legal counsel of the member state represented by an interstate commission representative, shall defend such interstate commission representative in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of an actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of interstate commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that the defendant had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of interstate commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part of such person.

(3) To the extent not covered by the state involved, member state, or the interstate commission, the representatives or employees of the interstate commission shall be held harmless in the amount of a settlement or judgment, including attorneys fees and costs, obtained against such persons arising out of an actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of interstate commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that such persons had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of interstate commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part of such persons.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-83-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-83 / Section 16-83-3
§ 16-83-3. School committees  Implementation of policy.
Status: in_force

Every school committee in every city or town shall initiate policy intended to improve the educational performance of its middle schools. Said policy shall include the following criteria:

(1) Encourage the redesign of its middle schools. Such a redesign effort should include all of the key elements of reformed middle schools, particularly time for team planning at least three (3) times per week and occurring during the school day.

(2) Encourage the professional development of all middle school teachers to better prepare them to successfully deal with the challenges of educating the middle school student.

(3) Encourage after-school social and recreational programs at its middle schools to better engage and connect the middle school students to their school.

(4) Encourage extended day academic tutorial programs for all students performing below standard in English, language arts and mathematics.

(5) Encourage the training of parents and community organizations to better prepare them to address the numerous needs of middle school students when they are not in school.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-57-6.7 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-57 / Section 16-57-6.7
§ 16-57-6.7. Construction.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be liberally construed in order to effectuate the purposes and intent of this chapter. It is intended that the tuition savings program established pursuant to this chapter qualify as a qualified state tuition program pursuant to § 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 529. The provisions of this chapter shall be construed wherever possible to effectuate this intent.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-29-11 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-29 / Section 16-29-11
§ 16-29-11. Establishment of home and community classes.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum as it may deem necessary for the promotion of home and community classes in any city or town for instruction in the use of the English language, in the common rights and obligations of citizenship, and in the fundamental principles of the American plan of government. These classes may be established and maintained by the department of elementary and secondary education or by the school committee of any city or town, and may be held in the day or evening and, except as provided in this section, shall be open to any person over sixteen (16) years of age who cannot read, write, or speak the English language, and may be held in homes or in other suitable places approved by the school committee of the city or town or by the department of elementary and secondary education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-63-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-63 / Section 16-63-3
§ 16-63-3. Definitions.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) Adult education means all the concerns and activities within the definition in § 16-58-2;

(2) Board means the board of regents for elementary and secondary education created pursuant to § 16-60-1;

(3) Bureau means the bureau of adult and vocational education within the department;

(4) Commission means the Rhode Island adult education commission established pursuant to § 16-58-1;

(5) Commissioner means the commissioner of the department of elementary and secondary education;

(6) Coordinator means the state coordinator of adult education;

(7) Department means the department of elementary and secondary education;

(8) Office means the office of adult education within the bureau.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-89-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-89 / Section 16-89-4
§ 16-89-4. Grants, gifts and donations  Acceptance and expenditure.
Status: in_force

Any school district, school department or school committee may accept any and all gifts, grants and donations of money, equipment, supplies, materials, services and any other contribution of value, conditional or otherwise, from any local, state, or federal government or governmental subdivision thereof, including quasi-public agencies of any kind, or from any person, firm, association, foundation, corporation or business entity for use in any program or facility thereof; provided, however, that the gift, grant or donation is utilized and disposed of pursuant to the express terms or conditions stipulated by such gift, grant or donation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-62-15 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-62 / Section 16-62-15
§ 16-62-15. Credit of state.
Status: in_force

Obligations issued under the provisions of this chapter shall not constitute a debt, liability, or obligation of the state or of any political subdivision of the state other than the authority or a pledge of the faith and credit of the state or any political subdivision other than the authority, but shall be payable solely from the revenues or assets of the authority. Each obligation issued under this chapter shall contain on its face a statement to the effect that the authority shall not be obligated to pay the obligation or its interest except from revenues or assets pledged for it and that neither the faith and credit nor the taxing power of the state or any political subdivision of the state other than the authority is pledged to the payment of the principal of or the interest on the obligation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-22-21 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-22 / Section 16-22-21
§ 16-22-21. Community service learning.
Status: in_force

(a) The legislature recognizes the importance of community service learning as a means of enhancing life in the community and as a way of enlightening young people about the needs of others. Whenever young people are led through teaching and example, the likelihood of their becoming productive citizens in society is increased a thousandfold.

(b) The department of elementary and secondary education shall encourage the establishment of community service learning programs in local school districts by developing a model program and appropriate guidelines for implementation of the model program. Any local school district may petition the commissioner of education for approval of its community service learning program, which may be used in partial fulfillment of the requirement for obtaining a high school diploma. The commissioner shall develop criteria that local school districts may use as a means of determining and recognizing community service learning activities for credit towards a high school diploma. Local school districts that elect to establish community service learning programs pursuant to this section shall submit community service learning program plans for approval by the commissioner every five (5) years.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-32 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-16 / Section 16-16-32
§ 16-16-32. Refund on retirement.
Status: in_force

A member at the date of retirement in lieu of the survivors benefits provided in §§ 16-16-25  16-16-38 may elect to receive a lump sum payment equal to his or her contributions to the teachers survivors benefit fund, plus interest. Any member who retired prior to the effective date of this legislation shall have one hundred twenty (120) days from the effective date of this legislation to elect to receive a lump sum payment equal to his or her contributions to the teachers survivors benefit fund, plus interest. Interest is to be calculated and payable only up to the date of retirement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-26 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-2 / Section 16-2-26
§ 16-2-26. Special statutes prevailing.
Status: repealed

Except as provided in this section, the provisions of this chapter are subject to the provisions of any special statutes respecting any particular city or town, none of which are repealed by this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-57-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-57 / Section 16-57-1
§ 16-57-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known as the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-91-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-91 / Section 16-91-3
§ 16-91-3. School districts guidelines to be developed and implemented.
Status: in_force

(a) The department of education and the department of health shall work in concert with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League to develop and promulgate guidelines to inform and educate coaches, teachers, school nurses, youth athletes, and their parents and/or guardians of the nature and risk of concussion and head injury, including continuing to play after concussion or head injury. A concussion and head injury information sheet shall be signed and returned by the youth athlete and the athletes parent and/or guardian prior to the youth athletes return to practice or competition.

(b) School districts are required to use training materials made available by the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention entitled Heads Up: Concussion in the High School Sports/Concussion in Youth Sports and any updates or amendments thereto, or training materials substantively and substantially similar thereto. The department of education shall post training materials made available by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Rhode Island Interscholastic League on its website. All coaches and volunteers involved in a youth sport or activity covered by this chapter must complete a training course and a refresher course annually thereafter in concussions and traumatic brain injuries. All school nurses must complete a training course and an annual refresher course in concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Teachers and teachers aides are strongly encouraged to complete the training course in concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Training may consist of videos, classes, and any other generally accepted mode and medium of providing information.

(c) School districts are encouraged to have all student athletes perform baseline neuropsychological testing, computerized or otherwise. Parents and/or guardians shall be provided with information as to the risk of concussion and/or traumatic brain injuries prior to the start of every sport season and they shall sign an acknowledgement as to their receipt of such information.

(d) A youth athlete, who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury in a practice or game, shall be removed from competition at that time.

(e) A youth athlete, who has been removed from play, may not return to play until the athlete is evaluated by a licensed physician who may consult with an athletic trainer, all of whom shall be trained in the evaluation and management of concussions. The athlete must receive written clearance to return to play from that licensed physician.

(f) All school districts are encouraged to have an athletic trainer, or similarly trained person, at all recreational and athletic events addressed by this statute.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-8-10.2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-8 / Section 16-8-10.2
§ 16-8-10.2. Mandatory contract terms.
Status: in_force

No school board or school receiving aid under this chapter for school lunch programs shall negotiate, extend, or renew any school lunch service contract unless the contract provides for payments to school-lunch workers and aides for one hundred and eighty (180) days or the length of the contract for the school year, exclusive of paid time off, including vacation days, or other forms of compensatory time off, whichever is longer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-63-18 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-63 / Section 16-63-18
§ 16-63-18. High school equivalency testing.
Status: in_force

(a) In selecting which tests shall be utilized and recognized by the state in the granting of high school equivalency diplomas, the board shall consider all available high school equivalency tests that meet and adhere to Rhode Island academic standards and shall give priority to those tests that are provided at the lowest cost for test takers. In selecting said tests, the board shall consider:

(1) The recognition of the test, or lack thereof, by other states;

(2) The portability of the test; and

(3) Such other criteria that meet the needs of the test takers.

(b) The board shall adopt, and provide funding for, a rule or regulation granting a waiver of fees associated with the high school equivalency test for individuals with limited income and who can prove a financial hardship; provided, however, that to be eligible for a fee waiver, an individual must have received at least a minimum passing score on the high school equivalency practice test, or pertinent section of the test. The waiver may be based on a sliding scale based on the individuals income.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-111-5 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-111 / Section 16-111-5
§ 16-111-5. Food donations by food service companies.
Status: in_force

(a) It shall be the policy of the state, the department of education, and any educational entity to require that any request for proposal (RFP) to select a food service company (vendor) to provide food services to an educational entity shall require the vendor to donate any unserved nonperishable or unspoiled perishable food to local food banks or the Rhode Island Food Bank in accordance with the recommendations from the Rhode Island department of health The Road to End Hunger initiative.

