R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-59-6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-59 / Section 16-59-6
§ 16-59-6. Commissioner of postsecondary education.
Status: in_force

The council on postsecondary education, with approval of the board, shall appoint a commissioner of postsecondary education, who shall serve at the pleasure of the council, provided that his or her initial engagement by the council shall be for a period of not more than three (3) years. For the purpose of appointing, retaining, or dismissing a commissioner of postsecondary education, the governor shall serve as an additional voting member of the council. The position of commissioner shall be in the unclassified service of the state and he or she shall serve as the chief executive officer of the council on postsecondary education, the chief administrative officer of the office of postsecondary commissioner, and the executive director of the division of higher education assistance. The commissioner of postsecondary education shall have any duties that are defined in this section and in this title and other additional duties as may be determined by the council, and shall perform any other duties as may be vested in him or her by law. In addition to these duties and general supervision of the office of postsecondary commissioner and the appointment of the several officers and employees of the office, it shall be the duty of the commissioner of postsecondary education:

(1) To develop and implement a systematic program of information gathering, processing, and analysis addressed to every aspect of higher education in the state, especially as that information relates to current and future educational needs.

(2) To prepare a strategic plan for higher education in the state aligned with the goals of the board of educations strategic plan; to coordinate the goals and objectives of the higher public education sector with the goals of the council on elementary and secondary education and activities of the independent higher education sector where feasible.

(3) To communicate with, and seek the advice of those concerned with, and affected by the board of educations and councils determinations.

(4) To implement broad policy as it pertains to the goals and objectives established by the board of education and council on postsecondary education; to promote better coordination between higher public education in the state, independent higher education in the state as provided in subsection (10) of this section, and preK-12 education; to assist in the preparation of the budget for public higher education; and to be responsible, upon direction of the council, for the allocation of appropriations, the acquisition, holding, disposition of property.

(5) To be responsible for the coordination of the various higher educational functions of the state so that maximum efficiency and economy can be achieved.

(6) To assist the board of education in preparation and maintenance of a five-year (5) strategic funding plan for higher education; to assist the council in the preparation and presentation annually to the state budget officer in accordance with § 35-3-4 of a total, public higher educational budget.

(7) To recommend to the council on postsecondary education, after consultation with the presidents, a clear and definitive mission for each college.

(8) To annually recommend to the council on postsecondary education, after consultation with the presidents, the creation, abolition, retention, or consolidation of departments, divisions, programs, and courses of study within the public colleges to eliminate unnecessary duplication in public higher education, to address the future needs of public higher education in the state, and to advance proposals recommended by the presidents of the public colleges pursuant to §§ 16-33-2.1 and 16-33.1-2.1.

(9) To supervise the operations of the office of postsecondary commissioner, including the division of higher education assistance, and any other additional duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the council.

(10) To perform the duties vested in the council with relation to independent higher educational institutions within the state under the terms of chapter 40 of this title and any other laws that affect independent higher education in the state.

(11) To be responsible for the administration of policies, rules, and regulations of the council on postsecondary education with relation to the entire field of higher education within the state, not specifically granted to any other department, board, or agency and not incompatible with law.

(12) To prepare standard accounting procedures for public higher education and all public colleges.

(13) To carry out the policies and directives of the board of education and the council on postsecondary education through the office of postsecondary commissioner and through utilization of the resources of the public colleges.

(14) To enter into interstate reciprocity agreements regarding the provision of postsecondary distance education; to administer such agreements; to approve or disapprove applications to voluntarily participate in such agreements from postsecondary institutions that have their principal place of business in Rhode Island; and to establish annual fees, with the approval of the council on postsecondary education, for aforesaid applications to participate in an interstate postsecondary distance education reciprocity agreement.

(15) To the extent necessary for participation, and to the extent required and stated in any distance learning reciprocity agreement, to implement procedures to address complaints received from out-of-state students in connection with, or related to, any Rhode Island postsecondary institution, public or private, that has been approved to participate in said reciprocity agreement.

(16) To oversee the processes that the community college of Rhode Island, Rhode Island college, and the university of Rhode Island adopt and execute, pursuant to §§ 16-32-2(i) and 16-59-4(25), to accept advanced placement subject test scores of students who obtain a three (3) or better in any advanced placement course for college credit.

(17) To collect data annually related to awarding college credit to students who receive test scores of three (3) or higher on advanced placement courses, including, but not limited to:

(i) The number of students who receive college credit at each public institution of higher learning for obtaining advanced placement test scores of three (3) or higher;

(ii) The number of college credits issued by the community college of Rhode Island, Rhode Island college, and the university of Rhode Island due to students advanced placement subject test scores of three (3) (qualified) or better in any advanced placement course; and

(iii) Any other relevant data as determined by the commissioner.

(18) To exercise all powers and duties of the division of higher education assistance as set forth under the terms of chapter 57 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-105-7 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-105 / Section 16-105-7
§ 16-105-7. Expenses incurred by the school building authority.
Status: in_force

In order to provide for one-time or limited expenses of the school building authority under this chapter, the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation shall provide funding from the school building authority capital fund, fees generated from the origination of municipal bonds and other financing vehicles used for school construction, and its own reserves. The school building authority shall, by October 1 of each year, report to the governor and the chairs of the senate and house finance committees, the senate fiscal advisor, and the house fiscal advisor the amount sought for expenses for the next fiscal year.

There is also hereby established a restricted-receipt account within the budget of the department of elementary and secondary education entitled school construction services, to be financed by the Rhode Island health and educational building corporations sub-allotments of fees generated from the origination of municipal bonds and other financing vehicles used for school construction and its own reserves. Effective July 1, 2018, this account shall be utilized for the express purpose of supporting personnel expenditures directly related to the administration of the school construction aid program. Expenditure of all restricted receipts accepted by the department shall be subject to the annual appropriation process and approval by the general assembly.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-97-5 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-97 / Section 16-97-5
§ 16-97-5. Abolishment of boards.
Status: in_force

The board of governors for higher education established in chapter 16-59 and the board of regents for elementary and secondary education established in chapter 16-60 shall cease to exist as of January 1, 2013.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-107-7 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-107 / Section 16-107-7
§ 16-107-7. Reporting and disbursement.
Status: in_force

(a) On or before November 10 and May 10 of each fiscal year following fiscal year 2017, the community college of Rhode Island shall submit a report to the director of the office of management and budget, the state budget officer, the house fiscal advisor, the senate fiscal advisor, the commissioner of postsecondary education, and the chair of the council on postsecondary education detailing the number of students eligible to participate in the scholarship program, the amount of federal and institutional financial aid anticipated to be received by recipient students, the aggregate tuition and mandatory fee costs attributable to recipient students, and the resulting total cost of the scholarship program to the state. The report shall contain such data for both the current fiscal year and the most up-to-date forecast for the following fiscal year. Data reported shall be subdivided by student-year cohort and shall be accompanied by a written explanation detailing the estimating methodology utilized and any impact(s) the forecasted data may present to institutional capacity, operational costs, and the tuition/fee revenue base of the institution.

(b) On or before July 1, 2020, the community college of Rhode Island and the commissioner of postsecondary education shall submit a report evaluating the program based on the first two cohorts to the governor, speaker of the house, and the president of the senate. This evaluation shall include the following:

(1) The number of students who started in each cohort;

(2) The number of students in each cohort who have attained a degree or certification in an on-time manner;

(3) The number of students in each cohort who have not attained a degree or certification in an on-time manner and an analysis of why that has happened;

(4) The number of students in each cohort who began the program but have been unable to continue or complete the program and an analysis of why that has happened;

(5) The costs of the program and the costs of continuing the program;

(6) Suggestions for ways to increase the success of the program;

(7) Recommendations as to modifying, continuing, expanding, curtailing, or discontinuing the program; and

(8) Any such other recommendations or information as the community college of Rhode Island and the commissioner of postsecondary education deem appropriate to include in the evaluation.