(b) Vendors required to donate nonperishable and unspoiled perishable food to local food banks or the Rhode Island Food Bank shall initially make arrangements for the provision accommodations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

(c) Except for injury resulting from gross negligence or intentional misconduct in the preparation or handling of donated food, no educational entity, person, or vendor who or that donates food that is fit for human consumption at the time it was donated, as required by subsection (a), shall be liable for any damage or injury resulting from the consumption of the donated food.

(d) The immunity from civil liability provided by this section applies regardless of compliance with any laws, regulations, or ordinances regulating the packaging or labeling of food, and regardless of compliance with any laws, regulations, or ordinances regulating the storage or handling of the food by the donee after the donation of the food. The donation of nonperishable food that is fit for human consumption but that has exceeded the labeled shelf life date recommended by the manufacturer is protected pursuant to this section. The donation of perishable food that is fit for human consumption but that has exceeded the labeled shelf life date recommended by the manufacturer is protected pursuant to this section if the person who distributes the food to the end recipient makes a good faith evaluation that the food to be donated is wholesome.

(e) The local food bank or Rhode Island Food Bank that, in good faith, receives and distributes food without charge, pursuant to subsection (a), that is fit for human consumption at the time it was distributed is not liable for any injury or death due to the food unless the injury or death is a direct result of the gross negligence or intentional misconduct of the organization.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-60-8.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-60 / Section 16-60-8.1
§ 16-60-8.1. Regents recovery for indirect costs.
Status: in_force

The regents shall apply for recovery of indirect cost when recovery is permissible under federal statute and grant regulations. All funds received for indirect costs recovery shall be turned over to the general treasurer and shall be placed in a restricted account for specific purposes designated by the regents. The regents shall annually report to the general assembly the estimated amount of federal indirect cost recoveries for the next fiscal year together with the intended use of the funds.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7-34.3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-7 / Section 16-7-34.3
§ 16-7-34.3. Reimbursement by the state for conventional public housing students.
Status: in_force

(a) Each school district shall be reimbursed for expenditures for services and instructional programs for students residing in conventional public housing units owned by public housing authorities which are not on local tax rolls. Reimbursement shall be made when the services and programs have been carried out in accordance with the requirements of state law and regulations of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education. The following formula shall be used to distribute aid for the students residing in the public housing units:

(1)(i) The following formula and definitions are to be used to determine the entitlement for each school district:

(ii) The incentive entitlement for a district shall be the product of the average per pupil cost for the district, the number of full time equivalent pupils in grade 12 and below residing in conventional public housing, and the state share ratio for the district.

(2) In this formula the following terms have the following meanings:

(i) Incentive entitlement means the sum payable to a local school district under this formula.

(ii) Average per pupil costs for the district means all expenditures approved by the state board of regents for elementary and secondary education as defined in § 16-7-20 plus the costs of special education required under chapter 24 of this title divided by average daily membership of pupils as determined in § 16-7-22(1).

(iii) State share ratio means the effective state share ratio as calculated under § 16-7-20.

(iv) Conventional public housing means those properties identified as eligible low rent housing projects under title I of P.L. 81-874, 20 U.S.C. § 236 et seq.

(b) Students living on property owned by the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation shall also be included in computations under this section.

(c) Students living in the North Kingstown Travelers Aid housing project shall also be included in computations under this section.

(d) An amount shall be appropriated for the purpose of reimbursing school districts as required pursuant to subsection (a) for conventional public housing.

(e) If the sum appropriated in subsection (a) of this section is not sufficient to pay in full the amount for conventional public housing which each city and town is entitled to receive in any fiscal year, the maximum amount which all cities and towns are entitled to receive under this section shall be deducted from the sum appropriated for all cities and towns under § 16-7-20. If, after final allocation of §§ 16-7-15 through 16-7-34, a district receives more than one hundred percent (100%) reimbursement, the excess shall be deducted from this conventional public housing allocation in the following fiscal year.

(f) Reimbursement payments as calculated under this chapter shall be made according to § 16-7-16. All payments under this chapter shall be used exclusively to support services for conventional public housing students.

(g) Expenditure reports shall be submitted by the local school districts to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education in accordance with rules and regulations of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-45-6.2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-45 / Section 16-45-6.2
§ 16-45-6.2. The Paul W. Crowley Metropolitan Career and Technical Center.
Status: in_force

The Metropolitan Career and Technical Center, in Newport, Rhode Island, shall hereafter be named and known as the Paul W. Crowley Metropolitan Career and Technical Center.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-21.4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-2 / Section 16-2-21.4
§ 16-2-21.4. School budgets  Compliance with certain requirements.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, whenever a city, town, or regional school committee determines that its budget is insufficient to comply with the provisions of § 16-2-21, 16-7-23, or 16-7-24, the city, town, or regional school committee shall adhere to the appropriated budget or the provisions of § 16-2-23 in the absence of an appropriated budget. The chairperson of the city, town, or regional school committee, in accordance with the provisions of § 16-2-9, shall be required to petition the commissioner, in writing, to seek alternatives for the district to comply with state regulations and/or provide waivers to state regulations and, in particular, those which are more restrictive than federal regulations that allow the school committee to operate with a balanced budget. Waivers which affect the health and safety of students and staff or which violate the provisions of chapter 24 of this title shall not be granted. The commissioner must consider alternatives for districts to comply with regulations and/or provide waivers to regulations in order that the school committee may operate with a balanced budget within the previously authorized appropriation. In the petition to the commissioner, the school committee shall be required to identify the alternatives to meet regulations and/or identify the waivers it seeks in order to provide the commissioner with the revised budget which allows it to have a balanced budget within the previously authorized appropriation. The commissioner shall respond within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of the written petition from the school committee. If the commissioner does not approve of the alternatives to meet regulations or the waivers from regulations which are sought by the school committee, or if the commissioner does not approve of the modified expenditure plan submitted by the school committee, then: (1) within ten (10) days of receiving the commissioners response, the school committee may submit a written request to the city or town council for the council of the municipality to decide whether to increase the appropriation for schools to meet expenditures. The decision to increase any appropriations shall be conducted pursuant to the local charter or the public law controlling the approval of appropriations within the municipality; or (2) in a regional school district, the chairperson of the school committee may, within ten (10) days of receiving the commissioners response, submit a written request to the chief elected official of each of the municipalities to request that the city or town council in each of their respective towns meet to decide whether or not to increase the appropriation for schools to meet expenditures. The decision to increase any appropriations shall be conducted pursuant to the local charter or the public law controlling the approval of appropriations within the municipality.

(b) In the event of a negative vote by the appropriating authority, the school committee shall have the right to seek additional appropriations by bringing an action in the superior court for the county of Providence and shall be required to demonstrate that the school committee lacks the ability to adequately run the schools for that school year with a balanced budget within the previously authorized appropriation or in accordance with §§ 16-2-21, 16-2-23, 16-7-23, and 16-7-24. In no event shall any court order obtained by the school committee have force and effect for any period longer than the fiscal year for which the litigation is brought. Any action filed pursuant to this section shall be set down for a hearing at the earliest possible time and shall be given precedence over all matters except older matters of the same character. The court shall render its decision within thirty (30) days of the close of the hearings. Upon the bringing of an action in the superior court by the school committee to increase appropriations, the chief executive officer of the municipality, or in the case of a regional school district the chief elected officials from each of the member municipalities, shall cause to have a financial and performance audit in compliance with the generally acceptable governmental auditing standards of the school department conducted by the auditor general, the bureau of audits, or a certified public accounting firm qualified in performance audits. The results of the audit shall be made public upon completion and paid for by the school committee to the state or private certified public accounting firm.

(c) The auditor general shall select the auditor if the audit is not directly performed by his or her office.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-11-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-11 / Section 16-11-4
§ 16-11-4. Annulment of certificates  Annulment, renewal, or recertification of certificates.
Status: in_force

(a) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall promulgate rules and regulations under which a certificate may be annulled for cause. The holder shall be entitled to notice and a hearing before the commissioner of elementary and secondary education prior to the annulment of the certificate. The holder shall have an opportunity to appeal the decision of the commissioner to the council on elementary and secondary education, if desired.

(b) In the event the license of any person licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is subject to renewal or recertification, for any reason, including, but not limited to, the payment of licensing fees, the department of elementary and secondary education shall send notice to such person of the need for such renewal or recertification, by electronic mail or e-mail. Said notice shall be issued at least ninety (90) calendar days prior to the proposed action. Such notice shall include:

(1) The action proposed by the department;

(2) The date such action proposed is to be taken; and

(3) A statement as to what actions the person needs to perform to retain the license, if applicable.

(c) The notice required by subsection (b) of this section shall be in addition to, and not in place of, any other notice required by law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7-30 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-7 / Section 16-7-30
§ 16-7-30. School attendance when high school not maintained by community.
Status: in_force

A community not maintaining a high school shall make provision for the free attendance of its children at some high school or academy approved by the state board of regents for elementary and secondary education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-5.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-21 / Section 16-21-5.1
§ 16-21-5.1. Carbon monoxide detectors required in school buildings.
Status: in_force

Effective January 1, 2019, all school buildings where students are in attendance for any portion of the day shall be required to have carbon monoxide detectors installed and maintained therein, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Code and the state fire safety code (state code), chapter 28.1 of title 23. The fire safety code board of appeal and review (the board) established pursuant to chapter 28.3 of title 23 shall have authority to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to enforce the provisions of this section. Provided, in the event the state fire marshal determines that neither the NFPA code nor the state code have provisions in place to govern the installation, then the state fire marshal may use the provisions of NFPA Code 1/NFPA 101, 2015 editions, NFPA Code 720, 2012 edition, the state fire code, and any additional requirements provided under those codes for licensed nursery or daycare services, as guidance in the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in schools, until such time as the board promulgates applicable rules and regulations.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-45-4.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-45 / Section 16-45-4.1
§ 16-45-4.1. Regional special programs.
Status: in_force

(a) Each city and town may contract with the William E. Davies, Jr. vocational-technical high school to establish and operate programs for special populations including students with disabilities and potential school dropouts.

(b) When these programs are operated by the William E. Davies, Jr. vocational-technical high school, each participating city or town shall be assessed for the cost of the program in the proportion that their enrollment bears to the total enrollment in the program. These assessments shall be deposited as general revenues.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-96-5 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-96 / Section 16-96-5
§ 16-96-5. Duties of the state board of regents.
Status: in_force

(a) In order to fulfill the purposes of this act, the state board of regents shall encourage school districts to offer rigorous courses in grades 6 through 11 that prepare students for the demands of advanced placement course work. The state board of regents shall also encourage school districts to make it a goal that all 10th graders take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholars Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) so that test results will provide each high school with a database of student assessment data that guidance counselors and teachers will be able to use to identify students who are prepared or who need additional work to be prepared to enroll and be successful in advanced placement courses, using a research-based advanced placement identification program provided by the college board.

(b) The state board of regents shall do all of the following:

(1) Seek federal funding through the advanced placement incentive program and the Math-Science partnership program and use it to support advanced placement and pre-advanced placement teacher professional development and to support the implementation of an integrated instructional program for students in grades 6 through 12 in reading, writing, and mathematics that prepares all students for enrollment and success in advanced placement courses and in college.

(2) Focus state and federal funding with the intent to carry-out activities that target school districts serving high concentrations of low-income students.

(3) Subject to appropriation, provide a plan of communication that includes, without limitation, disseminating to parents materials that emphasize the importance of advanced placement or other advanced courses to a students ability to gain access to, and to succeed in, postsecondary education and materials that emphasize the importance of the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholars Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which provides diagnostic feedback on skills and relates students scores to the probability of success in advanced placement courses and examinations, and disseminating this information to students, teachers, counselors, administrators, school districts, public community colleges, and state universities.

(4) Subject to appropriation, annually evaluate the impact of this act on rates of student enrollment and success in advanced placement courses, on high school graduation rates, and on college enrollment retention and completion rates.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-71-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-71 / Section 16-71-2
§ 16-71-2. Notification.
Status: in_force

The parents or guardians of each child enrolled in an elementary or secondary school within the state, or the student if over the age of eighteen (18), shall annually be notified in writing by the school district responsible for the operation of the school of their rights under this chapter. Agencies and institutions of elementary and secondary education shall provide for the need to effectively notify parents of students identified as having a primary or home language other than English.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-12-9 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-12 / Section 16-12-9
§ 16-12-9. Residency within municipality not required.
Status: repealed

Notwithstanding any prior ratification and validation by the general assembly of any home rule charter provision requiring that a public school department employee reside within the employing city or town, effective September 1, 2001, no home rule charter provision shall require that a public school department employee reside within the city or town as a condition of appointment or continued employment. Any prior ratification and validation by the general assembly of a home rule charter provision requiring residency within a city or town as a condition for employment of a public school department employee is expressly repealed by the general assembly. Nor shall any town or city council make or ordain any ordinance requiring that a public school department employee reside within the employing city or town as a condition of appointment or continued employment. Any existing ordinance requiring that a public school department employee reside within the employing city or town as a condition of appointment or continued employment is considered contrary to the laws of this state and is thus void as violative of state law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-54-5 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-54 / Section 16-54-5
§ 16-54-5. State advisory council.
Status: in_force

A state advisory council shall be established by the department of elementary and secondary education. The council shall be comprised of twenty-one (21) members, one of whom shall be the chairperson of the house finance committee or his or her designee; one of whom shall be the chairperson of the senate finance committee or his or her designee; all others shall be appointed by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and be representative of the significant segments of the limited English proficient population of the state or have demonstrated an interest in the education of the limited English proficient population. In appointing members to the state advisory council, the commissioner shall ensure equal access and opportunity for participation to all interested parties. Members of the state advisory council shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner, serve without compensation, and be residents of the state. The advisory council shall advise the commissioner on all matters pertaining to the education of limited English proficient students.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-92-11 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-92 / Section 16-92-11
§ 16-92-11. Powers and duties of the interstate commission.
Status: in_force

The interstate commission shall have the following powers:

(1) To provide for dispute resolution among member states.

(2) To promulgate rules and take all necessary actions to effect the goals, purposes and obligations as enumerated in this compact. The rules shall have the force and effect of statutory law and shall be binding in the compact states to the extent and in the manner provided in this compact.

(3) To issue, upon request of a member state, advisory opinions concerning the meaning or interpretation of the interstate compact, its bylaws, rules and actions.

(4) To enforce compliance with the compact provisions, the rules promulgated by the interstate commission, and the bylaws, using all necessary and proper means, including, but not limited to, the use of judicial process.

(5) To establish and maintain offices which shall be located within one or more of the member states.

(6) To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds.

(7) To borrow, accept, hire or contract for services of personnel.

(8) To establish and appoint committees including, but not limited to, an executive committee as required by subdivision 16-91-10(5), which shall have the power to act on behalf of the interstate commission in carrying out its powers and duties hereunder.

(9) To elect or appoint such officers, attorneys, employees, agents, or consultants, and to fix their compensation, define their duties and determine their qualifications; and to establish the interstate commissions personnel policies and programs relating to conflicts of interest, rates of compensation, and qualifications of personnel.

(10) To accept any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services, and to receive, utilize, and dispose of it.

(11) To lease, purchase, accept contributions or donations of, or otherwise to own, hold, improve or use any property, real, personal, or mixed.

(12) To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon, or otherwise dispose of any property, real, personal or mixed.

(13) To establish a budget and make expenditures.

(14) To adopt a seal and bylaws governing the management and operation of the interstate commission.

(15) To report annually to the legislatures, governors, judiciary, and state councils of the member states concerning the activities of the interstate commission during the preceding year. Such reports shall also include any recommendations that may have been adopted by the interstate commission.

(16) To coordinate education, training and public awareness regarding the compact, its implementation and operation for officials and parents involved in such activity.

(17) To establish uniform standards for the reporting, collecting and exchanging of data.

(18) To maintain corporate books and records in accordance with the bylaws.

(19) To perform such functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this compact.

(20) To provide for the uniform collection and sharing of information between and among member states, schools and military families under this compact.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-91-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-91 / Section 16-91-4
§ 16-91-4. All other youth sports program.
Status: in_force

All other youth sports programs not specifically addressed by this statute are encouraged to follow the guidance set forth in this statute for all program participants who are age nineteen (19) and younger.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-32-42 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-32 / Section 16-32-42
§ 16-32-42. Existing bond debt.
Status: in_force

The board of trustees is authorized to take all actions, and execute and deliver all agreements or instruments, necessary or convenient for the board to assume all of the obligations on behalf of, and in replacement of, or jointly with the council on postsecondary education under outstanding bonds issued by the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation or outstanding lease certificates of participation, in either case, issued for the benefit of the university of Rhode Island, the community college of Rhode Island, and/or Rhode Island college as may be necessary to ensure, among other items, that the university continues to meet its obligations under such bonds or certificates.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-56-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-56 / Section 16-56-4
§ 16-56-4. Forms of assistance.
Status: in_force

The forms of assistance and their purposes shall be as follows:

(1) Need based grants, the purpose of which shall be to promote access and to support choice for financially needy students.

(2) Need based scholarships, the purpose of which shall be to encourage and to reward the demonstration of superior ability and to promote access and choice for outstanding students who have financial need.