(c) The office of management and budget, in consultation with the office of the postsecondary commissioner, shall oversee the apportionment and disbursement of all funds appropriated for the purpose of the scholarship program.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-57-10 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-57 / Section 16-57-10
§ 16-57-10. Reserve funds.
Status: in_force

(a) To ensure the continued operation and solvency of the guaranteed student loan program, the office of the postsecondary commissioner shall create and establish reserve funds, and may pay into the funds any money appropriated and made available by the state or any other source for the purpose of the funds, and any money collected by the office as fees for the guaranty of eligible loans.

(b) Furthermore, it is the intent of the general assembly that these funds eventually be used to increase financial assistance to Rhode Island students in the form of scholarships and grants as approved by the commissioner of postsecondary education and as directed by the U.S. Department of Education and in accordance with federal statutes and regulations governing the use of funds in the guaranty agencys operating fund pursuant to the provisions and restrictions of the 1998 reauthorization of the federal Higher Education Act.

(c) [Deleted by P.L. 2015, ch. 141, art. 7, § 6.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-22-19 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-22 / Section 16-22-19
§ 16-22-19. Electronic news or educational programming.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 16-38-6, all cities and towns may establish a program utilizing the display of televised commercial advertising necessarily incidental to the use and display of electronic news, internet access, or educational programming by school officials in connection with the curriculum of the public schools in the cities and towns.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-7.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-16 / Section 16-16-7.1
§ 16-16-7.1. Armed service credit.
Status: in_force

(a) Any active teacher who served on active duty in the armed service of the United States or in the merchant marine service of the United States as defined in § 2 of Chapter 1721 of the Public Laws, 1946, may purchase credit for that service up to a maximum of four (4) years; provided that he or she has received an honorable discharge; provided further, that any teacher on an official leave of absence for illness or injury shall be eligible to purchase military credits as defined herein while on that leave of absence.

(b) The cost to purchase these credits shall be ten percent (10%) of the members first years earnings as a teacher as defined in § 16-16-1 of this title, multiplied by the number of years and fraction of the years of the armed service up to a maximum of four (4) years.

(c) There will be no interest charged provided the teacher makes that purchase during his or her first five (5) years of membership in the retirement system, but will be charged regular interest to date of purchase from date of enrollment into membership, if purchased after completing five (5) years of membership; provided, however, any teacher who was in the retirement system prior to July 1, 1980, would not be charged interest whenever he or she purchases the armed services credit.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-26-6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-26 / Section 16-26-6
§ 16-26-6. Admission of students.
Status: in_force

The board of regents for elementary and secondary education may admit any persons in the Rhode Island School for the Deaf as provided in § 16-26-7.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-22-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-22 / Section 16-22-4
§ 16-22-4. Instruction in health and physical education.
Status: in_force

(a) All children in grades one through twelve (12) attending public schools, or any other schools managed and controlled by the state, except as provided in § 16-100-3(d), shall receive in those schools instruction in health and physical education under rules and regulations the department of elementary and secondary education may prescribe or approve during periods that shall average at least twenty (20) minutes in each school day. No private school or private instruction shall be approved by any school committee for the purposes of chapter 19 of this title as substantially equivalent to that required by law of a child attending a public school in the same city or town unless instruction in health and physical education similar to that required in public schools shall be given. Commencing September 1, 2012, the required health education curriculum shall be based on the health education standards of the Rhode Island health education framework: health literacy for all students as promulgated by the Rhode Island department of education and consistent with the mandated health instructional outcomes therein. Commencing September 1, 2012, the required physical education curriculum shall be based on the physical education standards of the Rhode Island physical education framework: supporting physically active lifestyles through quality physical education as promulgated by the Rhode Island department of education and consistent with the instructional outcomes therein.

(b) The department of elementary and secondary education shall incorporate, in consultation with the state department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, substance abuse prevention and suicide prevention into the health education curriculum. For the purpose of this section, substance abuse prevention means the implementation of evidence-based, age-appropriate programs, practices, or curricula related to the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; suicide prevention means the implementation of evidence-based, appropriate programs, practices, or curricula related to mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Further, substance abuse prevention and suicide prevention programs shall specifically include information provided to students that mixing opioids and alcohol can cause accidental death.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-32-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-32 / Section 16-32-1
§ 16-32-1. Change of former name.
Status: in_force

Where in any existing law reference is made to Rhode Island State College, the term University of Rhode Island shall be used in lieu of this term.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-77-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-77 / Section 16-77-1
§ 16-77-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

Chapters 16-77, 16-77.1, 16-77.2, 16-77.3, and 16-77.4 of the general laws shall be known and may be cited collectively as the Charter Public School Act of Rhode Island or as the Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-116-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-116 / Section 16-116-3
§ 16-116-3. Proficiency in arts education.
Status: in_force

(a) Commencing with the 2025-26 academic school year, the department shall include, on each schools annual school report card, each schools percentage of students enrolled in arts education courses, as defined by the national core arts standards, along with the number of courses available to students in each arts area, including, but not limited to: dance, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts.

(b) Commencing with the 2025-26 fiscal year, the department may designate or assign a qualified staff member to serve in the role of arts education curriculum coordinator. A primary function of this coordinator would be to support schools and school districts in meeting the arts education curricular and reporting requirements, as provided in this chapter, along with any other arts education-related tasks within the department.

(c) Commencing with the 2026-27 academic school year, the department shall annually require each high school to provide a representative sample of graduated students portfolios, that demonstrate evidence of meeting proficiency in one of the arts, as defined by the national core arts standards, or fine arts. The student portfolios shall include evidence of works developed via courses within the regular school day.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-53-11 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-53 / Section 16-53-11
§ 16-53-11. Career and technical trust  Responsibility.
Status: in_force

The state of Rhode Island is not responsible for the career and technical trust.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-35-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-35 / Section 16-35-4
§ 16-35-4. Appropriations and disbursements for textile department.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum as it may deem necessary, to be paid by the general treasurer to the Rhode Island School of Design upon the order of the state controller, upon the presentation of proper vouchers approved by the office of higher education, to be applied by the school exclusively to the general uses and purposes of its textile department.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-4-6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-4 / Section 16-4-6
§ 16-4-6. Additions to the fund.
Status: in_force

(a) The general assembly shall review the adequacy of the permanent school fund on a regular basis and may make any appropriations to carry out the purposes of this chapter as it deems necessary. In addition, the board of regents for elementary and secondary education is authorized to accept grants and bequests from public and private sources in order to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(b) It is the intent of the general assembly that the funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this section shall be provided within the annual appropriations act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-82-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-82 / Section 16-82-2
§ 16-82-2. Legislative intent and purpose.
Status: in_force

The general assembly recognizes that certain school systems of urban communities as defined in this chapter require additional financial support and relief by the state, and allocates additional funding to these communities.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-114-6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-114 / Section 16-114-6
§ 16-114-6. Admission and enrollment.
Status: in_force

The academy may receive direct applications from resident students in any school district and may receive referrals for resident students in any school district consistent with the purpose of this chapter and the mission of the academy. The academy shall enroll resident students up to twenty-two (22) years of age and consistent with the purpose of this chapter and the mission of the academy. Students attaining twenty-two (22) years of age in their senior year shall continue to remain eligible for enrollment through their date of graduation or the end of the academic year, whichever is later.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-106-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-106 / Section 16-106-4
§ 16-106-4. Performance incentive funding  Rhode Island College.
Status: in_force

(a) Beginning in FY 2018, funding for Rhode Island college (RIC) shall include a performance-based component utilizing all additional allocations of otherwise unrestricted, higher-education general revenue greater than the base amount received pursuant to the FY 2016 budget as enacted, of total unrestricted state higher-education funding.

(b) Data on which to base performance measures as described in subsection (c) shall be defined by the commissioner of postsecondary education, in consultation with the council on postsecondary education. Measures shall begin to be collected in FY 2017.

These measures may include and incorporate outcomes or goals from multiple, previous years. The lack of information from previous years, however, will not affect the use of performance-based measures.