(3) Need based work opportunities, the purpose of which shall be to promote work opportunities to financially needy students in order to fulfill those students self-help responsibilities by providing funds to agencies participating in the federal college work study program.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-116-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-116 / Section 16-116-1
§ 16-116-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Transparency in Arts Education Access and Proficiency Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-11-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-11 / Section 16-11-2
§ 16-11-2. Examinations  Issuance of certificates.
Status: in_force

The board of regents for elementary and secondary education shall hold, or cause to be held, in any places in different parts of the state and at any times it may determine, examinations for the position of teacher in the public schools of this state; and the board of regents for elementary and secondary education is authorized to issue certificates of qualification which shall be valid throughout the state for the grade and time specified in the certificate. All assessed fees shall be deposited as general revenues.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-59-17 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-59 / Section 16-59-17
§ 16-59-17. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any provision of this chapter or of any rule or regulation made under this chapter, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the chapter, rule, or regulation and the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by this invalidity. The invalidity of any section or sections or parts of any section or sections shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-12-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-12 / Section 16-12-3
§ 16-12-3. Duty to cultivate principles of morality.
Status: in_force

Every teacher shall aim to implant and cultivate in the minds of all children committed to his or her care the principles of morality and virtue.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-29-14 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-29 / Section 16-29-14
§ 16-29-14. State home class supervisor  Expenditures.
Status: in_force

The department of elementary and secondary education shall appoint a home class supervisor whose duty it shall be to recruit, organize, supervise, and teach classes authorized by §§ 16-29-11 through 16-29-13, and to cooperate with the school committee of any city or town in the establishment and maintenance of the classes; and the department may fix the compensation of the supervisor within the appropriation made by § 16-29-11 to be paid from the appropriation. The state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment from time to time of the sum appropriated or so much of this sum as may be necessary, upon receipt of vouchers approved by the state department of elementary and secondary education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-95-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-95 / Section 16-95-2
§ 16-95-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) Recovery High School means a public school or a special education program licensed by RIDE that: (i) Serves students diagnosed with substance use disorder or dependency, as defined by the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders IV-TR; and (ii) Provides both comprehensive four (4) year high school education and a structured plan of recovery.

(2) Board of regents means the Rhode Island board of regents for elementary and secondary education.

(3) Commissioner means the Rhode Island commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

(4) RIDE means the Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education.

(5) Sending school district means the district where the student attending or planning to attend a recovery high school resides, and that, upon recommendation of a clinician licensed pursuant to chapter 42-35, refers the student for enrollment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-45-10 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-45 / Section 16-45-10
§ 16-45-10. Payment of past due vocational school tuition.
Status: in_force

If a sending school district fails to pay the requisite tuition to a school district hosting a vocational school, the commissioner of education may, based upon an affidavit filed by the host community, deduct the requisite sums from the state aid of the sending district and pay these sums over to the host district. The sending district may request a hearing if the debt is disputed, but the deductions and payments shall continue to be made during the pendency of the hearing and any appeal.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-38-13 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-38 / Section 16-38-13
§ 16-38-13. Remission of fines and forfeitures.
Status: in_force

The board of regents for elementary and secondary education may remit all fines, penalties, and forfeitures incurred by any city or town or person under any of the provisions of this title, except the forfeiture incurred by any city or town for not raising its proportion of money.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7-35 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-7 / Section 16-7-35
§ 16-7-35. Foundation program for school housing  Declaration of policy.
Status: in_force

Sections 16-7-35 to 16-7-47 are designed to:

(1) Guarantee adequate school housing for all public school children in the state, and

(2) Prevent the cost of school housing from interfering with the effective operation of the schools.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-26-12 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-26 / Section 16-26-12
§ 16-26-12. Other sources of funding.
Status: in_force

(a) The 2009 general assembly, through the FY 2010 appropriation act, established a fee for a service program, also known as a tuition program, for the Rhode Island school for the deaf effective July 1, 2009 in accordance with the fee structure developed and implemented by the department of elementary and secondary education. Under this fee for service program, and the provisions of Rhode Island general law § 16-26-7.1 notwithstanding, districts shall be assessed tuition to cover the costs of educational services that are additional to the core deaf and hard-of-hearing education program that is provided to resident students at the Rhode Island school for the deaf.

(b) Tuition assessed at the school for the deaf to cover costs of educational services that are additional to the core deaf and hard-of-hearing education program shall be based on a graduated tuition schedule correlating to the varying needs of students. Districts shall receive three (3) times each school year, invoices summarizing the basis for the tuition charged. There shall be deducted from the final aid payment to each school district at the end of the fiscal year any amounts owed to the state for these additional educational services. All tuition paid by districts and any aid deducted for non-payment shall be deposited in a restricted receipt account and shall be exempt from the indirect cost recovery provisions of § 35-4-7.

(c) The school for the deaf is hereby authorized to rent or lease space in its school building. The school shall deposit any revenues from such agreements into a restricted receipt account, to be known as the school for the deaf rental income account, to be used for the same educational purposes that its state appropriation is used. Any such rental agreements must receive prior approval from the schools board of trustees and by the state properties committee.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-52-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-52 / Section 16-52-3
§ 16-52-3. Security personnel.
Status: in_force

(a) All campus police at state colleges and universities and all private security personnel employed by public or private colleges and universities shall, as a condition of their employment, apply to the bureau of criminal identification of the state police for a nationwide criminal records check.

(b) The nationwide criminal records check required by this section shall conform to applicable federal standards including the taking of fingerprints to identify the applicant. The results of the nationwide criminal records check required by this section shall be provided, in writing, to the applicant and, upon the request of the applicant, to any state or private college or university to which the applicant may apply for employment.

(c) Any private or state college or university which receives the results of a nationwide criminal records check pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall maintain those records on file for so long as the applicant is employed by the college or university as a campus police officer or as a security person.

(d) It shall be the responsibility of the bureau of criminal identification of the state police to conduct the nationwide criminal records check required by this section. The applicant for a nationwide criminal records check under this section shall pay to the state police a fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) at the time of his or her application; provided that, upon his or her employment as a campus police officer or as a security person by a private or state college or university the amount shall be reimbursed to the applicant by the college or university.

(e) This section shall not apply to any person employed by a private or public college or university as a campus police officer or a security person on July 7, 1989.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-17 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-16 / Section 16-16-17
§ 16-16-17. Amount of accidental disability benefit.
Status: in_force

(a) For disability applications submitted on or before September 30, 2009, upon retirement for accidental disability under § 16-16-16 a teacher shall receive a benefit that shall be equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2 / 3 %) of his or her annual compensation at the time of his or her retirement, subject to the provisions of § 16-16-20.

(b) Upon any application for accidental disability submitted after October 1, 2009, if the teacher has been found to be permanently and totally disabled from service but has not been found by the board to be permanently and totally disabled from any employment as a result of his/her accidental disability, a teacher shall receive a retirement allowance equal to fifty percent (50%) of the rate of the teachers compensation at the date of the teachers retirement subject to the provisions of § 16-16-20. The retiree shall, as a condition of continued receipt of a disability retirement allowance, on or before a date fixed by the retirement board, annually under penalties of perjury provide the board with such affidavits and accurate evidence of earnings, employment and gainful activity as the board may require, including, but not limited to, joint and/or individual tax returns. Payment of the disability retirement allowance shall continue as long as the individual remains disabled, and regardless of service or age. Upon retirement for accidental disability that has been found by the board to be permanently and totally disabling from any employment, a teacher shall receive a retirement allowance equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2 / 3 %) of the rate of the teachers compensation at the date of the teachers retirement subject to the provisions of § 16-16-20. The retirement board shall apply the terms of subsection 28-33-17(b) in determining total disability.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-15-13 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-15 / Section 16-15-13
§ 16-15-13. Additional pension and retirement grants  Declaration of policy.
Status: in_force

The state pension systems for teachers of public education have proved to be inadequate to meet the special needs of retirement during this period of sharply increasing costs of living. A completely adequate retirement system for teachers is an essential responsibility of the state in providing sound public education. Therefore, §§ 16-15-13 to 16-15-15 are designed to provide additional state aid for retired teachers in order to make the teaching profession more attractive to qualified teachers and to provide for the security and welfare of education in the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-26-3.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-26 / Section 16-26-3.1
§ 16-26-3.1. Board of Trustees.
Status: reserved

(a) The powers delegated and authorized in this chapter for the board of regents for elementary and secondary education and the department of elementary and secondary education shall be in addition to those previously authorized by any other general or public law.

(b) The governance, funding, and programming of the Rhode Island School for the Deaf shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations formulated by the board of regents for elementary and secondary education pursuant to chapter 35 of title 42.

(c)(1) The purpose of this chapter is to restructure the governance of the Rhode Island School for the Deaf.

(2) The School for the Deaf shall be operated as a local education agency and shall be governed by a board of trustees. With the exception of those powers and duties reserved to the director, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, and the board of regents for elementary and secondary education, the board of trustees shall have the powers and duties of a school committee.

(3) The board of regents for elementary and secondary education shall appoint the members of the board of trustees from nominations made by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. The chairperson shall also be selected in this manner. The board of regents for elementary and secondary education shall determine the qualifications and terms of office of members of the board of trustees. The board of trustees shall be comprised of nine (9) individuals, not less than five (5) of whom shall be persons who are deaf and hard of hearing. The commissioner may seek input on nominations of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing from organizations whose membership is primarily made up of deaf and hard of hearing individuals, individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing, or organizations whose purpose is advocacy for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing, as well as from other sources. For purposes of obtaining input from diverse sources regarding suggestions for nominations for the first trustees to be nominated by the commissioner, the commissioner shall convene a public quorum to obtain broad input prior to making the initial nominations for the founding membership on the board of trustees. No person in any way employed by or doing business with the Rhode Island School for the Deaf shall serve on the board of trustees.

(4) The board of regents shall establish strategic directions for the education of deaf and hard of hearing children in the state of Rhode Island.

(5) The board of regents shall provide parameters for budget requests, recommend a budget, and participate in budget development.

(d)(1) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall recommend parameters for the overall budget requests, recommend a budget, and participate in budget development.

(2) The commissioner shall approve the process for selection of a director of the school.

(e) The board of trustees shall meet monthly and serve without compensation. Seven (7) members of the board of trustees shall be required to attend teacher appeal meetings pursuant to § 16-13-4. The board of trustees shall have broad policy making authority of the operation of the school consistent with this subsection and the following powers and duties:

(1) To identify the needs of deaf and hard of hearing children in the state of Rhode Island.

(2) To develop educational policies to meet the needs of deaf and hard of hearing children served by the school for the deaf.

(3) To appoint a director of the school to serve as its chief executive officer and to approve assistant directors from nominations made by the director.

(4) To provide policy guidance and participate in budget development.

(5) To develop staffing policies which ensure that all students are taught by educators of the highest possible quality.

(f)(1) The director shall serve at the pleasure of the board of trustees with the initial appointment to be for a period of not more than five (5) years; provided, that the term and conditions of employment are subject to the approval of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education.

(2) It is the responsibility of the director to manage and operate the school on a day to day basis. The directors responsibilities shall include the following:

(i) To be responsible for the entire care, supervision, and management of the school for the deaf.

(ii) To recommend to the board of regents educational policies to meet the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing children and to implement policies established by the board of trustees.

(iii) To present nominations to the board of trustees for assistant administrators and to appoint all other school personnel.

(iv) To provide for the evaluation of all school personnel.

(v) To establish a school based management approach for decision making for the operation of the school.

(vi) To report to the board of trustees on a regular basis the financial condition and the operation of the school, and to report annually on the educational progress of the school.

(vii) To establish appropriate advisory committees as needed to provide guidance and feedback on the operation of the school.

(viii) To make himself or herself available to the board of trustees and to attend board of trustees meetings to provide a link between the school and the board of trustees.

(g) With policy guidance from the board of trustees and extensive involvement of the administrators and faculty of the school, the director shall annually prepare a budget. The board of trustees will approve the budget and transmit it to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. The board of regents for elementary and secondary education shall provide parameters for the overall budget request. Based on review and recommendations for the commissioner, the board of regents shall approve the total budget and incorporate it into its budget request to the governor and to the general assembly. Line item budgeting decisions shall be the responsibility of the director.

(h) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to limit or interfere with the rights of teachers and other school employees to bargain collectively pursuant to chapters 9.3 and 9.4 of title 28 or to allow the board of trustees or the director to abrogate any agreement by collective bargaining. Employees at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf shall continue to be state employees and the bargaining units which are presently established at the school shall remain intact.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-29-6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-29 / Section 16-29-6
§ 16-29-6. Visitation and supervision by department of elementary and secondary education.
Status: in_force

The department of elementary and secondary education is authorized and empowered to provide for the visitation, inspection, and supervision of day and evening schools maintained under the provisions of this chapter, and the general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum that it may deem necessary to defray the expenses of the visitation, inspection, and supervision, for meeting any appropriation as may be provided by the federal government for similar purposes, and for the promotion of Americanization; and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the sum, or so much of this sum as may from time to time be required, upon receipt by the controller of proper vouchers approved by the department of elementary and secondary education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-32-26 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-32 / Section 16-32-26
§ 16-32-26. Management of college of pharmacy fund.
Status: in_force

(a) The general treasurer shall have the care and management of the fund with full power to regulate the custody and safekeeping of all money and evidences of property belonging to the fund. The treasurer shall deposit, subject to his or her order, to the use of this fund, all dividends, interest, or income arising from it, in any bank or banks, trust company or trust companies, in which funds of the state may be lawfully kept. The treasurer may invest and reinvest, in his or her discretion, the money in the fund at any time and the dividends, interest, and income in any securities or investments in which the deposits in savings banks and participation deposits in banks and trust companies may be legally invested. The treasurer may change and vary the investments from time to time, and he or she may sell and dispose of any investments made, when necessary to meet the draft of the board of trustees as provided in § 16-32-25.

(b) The general treasurer shall, upon the order of the governor to do so, transfer to the university of Rhode Island foundation created by act of the general assembly at its January 1957 session all money and evidences of property comprising the fund, and then his or her duties with respect to the fund shall cease, and the foundation shall after this hold and administer the fund with all the powers and subject to all the duties imposed upon it by the act of the general assembly with respect to other funds held by the foundation; provided, that the fund shall be held by the foundation as a special fund and shall not be mingled with other funds held by the foundation, and the net income of the fund shall be devoted exclusively to the object specified in § 16-32-25.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-40-9.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-40 / Section 16-40-9.1
§ 16-40-9.1. Injunctive relief.
Status: in_force

The superior court for the county of Providence is empowered to grant appropriate injunctive relief to the plaintiff for violation of the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-5-22 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-5 / Section 16-5-22
§ 16-5-22. Appropriations to aid evening schools.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum as it may deem necessary for the support and maintenance of public evening schools in the several cities or towns of the state, to be apportioned by the board of regents for elementary and secondary education for the support of the schools as may be approved by the board; and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders for the payment of the sum, or so much of the sum as shall be required, on vouchers approved by the department of elementary and secondary education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7-39 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-7 / Section 16-7-39
§ 16-7-39. Computation of school housing-aid ratio.
Status: in_force

For each community, the percent of state aid for school housing costs shall be computed in the following manner:

(1) The adjusted equalized weighted assessed valuation for the district is divided by the resident average daily membership for the district (grades twelve (12) and below); (2) The adjusted equalized weighted assessed valuation for the state is divided by the resident average daily membership for the state (grades twelve (12) and below); (1) is then divided by (2) and the resultant ratio is multiplied by a factor currently set at sixty-two percent (62%) which represents the approximate average district share of school support; the resulting product is then subtracted from one hundred percent (100%) to yield the housing aid share ratio, provided that in no case shall the ratio be less than thirty percent (30%). Provided, that effective July 1, 2010, and annually at the start of each fiscal year thereafter, the thirty percent (30%) floor on said housing-aid share shall be increased by five percent (5%) increments each year until said floor on the housing-aid share ratio reaches a minimum of not less than forty percent (40%). This provision shall apply only to school housing projects completed after June 30, 2010, that received approval from the board of regents prior to June 30, 2012. Provided further, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, and for subsequent fiscal years, the minimum housing aid share shall be thirty-five percent (35%) for all projects receiving council on elementary and secondary education approval after June 30, 2012. The resident average daily membership shall be determined in accordance with § 16-7-22(1).

(2) No district shall receive a combined total of more than twenty (20) incentive percentage points for projects that commence construction by June 30, 2024, and five (5) incentive points for projects that commence construction thereafter; provided further, these caps shall be in addition to amounts received under §§ 16-7-40(a)(1) and 16-7-40(a)(2). Furthermore, a districts share shall not be decreased by more than half of its regular share irrespective of the number of incentive points received nor shall a districts state share increase by more than half of its regular share, including amounts received under §§ 16-7-40(a)(1) and 16-7-40(a)(2), irrespective of the number of incentive points received. Provided further that the aforementioned limit on the state share increasing by more than half of its regular share shall not apply to projects submitted for reimbursement after July 1, 2023.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-15-16 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-15 / Section 16-15-16
§ 16-15-16. Annual grant for teachers retiring prior to July 1, 1949.
Status: in_force

(a) The general assembly shall annually appropriate a sum sufficient to pay an additional annual retirement grant of two thousand dollars ($2,000) for a payment of a pension of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) annually to every retired teacher who qualified for either a pension or retirement benefits under the provisions of this chapter, and who retired prior to July 1, 1949.

(b) This grant shall be an annual state grant and shall be in addition to any and all amounts being paid from any state pension or retirement system and in addition to any payments from a retirement or pension system of any city or town.