(c) Rhode Island college shall have unique measures consistent with its purpose, role, scope, and mission. The performance-based measures shall include the following metrics:

(1) The number and percentage, including growth in relation to enrollment and prior years of bachelors degrees awarded to first-time, full-time students within four (4) years and six (6) years, including summer graduates;

(2) The number of degrees awarded that are tied to Rhode Islands high demand, high-wage employment opportunities consistent with the institutions mission;

(3) One measure that applies only to RIC, as agreed to by the commissioner of postsecondary education and the president of RIC, who shall consider faculty, staff, and student input; and

(4) Any other measures that are deemed appropriate by the council on postsecondary education.

(d) Weight may be assigned to any of the aforementioned metrics to reinforce the mission of RIC, the economic needs of the state, and the socio-economic status of the students. The commissioner may consider the institutions improvements in said metrics when determining whether it has satisfied the annual measure despite not reaching the overall goal.

(e) The commissioner shall provide faculty and students an opportunity to provide input on the development of performance measures.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-111-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-111 / Section 16-111-2
§ 16-111-2. Waste audit/report.
Status: in_force

(a) On or after January 1, 2022, and every three (3) years thereafter, every educational entity shall coordinate and cooperate with the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation (RIRRC) for the purpose of conducting school waste audits. These audits shall produce waste management reports that shall be collected, maintained, and delivered to the educational entity. The waste audits shall be performed at every educational entity.

(b) Waste audits and any reports required herein shall include guidelines and strategies on reducing waste for each educational entity to incorporate into its food waste reduction and recycling programs in an effort to eliminate food waste, promote recycling, and provide food to local communities.

(c) Educational entities, using the guidelines and strategies pursuant to subsection (b), shall design and implement a waste collection system in accordance with applicable state law for the diversion of items including, but not limited to, paper, books, furniture, computers, office supplies, plastic, glass, cardboard, and surplus foods.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any waste audit conducted pursuant to this section shall be provided free of charge by the RIRRC.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-24-1.2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-24 / Section 16-24-1.2
§ 16-24-1.2. Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

No later than July 1, 2026, the department of elementary and secondary education (the department) shall promulgate rules and regulations consistent with the provisions of this section and § 16-24-1.1. No later than December 31, 2026, the department shall additionally review and revise its guidance related to its individualized education program (IEP) processes and consistent statewide model forms and documents related to IEP development. The departments development of revised guidance shall include a robust public engagement process.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-24-7 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-24 / Section 16-24-7
§ 16-24-7. Minors with intellectual or developmental disabilities defined.
Status: in_force

The term minors with intellectual or developmental disabilities means all children between the age of three (3) and twenty-one (21) who because of delayed intellectual development, as determined by an individual multidisciplinary evaluation, require specialized instruction appropriate to their individual capacity.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-92-6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-92 / Section 16-92-6
§ 16-92-6. Placement and attendance.
Status: in_force

(a) Course placement. When the student transfers before or during the school year, the receiving state school shall initially honor placement of the student in educational courses based on the students enrollment in the sending state school, educational assessments conducted at the school in the sending state, or both, if the courses are offered. Course placement includes, but is not limited to, honors, international baccalaureate, advanced placement, vocational, technical and career pathways courses. Continuing the students academic program from the previous school and promoting placement in academically and career challenging courses should be paramount when considering placement. This does not preclude the school in the receiving state from performing subsequent evaluations to ensure appropriate placement and continued enrollment of the student in the course or courses.

(b) Educational program placement. The receiving state school shall initially honor placement of the student in educational programs based on current educational assessments conducted at the school in the sending state or participation or placement in like programs in the sending state. Such programs include, but are not limited to: (1) Gifted and talented programs; and (2) English as a second language (ESL). This does not preclude the school in the receiving state from performing subsequent evaluations to ensure appropriate placement of the student.

(c) Special education services. (1)In compliance with the federal requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C.A. §1400 et seq., the receiving state shall initially provide comparable services to a student with disabilities based on his or her current Individualized Education Program (IEP); and (2) In compliance with the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C.A. §794, and with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C.A. §§12131 12165, the receiving state shall make reasonable accommodations and modifications to address the needs of incoming students with disabilities, subject to an existing 504 or Title II Plan, to provide the student with equal access to education. This does not preclude the school in the receiving state from performing subsequent evaluations to ensure appropriate placement of the student.

(d) Placement flexibility. Local education agency administrative officials shall have flexibility in waiving course or program prerequisites, or other preconditions for placement in courses or programs offered under the jurisdiction of the local education agency.

(e) Absence as related to deployment activities. A student whose parent or legal guardian is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined by the compact, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, shall be granted additional excused absences at the discretion of the local education agency superintendent to visit with his or her parent or legal guardian relative to such leave or deployment of the parent or guardian.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-64-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-64 / Section 16-64-4
§ 16-64-4. Effect of guardianship.
Status: in_force

The appointment of a guardian of the person of a child pursuant to chapter 15.1 of title 33 shall not operate to change a childs residence unless the child takes up residence with the guardian and unless the guardian has been appointed for a substantial reason other than to change the childs residence for the purpose of enrolling the child in another school system.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-64-8 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-64 / Section 16-64-8
§ 16-64-8. Completion of semester of school year.
Status: in_force

When a student changes his or her residence during the course of a semester the student shall be allowed to complete the semester in his or her original city or town of residence. If the student is a senior or about to enter his or her senior year the student shall be allowed to complete his or her senior year in his or her original city or town of residence. No school district shall be required to provide transportation to a student exercising the option permitted by this section. No school district shall require a student to exercise the option allowed in this section. No school district shall be required to pay tuition for a student who exercises the option allowed in this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to diminish the rights of any person covered by the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (P.L. 105-220), 42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-59-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-59 / Section 16-59-1
§ 16-59-1. Council on Postsecondary Education established.
Status: in_force

(a) There is created a council on postsecondary education, sometimes referred to as the council, which shall be and is constituted a public corporation, empowered to sue and be sued in its own name, and to exercise all the powers, in addition to those specifically enumerated in this chapter, usually appertaining to public corporations entrusted with control of postsecondary educational institutions and functions. Upon its organization, the council shall be invested with the legal title (in trust for the state) to all property, real and personal, now owned by and/or under the control or in custody of the board of regents for education for the use of Rhode Island college, the community college of Rhode Island and the system of community colleges of Rhode Island, including all departments, divisions, and branches of these.

(b) The council is empowered to hold and operate the property in trust for the state; to acquire, hold, and dispose of the property and other like property as deemed necessary for the execution of its corporate purposes. The council is made successor to all powers, rights, duties, and privileges formerly belonging to the board of regents for education pertaining to postsecondary education and the board of governors for higher education.

(c) The council shall be the employer of record for Rhode Island college and the community college of Rhode Island and the office of postsecondary education. It shall retain all authority formerly vested in the board of education regarding the employment of faculty and staff at Rhode Island college and the community college of Rhode Island.

(d) The council shall be the governing body for the Rhode Island division of higher education assistance and shall retain all authority formerly vested in the higher education assistance authority board of directors pursuant to § 16-57-7; however, any debts, liabilities, or obligations of the council that result from its status as such governing body shall be payable solely from the revenues or assets of reserve funds set forth and established by the prior Rhode Island higher education assistance authority and/or the Rhode Island division of higher education assistance created pursuant to chapter 57 of this title, and not from any assets or property held by the council on public higher education pursuant to this chapter.

(e) The council on postsecondary education shall be the employer of record for the division of higher education assistance.

(f) The council on postsecondary education, simultaneous with the transfer of authority to the university of Rhode Island board of trustees pursuant to § 16-32-2, shall enter into a sublease with the university of Rhode Island board of trustees for the space the university currently occupies at the Rhode Island nursing education center in Providence, Rhode Island, such sublease being coterminous with the lease and incorporating the same terms, conditions and space allocations currently in effect under the lease, and P.L. 2014, ch. 145, art. 4, § 8, and that certain memorandum of understanding dated January 7, 2017, among the Rhode Island office of postsecondary commissioner, the university of Rhode Island and Rhode Island college.