(c) All money appropriated in accordance with the amended provisions of this chapter for the retired teachers shall be administered by the department of elementary and secondary education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-64-7 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-64 / Section 16-64-7
§ 16-64-7. Pupil records  Transfer and access.
Status: in_force

When the family court enters an order pursuant to the provisions of § 33-15.1-2 vesting the right to control a childs education with the department of children, youth, and families, that department shall be empowered to authorize and direct the transfer of public school pupil records pertaining to the child when the child is moved to a new city or town through action of the department of children, youth, and families.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-59-9.3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-59 / Section 16-59-9.3
§ 16-59-9.3. Student Success Act.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of the general or public laws:

(1) A student, other than a nonimmigrant alien within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15), who meets all of the following requirements shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition at Rhode Island public universities, colleges, or community colleges, if he or she:

(i) Attended an approved Rhode Island high school for three (3) or more consecutive years;

(ii) Continues to reside in the state of Rhode Island;

(iii) Has graduated from an approved Rhode Island high school or received a high school equivalency diploma from the state of Rhode Island;

(iv) Has filed, or will file, upon matriculation, with the Rhode Island public university, college, or community college of expected attendance, an affidavit stating that:

(A) The student meets the requirements of subsections (1)(i) and (1)(ii) of this section; and

(B) If the student is not a United States citizen and does not have a lawful immigration status, that the student has filed an application for lawful immigration status, or will file the application as soon as the student is eligible to do so. The affidavit shall not require students to reveal their immigration or citizenship status.

(2) Any nonimmigrant foreign national student, who has resided in Rhode Island for three (3) years and has attended a Rhode Island high school for three (3) years, will be eligible to pay the same in-state tuition as any other Rhode Island student.

(3) Identifiable student information obtained pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall be confidential to the extent provided by state and federal law (including the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)). If information obtained pursuant to this section regarding a students immigration status is provided to any agency for purposes other than the implementation of this section, the entity providing the information shall promptly notify the student.

(4) The Rhode Island council for postsecondary education shall prescribe rules and regulations as may be necessary for the implementation of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-50-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-50 / Section 16-50-1
§ 16-50-1. Declaration of policy.
Status: in_force

It is recognized and declared that the publicizing, selling, and administering of courses of instruction by correspondence schools or home study courses, whether given in residence or by mail, proceed in accordance with acceptable practices and with consequent and important benefits to students pursuing these courses. It also is recognized that the benefits received from this instruction should be enhanced and the protection of those persons and institutions offering it should be established. It is the purpose of this chapter to supplement the general law of fraud so as to provide adequate protection for students, educational institutions, and the general public.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-56-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-56 / Section 16-56-2
§ 16-56-2. General appropriation.
Status: in_force

(a) The general assembly shall appropriate annually a sum to provide postsecondary financial assistance. This sum may be supplemented from time to time by other sources of revenue including, but not limited to, federal programs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-89-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-89 / Section 16-89-1
§ 16-89-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Grant, Gift and Donation Acceptance and Expenditure Act of 2009.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-21 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-2 / Section 16-2-21
§ 16-2-21. Pre-budget consultation  Annual reports  Appropriation requests  Budgets.
Status: in_force

(a) At least sixty (60) days, but not more than ninety (90) days, prior to the formal submission of the school budget to the appropriate city or town officials by the school committee, there shall be a joint, pre-budget meeting between the school committee and the city or town council(s). At or before this meeting:

(1) The highest elected official of the city or town shall submit to the school committee an estimate, prepared in a manner approved by the department of administration, of projected revenues for the next fiscal year. In the case of the property tax, the projections shall include only changes in the property tax base, not property tax rates;

(2) The school committee shall submit to the city or town council a statement for the next ensuing fiscal year of anticipated total expenditures, projected enrollments with resultant staff and facility requirements, estimated enrollment and payments to charter schools, and any necessary or mandated changes in school programs or operations; and

(3) The school committee shall prepare and submit, annually, to the department of elementary and secondary education, on or before the first day of August, a report in the manner and form prescribed by the state board of regents for elementary and secondary education; the committee shall also prepare, not less than thirty (30) days before the date of the annual financial town meeting, or the date of the meeting of the city council at which annual appropriations are made, on forms prescribed and furnished by the department of elementary and secondary education, the estimates and recommendations of the amounts necessary to be appropriated for the support of public schools, including a distinct line item for estimated payments to charter schools for the fiscal year ensuing; provided, that a copy of these estimates and recommendations shall be sent to the department of elementary and secondary education, and until the report is made, and if the estimates and recommendations are not presented to the department, it may refuse to draw its orders for the money in the state treasury apportioned to the city or town; provided, that the necessary blank for the report has been furnished by the department on or before the first day of June, next preceding, and the necessary forms for the estimates and recommendations shall have been furnished by the department not less than sixty (60) days before the date of the annual appropriations meeting of the city council. The committee shall also prepare and submit annually to the department of elementary and secondary education and at the annual financial town meeting, a report to the city or town, setting forth its doings, the state, and condition of the schools, and plans for their improvement, which report, unless printed, shall be read in open meeting; and if printed, at least three (3) copies shall be transmitted to the department on or before the day of the annual financial town meeting in each year.

(b) If the amount appropriated by the town meeting, the city or town council, or budget referendum is either more or less than the amount recommended and requested by the school committee, the school committee shall, within thirty (30) days after the appropriation is made, amend its estimates and recommendations so that expenses are no greater than the total of all revenue appropriated by the state or town or provided for public schools under the care, control, and management of the school committee.

(c) Only a school budget in which total expenses are less than, or equal to, appropriations and revenues shall be considered an adopted school budget.

(d) Notwithstanding any provision of the general or public laws to the contrary:

(i) The budget adopted and presented by any school committee for the fiscal year 2008 shall not propose the appropriation of municipal funds (exclusive of state and federal aid) in excess of one hundred five and one-quarter percent (105.25%) of the total of municipal funds appropriated by the city or town council for school purposes for fiscal year 2007;

(ii) The budget adopted and presented by any school committee for the fiscal year 2009 shall not propose the appropriation of municipal funds (exclusive of state and federal aid) in excess of one hundred five percent (105%) of the total of municipal funds appropriated by the city or town council for school purposes for fiscal year 2008;

(iii) The budget adopted and presented by any school committee for the fiscal year 2010 shall not propose the appropriation of municipal funds (exclusive of state and federal aid) in excess of one hundred four and three-quarters percent (104.75%) of the total of municipal funds appropriated by the city or town council for school purposes for fiscal year 2009;

(iv) The budget adopted and presented by any school committee for the fiscal year 2011 shall not propose the appropriation of municipal funds (exclusive of state and federal aid) in excess of one hundred four and one-half percent (104.5%) of the total of municipal funds appropriated by the city or town council for school purposes for fiscal year 2010;

(v) The budget adopted and presented by any school committee for the fiscal year 2012 shall not propose the appropriation of municipal funds (exclusive of state and federal aid) in excess of one hundred four and one-quarter percent (104.25%) of the total of municipal funds appropriated by the city or town council for school purposes for fiscal year 2011; and

(vi) The budget adopted and presented by any school committee for the fiscal year 2013 and for each fiscal year thereafter shall not propose the appropriation of municipal funds (exclusive of state and federal aid) in excess of one hundred four percent (104%) of the total of municipal funds appropriated by the city or town council for school purposes for the previous fiscal year.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, any judgment rendered pursuant to § 16-2-21.4(b) shall consider the percentage caps on school district budgets set forth in subsection (d) of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-24-17 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-24 / Section 16-24-17
§ 16-24-17. Payment for services.
Status: in_force

No school district shall pay to any provider of either health or educational services to children with disabilities under this title any charges in excess of the rate currently being charged by the provider to any other public or private purchaser for the basic services, including any charges for room and board, nor shall the school district pay any charges in excess of the rate currently being charged by the provider to any other public or private purchaser for any other services deemed necessary by the individual education program. The school districts may request from the provider one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the start of their fiscal year a rate for services to be rendered for the ensuing fiscal year and the providers shall not change the rates during the ensuing fiscal year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-64-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-64 / Section 16-64-1
§ 16-64-1. Residency of children for school purposes.
Status: in_force

Except as provided by law or by agreement, a child shall be enrolled in the school system of the city or town where he or she resides. A child shall be deemed to be a resident of the city or town where his or her parents reside. If the childs parents reside in different cities or towns the child shall be deemed to be a resident of the city or town in which the parent having actual custody of the child resides. In cases where a child has no living parents, has been abandoned by his or her parents, or when parents are unable to care for their child on account of parental illness or family break-up, the child shall be deemed to be a resident of the city or town where the child lives with his or her legal guardian, natural guardian, or other person acting in loco parentis to the child. An emancipated minor shall be deemed to be a resident of the city or town where he or she lives. Children placed in group homes, in foster care, in child caring facilities, or by a Rhode Island state agency or a Rhode Island licensed child placing agency shall be deemed to be residents of the city or town where the group home, child caring facility, or foster home is located for the purposes of enrollment, and this city or town shall be reimbursed or the childs education shall be paid for in accordance with § 16-64-1.1. In all other cases a childs residence shall be determined in accordance with the applicable rules of the common law. Where a child is a resident in a dwelling which lies in more than one municipality, the parent(s) or guardian shall choose which school district the child shall attend without payment of costs as tuition.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-53-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-53 / Section 16-53-2
§ 16-53-2. Composition of board of trustees.
Status: in_force

(a) The board of trustees shall be composed of fifteen (15) members appointed by the governor in staggered terms; all the members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified, except as otherwise provided for in subsection (b) of this section. In the month of March, the governor shall appoint members to succeed the members whose term will then next expire for a term of three (3) years commencing on the first day of July then next following and until the successor is named and qualified. A member shall be eligible to succeed himself or herself. A vacancy other than by expiration shall be filled in the same manner as an original appointment but only for the unexpired portion of the term.