(g) The council is empowered to enter into contracts and agreements with the board of trustees for the university of Rhode Island and/or the department of administration related to public higher education employee benefits, including, but not limited to, retirement benefits, health, dental, vision and life insurance, disability insurance, workers compensation, and tuition waivers to maximize the states and councils purchasing and investment portfolio and educational opportunities for the benefit of its employees.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-22-20 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-22 / Section 16-22-20
§ 16-22-20. Animal dissection and vivisection  Right to refuse  Alternate learning project required.
Status: in_force

(a) A parent(s) or legal guardian of any student in a public or nonpublic primary or secondary school may refuse to allow their child to dissect or vivisect any vertebrate or invertebrate animal, or any part of a vertebrate or invertebrate animal.

(b) A school that offers dissection or vivisection as a learning activity shall permit those students whose parent(s) or legal guardian refuse to allow them to participate to demonstrate competency through an alternative method of learning the material that would be covered in the activity. Alternative materials and methods may include but not be limited to: video tapes, models, films, books, computer programs, clay modeling or transparencies.

(c) A teacher shall not discriminate against a student for not participating in dissection or vivisection and shall not lower a grade because a students parent or legal guardian has chosen an alternative education project.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-40.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-16 / Section 16-16-40.1
§ 16-16-40.1. One-time adjustment to original retirement allowance.
Status: in_force

(a) All teachers and the beneficiaries of teachers who retired during the calendar year 1979 shall receive an additional eight percent (8%) to their original retirement allowance.

(b) All teachers and the beneficiaries of teachers who retired during calendar year 1978 shall receive an additional two percent (2%) added to the base eight percent (8%) paid to the 1979 retirees. Provided, further that an additional two percent (2%) of the retirement allowance shall be paid for each year to a maximum of twenty percent (20%) to those retirees and beneficiaries who retired in calendar year 1973 and prior to 1973 as indicated in the following schedule:

(c) The additional percentage shall be incorporated into the recipients monthly benefit starting with the payment due on or after July 31, 1986.

(d) The provisions of §§45-13-7 through 45-13-10 shall not apply to this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-66-6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-66 / Section 16-66-6
§ 16-66-6. Advisory board.
Status: in_force

(a) The school staff institute advisory board is created, consisting of the following seventeen (17) members: eight (8) school teachers, four (4) to be appointed by the president of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and four (4) to be appointed by the president of the National Education Association of Rhode Island; one superintendent of schools, to be appointed by the president of the Rhode Island Association of School Superintendents; one school principal, to be appointed by the president of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals; one school committee member, to be appointed by the president of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees; three (3) higher education representatives, one to be appointed by the commissioner of higher education in consultation with the president of the University of Rhode Island, one to be appointed by the commissioner of higher education in consultation with the president of Rhode Island College, and one representing a nonpublic institution of higher education and appointed by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education in consultation with the commissioner of higher education; one public member to be appointed by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education; one member of the house of representatives, to be appointed by the speaker of the house; and one member of the senate, to be appointed by the president of the senate. The house and senate appointees shall be nonvoting members of the advisory board.

(b) With the exception of the house and senate members, the members of the advisory board shall serve two (2) year terms until the time as their successors shall be appointed. The house and senate members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

(c) The advisory board shall organize itself at a meeting called by the speaker of the house in July of each odd numbered year.

(d) Members of the advisory board shall receive no compensation.

(e) The advisory board shall elect a chairperson and any other officers as it deems appropriate.

(f) The advisory board will review and make recommendations to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education relative to all aspects of the Rhode Island school staff institute including, but not limited to, implementation and delivery of services and funding, program approvals and denials, fiscal data, evaluation, and dissemination.

(g) The advisory board shall submit a report on the institute to the general assembly in January of each year; this report shall include but not be limited to recommendations regarding institute funding for the next fiscal year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-109-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-109 / Section 16-109-3
§ 16-109-3. Student journalists freedom of expression  Civil remedy.
Status: in_force

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a student journalist has the right to exercise freedom of speech and of the press in both school-sponsored media and non-school-sponsored media, regardless of whether the media is supported financially by the school, local education agency (LEA), or uses the facilities of the school or LEA, or produced in conjunction with a class in which the student is enrolled. Subject to subsection (b) of this section, a student journalist is responsible for determining the news, opinion, feature, and advertising content of school-sponsored media. This subsection may not be construed to prevent a student media advisor from teaching professional standards of English and journalism to student journalists.

(b) This section does not authorize or protect expression by a student that:

(1) Is libelous or slanderous;

(2) Constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy;

(3) Violates federal or state law; or

(4) So incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of an unlawful act, the violation of school district policy, or the material and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the institution. Administrators must base a forecast of material and substantial disruption on specific facts, including past experience in the school and current events influencing student behavior, and not on undifferentiated fear or apprehension.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing the publication of an advertisement in school-sponsored media at an institution under the supervision of the council on elementary and secondary education that promotes the purchase of a product or service that is unlawful for purchase or use by minors.

(d) A student journalist may not be disciplined for acting in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.

(e) A student media advisor may not be dismissed, suspended, disciplined, reassigned, transferred, or otherwise retaliated against for:

(1) Acting to protect a student journalist engaged in permissible conduct under subsection (a) of this section; or

(2) Refusing to infringe on conduct that is protected by this chapter or the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

(f) Each institution, school, or LEA subject to this chapter may adopt a written student freedom of expression policy in accordance with this section. The policy must include reasonable provisions for the time, place, and manner of student expression. For institutions under the supervision of the council on elementary and secondary education, the policy may also include limitations to language that may be defined as profane, harassing, threatening, or intimidating.

(g) No expression made by students in the exercise of free speech or free press rights shall be deemed to be an expression of school policy, and no school officials or school district shall be held responsible in any civil or criminal action for any expression made or published by students.

(h) Any student, individually or through a parent or guardian, or student media advisor may institute proceedings for injunctive or declaratory relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the rights provided in this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-9.6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-2 / Section 16-2-9.6
§ 16-2-9.6. Joint purchasing agreements for technology and IT infrastructure.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other law or rule, any two (2) or more school committees may establish joint purchasing agreements between and among themselves or with the Rhode Island Society of Technology Educators (RISTE), a domestic, nonprofit corporation, for the purposes of establishing bids pursuant to chapter 55 of title 45, and jointly purchasing technology-related goods and services. The RISTE, acting on behalf of any school committee(s) that are members of a joint purchasing agreement with RISTE, may establish specifications and bid on behalf of the member school districts. The RISTE shall comply with bidding requirements of chapter 55 of title 45. The RISTE and any consortia created pursuant to a joint purchase agreement under this chapter shall be entitled to all the rights and benefits set forth in § 37-2-56. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this section permits any non-public school or non-public school district access to the master price agreement maintained by the department of administration, division of purchases.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-18 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-16 / Section 16-16-18
§ 16-16-18. Disability benefits pending final decision on application.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any of the provisions of chapters 3 and 4 of title 36, and/or any existing regulations of the director of administration or the state retirement board, the state retirement board shall accord to a teacher, so entitled under present existing regulations, the minimum retirement benefits pending a decision upon any disability retirement of the teacher; provided, however, the granting of the minimum retirement shall not estop the teacher, so claiming disability, from any disability retirement consideration by the board.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-40-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-40 / Section 16-40-1
§ 16-40-1. Approval of secondary and higher schools  Certification to secretary of state.
Status: in_force

(a) No academy, college, university, or other institution of secondary or higher education shall be incorporated or established in this state or be permitted to transact business, unless exempt pursuant to § 16-40-10, within this state unless and until:

(1) Suitable provision, approved by the council on elementary and secondary education or the council on postsecondary education, shall be made that the academy, college, university, or institution is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and with the regulations and standards for approval adopted by the appropriate council or full board to implement this chapter; and

(2) For institutions offering an associates degree or higher, the institution has initiated discussions, that are evidenced by a writing, with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) regarding potential accreditation; or

(3) For distance-learning purposes only, a degree-granting institution has full accreditation by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and equivalent to NEASC.

(b) The secretary of state, upon the receipt by him or her under the provisions of the general laws of articles of association purporting to establish an educational institution, shall transmit the articles of association to the appropriate council and shall not issue the certificate of incorporation provided by the general laws unless and until the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or the commissioner of the office of postsecondary education shall file with the secretary of state a certificate over his or her signature that the appropriate council has approved the application for incorporation as complying with the requirements of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-57-6.2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-57 / Section 16-57-6.2
§ 16-57-6.2. Ownership of assets  Transfer of ownership rights.
Status: in_force

(a) The participant retains ownership of all assets properly allocated to an account maintained for the participant in the tuition savings program up to the date of withdrawal or distribution of these from the program.

(b) All assets of the tuition savings program shall be considered to be held in trust. As required by the Internal Revenue Code, no interest in the tuition savings program or any portion of these may be used as security for a loan.

(c) A participant may transfer ownership rights in the tuition savings program to another participant or designate a new beneficiary insofar as permitted by § 529 of the Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 529] under such conditions as the treasurer deems appropriate.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-98-6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-98 / Section 16-98-6
§ 16-98-6. Program funding.
Status: in_force

(a) Funding shall be for the purpose of providing advanced placement examinations to students at or below the poverty level at no cost to the student.

(b) Notwithstanding any general law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the department shall include as part of its annual budget the amount necessary to pay the exam costs for all students below the poverty level who take advanced placement courses.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-3-21 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-3 / Section 16-3-21
§ 16-3-21. Payments by members.
Status: in_force

The town or city treasurer of each town or city of the regional school district shall forward to the regional school district treasurer on July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1 one-fourth (Â¼) of the amount due for the operation of the regional school district for the fiscal year beginning July 1 from each town or city or parts thereof comprising the regional school district.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-64-5 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-64 / Section 16-64-5
§ 16-64-5. Children under care and control of state agency.
Status: in_force

In cases where the director of a Rhode Island state agency considers it likely that a child under his or her care and control will be subject to a short term placement or series of short term placements, the director may petition the commissioner of elementary and secondary education to designate the childs original city or town of residence as having continuing responsibility for the childs education. This designation shall be effective for period not greater than two (2) months unless an extension is granted by the commissioner. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit any school system from providing transportation for the child without charge. Disputes under this section including disputes relating to transportation shall be resolved in accordance with § 16-64-6.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-21 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-21 / Section 16-21-21
§ 16-21-21. Student discipline codes.
Status: in_force

Each school committee shall make, maintain, and enforce a student discipline code. The purpose of the code is to foster a positive environment that promotes learning. The department of elementary and secondary education shall provide necessary technical assistance in the development of the student discipline code. The school committee shall cause the school discipline code to be distributed to each student enrolled in the district. Each student and his or her parent, guardian, or custodian shall sign a statement verifying that they have been given a copy of the student discipline code of their respective school district.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-13-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-13 / Section 16-13-2
§ 16-13-2. Annual contract basis  Automatic continuation.
Status: in_force

(a) Teaching service shall be on the basis of an annual contract, except as hereinafter provided, and the contract shall be deemed to be continuous unless the governing body of the schools shall notify the teacher, in writing, on or before March 1, that the contract for the ensuing year will not be renewed. If the dismissal or nonrenewal is based on fiscal exigency or program reorganization, the governing body shall notify the teacher on or before June 1 of the school year immediately preceding the school year in which the dismissal or nonrenewal is to become effective. Provided, however, that a teacher, upon request, shall be furnished a statement of cause for dismissal or nonrenewal of his or her contract by the school committee; provided further, that whenever any contract is not renewed, or the teacher is dismissed, the teacher shall be entitled to a hearing and appeal pursuant to the procedure set forth in § 16-13-4.

(b) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit, or at any time to have prohibited, a school committee from agreeing, in a collective bargaining agreement, to the arbitration of disputes arising out of a dismissal or nonrenewal of a nontenured teacher pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-32-35 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-32 / Section 16-32-35
§ 16-32-35. Audit of expenditures.
Status: in_force

The pre-audit of all expenditures under authority of the board by the state controller provided for in § 35-6-1 shall be purely ministerial, concerned only with the legality of the expenditure and the availability of the funds, and in no event shall the state controller interpose his or her judgment regarding the wisdom or expediency of any item or items of expenditure.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-18 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-21 / Section 16-21-18
§ 16-21-18. Students prohibited from bringing or possessing firearms on school premises.
Status: in_force

The school penalty for bringing or possessing a weapon as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 921, a firearm or realistic replica of a firearm within school premises, premises being used for school purposes or activities, into a vehicle used for school transportation, or onto a roadway or path along which school children or teachers are walking to school shall be suspension from school for one year. This penalty will also be incurred when a student is not on school premises but when he or she aims a firearm or realistic replica of a firearm at school premises, school vehicles, or students, staff, or visitors attending school or in transit to or from school. This term of suspension may be shortened by the superintendent of schools on a case-by-case basis and under guidelines to be developed by the school committee with broad parent, teacher, and community involvement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-57-16 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-57 / Section 16-57-16
§ 16-57-16. Inconsistent provisions.
Status: in_force

If the provisions of this chapter are inconsistent with the provisions of any other law or ordinance, general, special, or local, the provisions of this chapter shall be controlling.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-32-28 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-32 / Section 16-32-28
§ 16-32-28. Management of rotary fund.
Status: in_force

The general treasurer shall have the care and management of each fund established pursuant to 16-32-27 with full power to regulate the custody and safekeeping of all money and evidences of property belonging to it. The general treasurer shall deposit, subject to his or her order, to the use of each 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 general treasurer may invest and reinvest in his or her discretion the money in each fund at any time and the dividends, interest, and income in any securities or investments in which the deposits in savings bank and participation deposits in banks and trust companies may be legally invested. The treasurer may change and vary investments from time to time, and he or she may sell and dispose of any investments made, when necessary to meet the draft of either the president of the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, or the Community College of Rhode Island as provided in § 16-32-27.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-32-33 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-32 / Section 16-32-33
§ 16-32-33. Receipts from sources other than appropriations.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any general laws to the contrary, all receipts from all sources other than state appropriations shall not be deposited into the general fund of the state, but shall be deposited by the general treasurer of the state into a restricted account for the benefit of the board of trustees, and shall be paid out by the treasurer upon the order of the board, without the necessity of appropriation or re-appropriation by the general assembly.

(b) The board of trustees shall ensure that the university has a structure in place to prohibit the university from accepting funds that would interfere with or restrict academic freedom at the university. Nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed in a way as to prohibit a donor from earmarking funds for a particular purpose or use, including, but not limited to, research, scholarships, construction, or development.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-12 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-16 / Section 16-16-12
§ 16-16-12. Procedure for service retirement.
Status: in_force

Retirement of a member on a service retirement allowance shall be made by the retirement board as follows:

(a)(i) Any member may retire upon his or her written application to the retirement board as of the first day of the calendar month in which the application was filed, provided the member was separated from service prior to filing the application, and further provided however, that if separation from service occurs during the month in which the application is filed, the effective date shall be the first day following the separation from service, and provided further that the member on retirement date has attained the age of sixty (60) years and has completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service on or before July 1, 2005, or regardless of age has completed twenty-eight (28) years of total service and has completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service on or before July 1, 2005, and who retire before October 1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009.

(ii) For teachers who become eligible to retire on or after October 1, 2009, and prior to July 1, 2012, benefits are available to teachers who have attained the age of sixty-two (62) and completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service. For teachers in service as of October 1, 2009, who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, but became eligible to retire prior to July 1, 2012, the minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62) will be adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of service the member has earned as of September 30, 2009. The proportional formula shall work as follows:

(A) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in effect on September 30, 2009, which shall then be subtracted from the minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62).