(b) The fifteen (15) members of the board of trustees shall be limited to nine (9) consecutive years of service and shall consist of:

(1) Nine (9) individuals who are representative of the private employment sector in the following manner:

(i) Five (5) of whom shall be representative of business, industry, and agriculture including:

(A) Two (2) members who are representatives of general business concerns;

(B) One member who is a representative of small business concerns;

(C) One member who is a private sector member of the governors workforce board, or the Rhode Island workforce investment board, or state job training coordinating council (established pursuant to section 122 of the Job Training Partnership Act, 29 U.S.C. § 1532); and

(D) One member who is a representative of the CTE trust established pursuant to this chapter;

(ii) Two (2) members who are representatives of labor organizations, one of whom must be a career and technical teacher; and

(iii) Two (2) members from trade associations representing employers in the state.

(2) Five (5) individuals who are representative of secondary and postsecondary educational institutions including:

(i) One member who is a representative of the Rhode Island association of school superintendents;

(ii) One member who is a representative or the director of career and technical education programs and/or facilities;

(iii) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education, or his/her designee:

(iv) The commissioner of higher education, or his/her designee: and

(v) One member who is a representative of adult education and skills training.

(3) The secretary of commerce or his/her designee shall be the fifteenth (15th) member ex officio.

(c) In selecting individuals to serve on the state board, due consideration shall be given to the appointment of individuals who serve on a private industry council under the Job Training Partnership Act (established pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 1512), or on councils established under other related federal acts.

(d) Members of the board of trustees may not represent more than one of the above-specified categories, and there shall be appropriate representation of both sexes, racial, and ethnic minorities, and the various geographic regions of the state.

(e) The state shall certify the establishment and membership of the state board of trustees at least ninety (90) days prior to the beginning of each planning period described in § 113(a)(1) of United States Public Law 98-524, 20 U.S.C. § 2323(a)(1).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-59-7.2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-59 / Section 16-59-7.2
§ 16-59-7.2. Longevity payments  Nonclassified employees.
Status: in_force

(a) The non-classified employees of the board of governors for higher education, except for faculty employees and except for non-classified employees already receiving longevity increases, shall be entitled to a longevity payment in the amount of five percent (5%) of base salary after ten (10) years of service and increasing to a total of ten percent (10%) of base salary after twenty (20) years of service. The provisions of this section will apply only to employees under the grade of nineteen (19). The longevity payments shall not be included in base salary.

(b) The board of governors is authorized to promulgate regulations implementing the provisions of this section.

(c) Beginning on July 1, 2011, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, there shall be no further longevity increases for employees of the board of governors; provided, however, for employees with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, longevity increases shall cease beginning on July 1, 2011 or beginning upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later. To the extent an employee has previously accrued longevity payments, the amount of the longevity payment earned by the employee for the last pay period in June, 2011 shall be added to the employees base salary as of June 30, 2011, or in the case of an employee with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, the amount of the longevity payment earned by the employee for the latter of the last pay period in June or the last pay period prior to the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement shall be added to the employees base salary as of June 30, 2011 or upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-53-7 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-53 / Section 16-53-7
§ 16-53-7. Gifts, grants, or donations.
Status: in_force

The council is authorized to receive any gifts, grants, or donations made for any of the purposes of its program, and to disburse and administer the gifts, grants, or donations in accordance with the terms of it.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-13-5 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-13 / Section 16-13-5
§ 16-13-5. Suspension for cause  Payment for period suspended.
Status: in_force

(a) Section 16-13-4 shall not prevent the suspension of a teacher for good and just cause. Prior to the suspension of a teacher as provided in this section, the school committee shall hold a pre-suspension hearing to determine if a suspension is warranted, and at the pre-suspension hearing, shall consider any available evidence and afford the teacher or his or her counsel an opportunity to respond to that evidence. In the event a teacher is suspended or otherwise not permitted to perform his or her duties prior to the presuspension hearing, then the teacher shall be paid his or her regular salary during that period.

(b) Whenever a teacher is suspended by a school committee, the school committee shall furnish the teacher with a complete statement of the cause(s) of the suspension and, upon request, shall afford the teacher a hearing and appeal pursuant to the procedure set forth in § 16-13-4. If the teacher shall be vindicated as a result of the hearing or any appeal the teacher shall be paid in full for the period of suspension, and provided further, that during the period of suspension, all medical and insurance benefits shall remain in full force and effect.

(c) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit or at any time to have prohibited a school committee in a municipality or regional school district with an elected school committee, or the chief executive officer in a municipality with an appointed school committee, from agreeing, in a collective bargaining agreement, to the arbitration of disputes arising out of the suspension of a teacher pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-94-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-94 / Section 16-94-4
§ 16-94-4. Family engagement advisory council established.
Status: in_force

(a) Creation. There is hereby established a state-wide family engagement advisory council. The purpose of the council shall be to serve as an advisory body to the governor, the department of education, the board of regents, and to school districts. The council shall consist of twenty-one (21) members to be appointed by the governor, to be selected as follows: one of whom shall be a member from the Rhode Island Parent information Network; one of whom shall be a member from the Rhode Island State PTA; one of whom shall be a member from the Child Opportunity Zone Network; one of whom shall be a representative from the Rhode Island Department of Health Division of Community, Family Health and Equity; one of whom shall be a representative from an agency or association with experience and expertise in family engagement; four (4) of whom shall be current educators from within Rhode Island school districts, which shall include a district level administrator, a principal, a teacher, and a school committee member; one of whom shall be a representative from the department of education; and eleven (11) of whom shall be parents and/or guardians of children currently enrolled in a Rhode Island public school. School districts, agencies, and associations with expertise in family engagement shall be solicited for proposed nominations and recommendations for the parent/guardian members.

(b) Terms. All the members shall serve for a term of three (3) years and/or until their successors are appointed and qualified. A member shall be eligible to succeed himself or herself. A vacancy other than by expiration shall be filled in the same manner as an original appointment but only for the unexpired portion of the term.

(c) Officers. The officers of the council shall be a chairperson, who shall be a representative of the family/guardian members, and vice chairperson and a secretary, who shall be elected from the membership. Officers shall be elected annually by a majority vote of the council members; a majority of the appointed members shall constitute a quorum; the council is authorized to obtain or to contract for any services that may be necessary to enable it to carry out its duties. A majority vote of those present shall be required for action.

(d) Expenses of members. The members of the council shall serve without compensation. (e) Gifts, grants, or donations. The council is authorized to receive any gifts, grants, or donations made for any of the purposes of its program, and to disburse and administer the gifts, grants, or donations in accordance with the terms of it.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-12-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-12 / Section 16-12-1
§ 16-12-1. Teacher defined.
Status: in_force

The term teacher, as used in this chapter, is deemed to include every person employed as a teacher, supervisor, principal, or superintendent or assistant superintendent, of schools, whether employed in schools supported in whole or in part by public funds, or in colleges, or in public institutions, or in the department of elementary and secondary education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-13-6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-13 / Section 16-13-6
§ 16-13-6. Suspension because of decrease in school population  Seniority  Reinstatement.
Status: in_force

(a) A school board may, by reason of a substantial decrease of pupil population within its school system, suspend teachers in numbers necessitated by the decrease in pupil population; provided, however, that suspension of teachers shall be in the inverse order of their employment unless it is necessary to retain certain teachers of technical subjects whose places cannot be filled by teachers of earlier appointment; and, provided further, that teachers who are suspended shall be reinstated in the inverse order of their suspension. No new appointments shall be made while there are available teachers so suspended.

(b) Notice of suspension under this section and § 16-13-5 shall be given, in writing, by the governing body of schools on or before June 1 notifying the teacher that his or her employment for the ensuing year shall be suspended, provided however, notice by that date need not be provided in the instance of an emergency performance-related cause.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7-41 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-7 / Section 16-7-41
§ 16-7-41. Computation of school housing aid.
Status: in_force

(a) In each fiscal year the state shall pay to each community a grant to be applied to the cost of school housing equal to the following:

The cost of each new school housing project certified to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education not later than July 15 of the fiscal year shall be divided by the actual number of years of the bond issued by the local community or the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation in support of the specific project, times the school housing aid ratio; and provided, further, with respect to costs of new school projects financed with proceeds of bonds issued by the local community or the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation in support of the specific project, the amount of the school housing aid payable in each fiscal year shall not exceed the amount arrived at by multiplying the principal and interest of the bonds payable in each fiscal year by the school housing aid ratio and which principal and interest amount over the life of the bonds, shall, in no event, exceed the costs of each new school housing project certified to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. If a community fails to specify or identify the appropriate reimbursement schedule, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education may at his or her discretion set up to a five (5) year reimbursement cycle for projects under five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000); up to ten (10) years for projects up to three million dollars ($3,000,000); and up to twenty (20) years for projects over three million dollars ($3,000,000).