(B) The formula shall then take the teachers total service credit as of September 30, 2009, as the numerator and the years of service credit determined under (A) as the denominator.

(C) The fraction determined in (B) shall then be multiplied by the age difference in (1) to apply a reduction in years from age sixty-two (62).

(b)(i) Any member, who has not completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service on or before July 1, 2005, may retire upon his or her written application to the retirement board as of the first day of the calendar month in which the application was filed; provided, the member was separated from service prior thereto; and further provided, however, that if separation from service occurs during the month in which application is filed, the effective date shall be the first day following that separation from service; provided, the member on his or her retirement date had attained the age of fifty-nine (59) and had completed at least twenty-nine (29) years of total service; or provided, that the member on his or her retirement date had attained the age of sixty-five (65) and had completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service; or provided, that the member on his or her retirement date had attained the age of fifty-five (55) and had completed twenty (20) years of total service and provided, that the retirement allowance, as determined according to the formula in § 16-16-13 is reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the member is less than sixty-five (65) years and who retire before October 1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009.

(ii) For teachers who become eligible to retire on or after October 1, 2009, and prior to July 1, 2012, benefits are available to teachers who have attained the age of sixty-two (62) and have completed at least twenty-nine (29) years of total service or have attained the age of sixty-five (65) and completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service. For teachers in service as of October 1, 2009, who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, but become eligible to retire prior to July 1, 2012, who have a minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62), the retirement age will be adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of service the member has earned as of September 30, 2009. The proportional formula shall work as follows:

(A) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in effect on September 30, 2009, which shall then be subtracted from the minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62).

(B) The formula shall then take the teachers total service credit as of September 30, 2009, as the numerator and the years of service credit determined under (A) as the denominator.

(C) The fraction determined in (B) shall then be multiplied by the age difference determined in (A) to apply a reduction in years from age sixty-two (62).

(c) Effective July 1, 2012, the following shall apply to all teachers not eligible to retire prior to July 1, 2012:

(i) A teacher with contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, shall be eligible to retire upon the completion of at least five (5) years of contributory service and attainment of the teachers Social Security retirement age.

(ii) For teachers with five (5) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, with contributory service on and after July 1, 2012, who have a retirement age of Social Security Retirement Age, the retirement age will be adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of service the teacher has earned as of June 30, 2012, but in no event shall a teachers retirement age under this subparagraph (ii) be prior to the attainment of age fifty-nine (59) or prior to the teachers retirement age determined under the laws in effect on June 30, 2012. The proportional formula shall work as follows:

(1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in effect on June 30, 2012, which shall then be subtracted from Social Security retirement age;

(2) The formula shall then take the teachers total service credit as of June 30, 2012, as the numerator and the projected service at retirement age in effect on June 30, 2012, as the denominator;

(3) The fraction determined in (2) shall then be multiplied by the age difference determined in (1) to apply a reduction in years from Social Security retirement age.

(iii) Effective July 1, 2015, a teacher who has completed twenty (20) or more years of total service and who has attained an age within five (5) years of the eligible retirement age under subdivisions (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above or subsection (d) below, may elect to retire provided that the retirement allowance shall be reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the teacher is less than the eligible retirement age under subdivisions (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above or subsection (d) below in accordance with the following table:

(iv) Notwithstanding any other provisions of section § 16-16-12(c), a teacher who has completed ten (10) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, may elect to retire at his or her eligible retirement date as determined under subsections (a) and (b) above provided that a teacher making an election under this paragraph shall receive the teachers retirement benefit determined and calculated based on the teachers service and average compensation as of June 30, 2012. This provision shall be interpreted and administered in a manner to protect a teachers accrued benefit on June 30, 2012.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsection (c) above, effective July 1, 2015, teachers in active service shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier of:

(A) The attainment of at least age sixty-five (65) and the completion of at least thirty (30) years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-four (64) and the completion of at least thirty-one (31) years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-three (63) and the completion of at least thirty-two (32) years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-two (62) and the completion of at least thirty-three (33) years of total service; or

(B) The teachers retirement eligibility date under subsections (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above.

(e) Except as specifically provided in §§ 36-10-9.1, 36-10-12 through 36-10-15, and 45-21-19 through 45-21-22, no member shall be eligible for pension benefits under this chapter unless

(i) The member shall have been a contributing member of the employees retirement system for at least ten (10) years; or

(ii) For teachers in active contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, the teacher shall have been a contributing member of the employees retirement system for at least five (5) years.

(2) Provided, however, a person who has ten (10) years service credit shall be vested; provided that for teachers in active contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, a teacher who has five (5) years of contributory service shall be vested.

(3) Furthermore, any past service credits purchased in accordance with § 36-9-38 shall be counted towards vesting.

(4) Any person who becomes a member of the employees retirement system pursuant to § 45-21-8 shall be considered a contributing member for the purpose of chapter 21 of title 45 and this chapter.

(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no more than five (5) years of service credit may be purchased by a member of the system. The five (5) year limit shall not apply to any purchases made prior to January 1, 1995. A member who has purchased more than five (5) years of service credit before January 1, 1995, shall be permitted to apply the purchases towards the members service retirement. However, no further purchase will be permitted.

(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective July 1, 2012, except for purchases under §§ 16-16-7.1, 36-5-3, 36-9-31, 36-10-10.4, and 45-21-53:

(i) For service purchases for time periods prior to a teachers initial date of hire, the purchase must be made within three (3) years of the teachers initial date of hire; and

(ii) For service purchases for time periods for official periods of leave as authorized by law, the purchase must be made within three (3) years of the time the official leave was concluded by the teacher. Notwithstanding paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, service purchases from time periods prior to June 30, 2012, may be made on or prior to June 30, 2015.

(f) No member of the teachers retirement system shall be permitted to purchase service credits for casual or seasonal employment, for employment as a temporary or emergency employee, a page in the general assembly, or for employment at any state college or university while the employee is a student or graduate of the college or university.

(g) Except as specifically provided in §§ 16-16-6.2 and 16-16-6.4, a member shall not receive service credit in this retirement system for any year or portion of a year which counts as service credit in any other retirement system in which the member is vested or from which the member is receiving a pension and/or any annual payment for life. This subsection shall not apply to any payments received pursuant to the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.

(h) A member who seeks to purchase or receive service credit in this retirement system shall have the affirmative duty to disclose to the retirement board whether or not he or she is a vested member in any other retirement system and/or is receiving a pension, retirement allowance, or any annual payment for life. The retirement board shall have the right to investigate as to whether or not the member has utilized the same time of service for credit in any other retirement system. The member has an affirmative duty to cooperate with the retirement board including, by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, the duty to furnish or have furnished to the retirement board any relevant information that is protected by any privacy act.

(i) A member who fails to cooperate with the retirement board shall not have the time of service credit counted toward total service credit until the time the member cooperates with the retirement board and until the time the retirement board determines the validity of the service credit.

(j) A member who knowingly makes a false statement to the retirement board regarding service time or credit shall not be entitled to a retirement allowance and is entitled only to the return of his or her contributions without interest.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7-34 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-7 / Section 16-7-34
§ 16-7-34. Appropriation of funds.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate a sum that it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of §§ 16-5-31 and 16-7-15 to 16-7-34; and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of this sum, or so much of that sum as may be required from time to time, upon receipt by the controller of properly authenticated vouchers.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-87-7 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-87 / Section 16-87-7
§ 16-87-7. Prekindergarten facilities.
Status: in_force

(a) No later than December 31, 2022, the department of human services shall provide the speaker of the house and president of the senate with a report on the status of disbursement and impact of capital funds made available by the early learning facilities general obligation bond approved on March 2, 2021.

(b) The departments of elementary and secondary education and human services may also provide recommendations for programs and initiatives to ensure that early childhood education providers utilize facilities that meet licensing and facilities standards, in order to increase access to high-quality prekindergarten learning environments. Programs and initiatives may include, but shall not be limited to:

(1) Grant programs for facility planning and/or emergency facility maintenance;

(2) Establishing strategic partnerships between local education agencies and community-based early learning providers to make use of available space in existing facilities; and/or

(3) Technical assistance for providers to access capital, navigate licensing standards for facilities, and/or begin the facility improvement and development processes.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-9-10 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-9 / Section 16-9-10
§ 16-9-10. Display of flags.
Status: in_force

The school committees of the several towns shall cause the United States flag to be displayed upon the public school buildings or premises during school hours if in their best judgment it is practicable, otherwise at any times that they may direct, and the committees shall also establish rules and regulations for the proper care, custody, and display of the flag; and when for any cause it is not displayed, it shall be placed conspicuously in the principal room of the school building.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-63-5 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-63 / Section 16-63-5
§ 16-63-5. Categories of adult education programs and service.
Status: in_force

Programs and services constituting adult education, as defined in § 16-58-2, shall be categorized and defined as follows:

(1) Category 1. Basic education, which shall consist of efforts to alleviate illiteracy and provide opportunities for academic achievement up to grade twelve (12) and which shall include instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, literature, social studies, science, pre-vocational subjects, and other knowledge and skills necessary to cope in contemporary life; courses in Americanization and citizenship for immigrants; teaching English to persons with no or limited ability with the language; and preparation for the demonstration of competencies to qualify for the adult high school diploma or for examinations to earn the general educational development or high school equivalency diploma.

(2) Category 2. Vocational training, which shall consist of the imparting of knowledge and skills necessary to become gainfully employed, at least at entry level, in a recognized occupation, and thus attain economic self-sufficiency, and which shall be conveyed by classroom instruction, on the job training, apprenticeships, and other appropriate methods.

(3) Category 3. Higher education, consisting of opportunities for adults to enter or re-enter universities and colleges, whether matriculating or nonmatriculating, at undergraduate and graduate levels, and whether part-time or full-time.

(4) Category 4. Continuing education in professional and technological occupations, which shall consist of efforts to insure that minimum competencies are maintained by persons who are employed in occupations which bear on the public health, safety, or general welfare, and for which there are licensing, certification, or other credentialing provisions in the general laws, and in which those persons shall participate, individually or in groups, by periodic reviews of fundamental and up to date knowledge and skills, in-service experience, performance assessment, or other systematic and ongoing methods, and which may involve earning continuing education units.

(5) Category 5. General personal development, which shall consist of any formal or informal activity in the pursuit and development of avocational, social, cultural, artistic, enrichment, recreational, or other interests.

(6) Category 6. Public service education, consisting of efforts, through mass media and by other methods, to inform, educate, and motivate residents of the state on vital and timely subjects, such as health, safety, civic affairs, and social concerns and behavior.

(7) Category 7. Supportive services, which shall consist of various accommodations intended to facilitate the pursuit of adult education in any of these specified categories, and which shall include information, counseling, and other guidance services, financial aid, care of children and other dependent persons, transportation, and other services.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-50-5 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-50 / Section 16-50-5
§ 16-50-5. Solicitation  Issuance and revocation of permits.
Status: in_force

(a) No person representing any school or other individual or organization offering courses in this state, or from a place of business in this state, shall sell any course or solicit students for a course in this state for a consideration or remuneration unless he or she first secures a permit from the department of elementary and secondary education. If the agent represents more than one school, a separate permit shall be obtained for each school represented by the agent. Upon approval for a permit the department of elementary and secondary education shall issue a pocket card to the person whose name appears on it, giving that persons name and address, the name and address of his or her employing school, and certifying that the person whose name appears on the card is an authorized agent of the school. The application for a permit shall be made on forms to be furnished by the department of elementary and secondary education and shall be accompanied by a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and a surety bond acceptable to the department of elementary and secondary education in the penal sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000). The bond may be continuous and shall be conditioned to provide indemnification to any student suffering loss as a result of any fraud or misrepresentation used in procuring his or her enrollment, and may be supplied by the agent of a privately owned school and by the school itself as a blanket bond covering each of its agents and the school in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000). A permit shall be valid for one year from the date on which it was issued. The liability of the surety on the bond for each representative covered by it shall in no event exceed the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) as an aggregate for any and all students for all breaches of the conditions of the bond by the representatives. The surety of any bond may cancel the bond upon giving thirty (30) days notice in writing to the department of elementary and secondary education and after this shall be relieved of liability for any breach of condition occurring after the effective date of the cancellation. An application for renewal shall be accompanied by a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and a surety bond, as provided in this subsection, if a continuous bond has not been furnished. All fees collected for the issuance or renewal of the permits shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the general fund.

(b) No person representing a school or other organization offering courses, which school or other organization is located outside this state, shall sell any course or solicit students for the course in this state for a consideration or remuneration unless that person first secures a permit from the department of elementary and secondary education in the manner and on the terms provided in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Any permit applied for pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be granted or denied within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the application for it by the department of elementary and secondary education. If the department of elementary and secondary education has not completed its determination with respect to the issuance of a permit pursuant to this section within this period, it shall issue a temporary permit to the applicant, which permit shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of this chapter until any time as the determination is made.

(d) Any permit issued may, upon ten (10) days notice and after a hearing, be revoked by the department of elementary and secondary education if the holder of the permit solicits or enrolls students through fraud, deception, or misrepresentation.

(e) The fact that a bond is in force pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall not limit or impair any right of recovery available pursuant to law, nor shall the amount of damages or other relief to which any plaintiff may be entitled.

(f) No recovery shall be had on any contract for or in connection with a course by any person selling or administering the course if the representative of the person was not the holder of a permit as required by this section and the representative did not display the permit at the time that the representative negotiated the contract for or sold the course.

(g) The issuance of a permit pursuant to this section shall not be deemed to constitute approval of any course or the person or institution offering, conducting, or administering the course. Any representation contrary to this subsection or tending to imply that a permit issued pursuant to this section constitutes approval shall be misrepresentation within the meaning of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-60-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-60 / Section 16-60-3
§ 16-60-3. Removal of public members of board.
Status: in_force

Public members of the board of regents shall be removable by the governor for cause only, and removal solely for partisan or personal reasons unrelated to capacity or fitness for the office shall be unlawful. No removal shall be made for any cause except after ten (10) days notice in writing of specific charges, with opportunity for the member to be present in person and with counsel at a public hearing before the governor, to introduce witnesses and documentary evidence in the members own defense, and to confront and cross-examine adversary witnesses; and appeal shall lie to the superior court from the governors determination.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-18.4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-2 / Section 16-2-18.4
§ 16-2-18.4. Criminal records review for volunteers.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who is a current or prospective volunteer of a private school or public school department and who may have direct and unmonitored contact with children and/or students on school premises, shall undergo a state criminal background check to be initiated prior to or within one week of commencement of such volunteer work.

(b) The applicant shall apply to the bureau of criminal identification (BCI), department of attorney general, state police or local police department where he or she resides, for a state criminal records check. Upon the discovery of any disqualifying information, the bureau of criminal identification, state police or local police department will inform the applicant in writing of the nature of the disqualifying information; and, without disclosing the nature of the disqualifying information will notify the school department in writing that disqualifying information has been discovered.

(c) A person against whom disqualifying information has been found may request that a copy of the criminal background report be sent to the school department which shall make a judgment regarding the qualifications and fitness of said person to volunteer for the school department.

(d) In those situations in which no disqualifying information has been found, the bureau of criminal identification, state police or local police department shall inform the applicant and the school department in writing of this fact.

(e) For purposes of this section, disqualifying information means those offenses listed in § 23-17-37, and those offenses listed in §§ 11-37-8.1 and 11-37-8.3.

(f) The school department shall maintain on file, subject to inspection by the department of elementary and secondary education, evidence that criminal records checks have been initiated on all volunteers seeking employment subsequent to July 1, 2012, and the results of the checks. The current or prospective volunteer shall be responsible for the costs of the state criminal records check.