(b) Aid shall be provided for the same period as the life of the bonds issued in support of the project and at the school housing aid ratio applicable to the local community as set forth in §16-7-39 at the time the project is approved by the council on elementary and secondary education.

(c) Aid shall be paid either to the community or in the case of projects financed through the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation, to the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation or its designee including, but not limited to, a trustee under a bond indenture or loan and trust agreement, in support of bonds issued for specific projects of the local community in accordance with this section, §16-7-40 and §16-7-44. Notwithstanding the preceding, in case of failure of any city, town, or district to pay the amount due in support of bonds issued on behalf of a city, town, school or district project financed by the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation, upon notification by the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation, the general treasurer shall deduct the amount from aid provided under this section, §16-7-40, §16-7-44 and §16-7-15 through §16-7-34.3 due the city, town, or district and direct said funding to the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation or its designee.

(d) Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, in connection with the issuance of refunding bonds benefiting any local community, any net interest savings resulting from the refunding bonds issued by such community or a municipal public buildings authority for the benefit of the community or by the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation for the benefit of the community, in each case in support of school housing projects for the community, shall be allocated between the community and the state of Rhode Island, by applying the applicable school housing aid ratio at the time of issuance of the refunding bonds, calculated pursuant to §16-7-39, that would otherwise apply in connection with school housing projects of the community; provided however, that for any refundings that occur between July 1, 2013, and December 31, 2015, the community shall receive eighty percent (80%) of the total savings and the state shall receive twenty percent (20%). In connection with any such refunding of bonds, the finance director or the chief financial officer of the community shall certify such net interest savings to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. Notwithstanding §16-7-44 or any other provision of law to the contrary, school housing projects costs in connection with any such refunding bond issue shall include bond issuance costs incurred by the community, the municipal public buildings authority, or the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation, as the case may be, in connection therewith. In connection with any refunding bond issue, school housing project costs shall include the cost of interest payments on such refunding bonds, if the cost of interest payments was included as a school housing cost for the bonds being refunded. A local community or municipal public buildings authority shall not be entitled to the benefits of this subsection (d) unless the net present value savings resulting from the refunding is at least three percent (3%) of the refunded bond issue.

(e) Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall cause to be monitored the potential for refunding outstanding bonds of local communities or municipal public building authorities or of the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation issued for the benefit of local communities or municipal public building authorities and benefiting from any aid referenced in this section. In the event it is determined by said monitoring that the net present value savings which could be achieved by refunding such bonds of the type referenced in the prior sentence including any direct costs normally associated with such refundings is equal to (i) at least one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) and (ii) for the state and the communities or public building authorities at least three percent (3%) of the bond issue to be refunded including associated costs then, in such event, the commissioner (or his or her designee) may direct the local community or municipal public building authority for the benefit of which the bonds were issued, to refund such bonds. Failure of the local community or municipal public buildings authority to timely refund such bonds, except due to causes beyond the reasonable control of such local community or municipal public building authority, shall result in the reduction by the state of the aid referenced in this §16-7-41 associated with the bonds directed to be refunded in an amount equal to ninety percent (90%) of the net present value savings reasonably estimated by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education (or his or her designee) which would have been achieved had the bonds directed to be refunded been refunded by the ninetieth (90th) day (or if such day is not a business day in the state of Rhode Island, the next succeeding business day) following the date of issuance of the directive of the commissioner (or his or her designee) to refund such bonds. Such reduction in the aid shall begin in the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the commissioner issued such directive for the remaining term of the bond.

(f) Payments shall be made in accordance with §16-7-40 and this section.

(g) For purposes of financing or refinancing school facilities in the city of Central Falls through the issuance of bonds through the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation, the city of Central Falls shall be considered an educational institution within the meaning of §45-38.1-3(13).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-40-11 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-40 / Section 16-40-11
§ 16-40-11. Registration and reports of private schools.
Status: in_force

All private schools or institutions of learning in this state shall be registered at the office of the department of elementary and secondary education or the office of higher education, the registry showing location, name, officers, or persons in charge, grade of instruction, and common language used in teaching. They shall also make a report annually in the month of July to the board of regents for elementary and secondary education or the board of governors for higher education showing the number of different pupils enrolled, the average attendance, the number of teachers employed, and any other facts of age, attendance, and subjects of instruction taught that the appropriate board may require.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-72-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-72 / Section 16-72-4
§ 16-72-4. Establishment of capital projects.
Status: in_force

When the sum of the challenge grant and matching funds for a particular capital project has been deposited into the institutional foundations capital fund account, the president of the institution shall recommend to the board of governors for higher education the establishment of a capital project. Upon the approval of the board of governors, the capital project will be established and may be named in honor of a donor, benefactor, or honoree of the institution, at the option of the president.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-3-20 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-3 / Section 16-3-20
§ 16-3-20. Appropriations by member towns.
Status: in_force

(a) Each city or town that is a member of a regional school district shall annually appropriate a sum sufficient to pay its proportionate share of the interest on the bonds and notes issued and outstanding under authority of this chapter, and also to pay its proportionate share of the principal of the bonds and notes maturing in any one year until the bonds and notes are fully paid.

(b) Each city or town that is a member of the district shall annually appropriate a sum sufficient to pay its proportionate share of the operation of the regional school district in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-76-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-76 / Section 16-76-1
§ 16-76-1. Sexual harassment defined.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, sexual harassment means any unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors or any other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when submission to this conduct or advances or requests is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individuals academic success.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-23-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-23 / Section 16-23-3
§ 16-23-3. Published textbook list.
Status: in_force

The commissioner shall publish annually a list of textbooks in use in the public schools in the fields of mathematics, science, modern foreign languages, English/language arts and history/social studies to all students in grades K-12. The list shall be published for the purpose of the loan of the textbooks to all resident pupils as provided for in § 16-23-2 and shall not include any textbooks of a sectarian nature or containing sectarian material.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-62-21 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-62 / Section 16-62-21
§ 16-62-21. Construction.
Status: in_force

This chapter being necessary for the welfare of the state and its inhabitants shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-57-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-57 / Section 16-57-3
§ 16-57-3. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings unless the context indicates another or different meaning or intent:

(1) Authority means the commissioner of postsecondary education.

(2) Commissioner of postsecondary education means the commissioner appointed by the council on postsecondary education pursuant to § 16-59-6 or the commissioners designee.

(3) Eligible borrower means a student, or the parent of a student, who is either a resident of the state or who, under rules promulgated by the office, is qualified to make an eligible loan.

(4) Eligible institution, subject to further particular or more restrictive definition by regulation of the office, means:

(i) An institution of higher learning;

(ii) A vocational school; or

(iii) With respect to students who are nationals of the United States, an institution outside the United States that is comparable to an institution of higher education or to a vocational school and that has been approved by the commissioner of postsecondary education for purposes of the guaranteed student loan program.

(5) Eligible loan means a loan to a student or to the parent of a student insured or guaranteed by the commissioner of postsecondary education, or by any other governmental or private agency, corporation, or organization having a reinsurance or guaranty agreement with the commissioner applicable to the student loan.

(6) Guaranteed student loan program means the program of federal student loan insurance and reinsurance administered by the commissioner of postsecondary education.

(7) Lender, subject to further particular or more restrictive definition by regulation of the office, means any governmental or private agency, corporation, organization, or institution designated as an eligible lender by federal statute, regulation, or administrative ruling for the purposes of the guaranteed student loan program.

(8) Participant means an individual, corporation, trust, or other person within the meaning of § 529 of the Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 529], who makes contributions to the tuition savings program established pursuant to § 16-57-6.1 for purposes of paying qualified higher education expenses on behalf of a beneficiary.

(9) Participating institution means an institution for higher education that agrees to participate in a savings program or pre-paid tuition program established pursuant to this chapter.

(10) Pre-paid tuition program means a program administered by the division, in conjunction with the executive director of the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority and the commissioner of postsecondary education, that provides a means for qualified students, parents, and others responsible for paying the costs of education to fix all or a portion of the direct cost of attendance at participating institutions in one or more future years.

(11) Program means the tuition savings program established pursuant to § 16-57-6.1.

(12) Qualified higher education expenses means the costs of tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for enrollment or attendance at an institution of higher education, and other education costs defined by federal law.

(13) Secretary means the United States secretary of education.

(14) State means the state of Rhode Island.

(15) Student, as used with reference to the guaranteed student loan program and the parent loan program, means an individual who, under rules promulgated by the commissioner of postsecondary education, is enrolled or accepted for enrollment at an eligible institution and who is making suitable progress in the students education toward obtaining a degree or other appropriate certification in accordance with standards acceptable to the authority.

(16) Tuition savings program or savings program means a program approved and administered by the general treasurer, in conjunction with the executive director of the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority, and the commissioner of postsecondary education, designed to facilitate and encourage savings by, or on behalf of, students, future students, and parents for the purpose of paying the costs of attending institutions of higher education.

(17) Council means the council on postsecondary education established pursuant to § 16-59-1.

(18) Division means the Rhode Island division of higher education assistance, the division authorized, created, and established pursuant to § 16-57-4, and dissolved pursuant to the provisions of § 16-57-4.1.