(g) As used in this section and § 16-2-18.5, the term school department means the school department for a public school as well as the governing administrative body for a private school.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-44-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-44 / Section 16-44-4
§ 16-44-4. Mount Hope Community College.
Status: in_force

The board of governors for higher education is authorized and empowered to establish an institution to be known as Mount Hope Community College, and the board is authorized to enroll students in the college.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7-23 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-7 / Section 16-7-23
§ 16-7-23. Community requirements  Adequate minimum budget provision.
Status: in_force

(a) The school committees budget provisions of each community for current expenditures in each budget year shall provide for an amount from all sources sufficient to support the basic program and all other approved programs shared by the state. Each community shall contribute local funds to its school committee in an amount not less than its local contribution for schools in the previous fiscal year except to the extent permitted by §§ 16-7-23.1 and 16-7-23.2. Provided, that for the fiscal years 2010 and 2011 each community shall contribute to its school committee in an amount not less than ninety-five percent (95.0%) of its local contribution for schools for the fiscal year 2009. Calculation of the annual local contribution shall not include Medicaid revenues received by the municipality or district pursuant to chapter 8 of title 40. A community that has a decrease in enrollment may compute maintenance of effort on a per-pupil rather than on an aggregate basis when determining its local contribution; furthermore, a community that experiences a nonrecurring expenditure for its schools may deduct the nonrecurring expenditure in computing its maintenance of effort. The deduction of nonrecurring expenditures shall be with the approval of the commissioner. Provided, however, that notwithstanding any provision of this title to the contrary, debt service that is no longer carried on the books of any school district shall not be included in any school districts annual budget, nor shall nonrecurring debt service be included in maintenance of effort as set forth in this chapter, nor shall any nonrecurring debt service be included in the operating budget of any school district. For the purposes set forth above, nonrecurring capital lease payments shall be considered nonrecurring debt service. The courts of this state shall enforce this section by means of injunctive relief.

(b) Districts annual maintenance expenditures must meet the requirements of subsection (b)(1), (b)(2), or (b)(3) of this section.

(1) A minimum of three percent (3%) of the operating budget shall be dedicated exclusively for maintenance expenditures as defined in § 16-7-36(7) provided that for FY 2019, that amount shall be one percent (1%), for FY 2020, that amount shall be one and one-half percent (1.5%), for FY 2021 that amount shall be two percent (2%), and for FY 2022 that amount shall be two and one-half percent (2.5%).

(2) A minimum of three percent (3%) of the replacement value shall be dedicated exclusively for maintenance expenditures as defined in § 16-7-36(7) provided that for FY 2019, that amount shall be one percent (1%), for FY 2020 that amount shall be one and one-half percent (1.5%), for FY 2021 that amount shall be two percent (2%), and for FY 2022 that amount shall be two and one-half percent (2.5%).

(3) A minimum of three dollars ($3.00), subject to inflation, per square foot of building space shall be dedicated exclusively for maintenance expenditures as defined in § 16-7-36(7).

(c) The department of elementary and secondary education shall be responsible for establishing a reporting mechanism to ensure the intent of this section is being met. In the event that a district does not meet its minimum expenditure requirement in a given year, the state shall direct state housing aid paid pursuant to § 16-7-41 or § 16-105-5, in an amount equal to the shortfall, to a restricted fund created by the district and dedicated solely to meeting maintenance requirements.

(d) Whenever any state funds are appropriated for educational purposes, the funds shall be used for educational purposes only and all state funds appropriated for educational purposes must be used to supplement any and all money allocated by a city or town for educational purposes and, in no event, shall state funds be used to supplant, directly or indirectly, any money allocated by a city or town for educational purposes. All state funds shall be appropriated by the municipality to the school committee for educational purposes in the same fiscal year in which they are appropriated at the state level even if the municipality has already adopted a school budget. All state and local funds unexpended by the end of the fiscal year of appropriation shall remain a surplus of the school committee and shall not revert to the municipality. Any surplus of state or local funds appropriated for educational purposes shall not in any respect affect the requirement that each community contribute local funds in an amount not less than its local contribution for schools in the previous fiscal year, subject to subsection (a) of this section, and shall not in any event be deducted from the amount of the local appropriation required to meet the maintenance of effort provision in any given year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-3-5 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-3 / Section 16-3-5
§ 16-3-5. Formation of regional planning board.
Status: in_force

Regional school district planning committees from any two (2) or more cities or towns may join together to form a regional school district planning board or boards. A regional school district planning board shall organize immediately upon its formation by the election of a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary treasurer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-23-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-23 / Section 16-23-1
§ 16-23-1. Changes in school books.
Status: in_force

A change may be made in the school books in the public schools of any city or town or regional school district by a vote of a majority of all the members of the school committee, notice of the proposed change having been given, in writing, at a previous regular meeting of the committee; provided, that no change is made in any textbook in the public schools of any city or town or regional school district more often than once in three (3) years, unless by the consent of the department of elementary and secondary education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-1-15 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-1 / Section 16-1-15
§ 16-1-15. Restricted receipts.
Status: in_force

There is hereby created a restricted receipt account with the department of elementary and secondary education for the purpose of receiving and expending monies from any other sources, public or private, limited to gifts, grants, and donations. The department shall deposit any revenues from such sources into the restricted receipt account to be used for the same educational purposes that its state appropriation is used, unless otherwise limited by any agreement to use such funds.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-66-5 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-66 / Section 16-66-5
§ 16-66-5. Institute program grant funds  Restrictions on use.
Status: in_force

Institute program grants may be used to pay for consultants, materials, and certain incidental expenses when these are approved by the department of elementary and secondary education; they may not be used to pay for tuition, stipends, substitutes for participants, meals, conference space, or indirect costs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-33-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-33 / Section 16-33-4
§ 16-33-4. Students paying tuition.
Status: in_force

The board of governors for higher education may admit to the classes of the college persons not intending to teach in the public schools of the state upon the payment by them of any tuition fees as may be determined by the board. The board shall make, each term, a return to the general treasurer of all money received by it in pursuance of this authority.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-53-8 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-53 / Section 16-53-8
§ 16-53-8. Creation of career and technical education trust.
Status: in_force

(a) Rhode Island CTE trust established. Effective January 15, 2015, there is hereby created a permanent, not-for-profit corporation to be known as the Rhode Island CTE trust on career and technical education.

(b) Composition of the CTE trust. The power of the trust shall be vested in nine (9) members appointed originally by the governor in staggered terms. All the members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. After the original appointments, the CTE trust shall have authority to appoint successors to fill terms for seven (7) of the members set forth in subsection (d)(1) of this section.

(c) The CTE trust shall coordinate with, but shall remain independent from, both RIDE and the board of education.

(d) The membership of the CTE trust shall be as follows:

(1) Seven (7) individuals who are representative of the private sector in the state who shall constitute a majority of the membership. From among this group, five (5) members shall be representative of business, industry, and agriculture, including, but not limited to:

(i) At least one representative from the various trades that are performed in the state; and

(ii) At least one representative from any trade association representing various career and technical education career clusters established by the U.S. Department of Education.

(2) The secretary of commerce for Rhode Island; and

(3) A member of the governors workforce training board, appointed by the governor. The governor shall make the reappointment to this position.

(e) A member shall be eligible to succeed himself or herself.

(f) The governor shall make all appointments to the CTE trust on or before January 15, 2015.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-80-8 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-80 / Section 16-80-8
§ 16-80-8. Appropriation of funds.
Status: in_force

There shall be no appropriation of any state monies to carry out the purpose of this chapter without the approval of the general assembly.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-92-5 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-92 / Section 16-92-5
§ 16-92-5. Educational records and enrollment.
Status: in_force

(a) Unofficial or hand-carried education records. In the event that official education records cannot be released to the parents for the purpose of transfer, the custodian of the records in the sending state shall prepare and furnish to the parent a complete set of unofficial educational records containing uniform information as determined by the interstate commission. Upon receipt of the unofficial educational records by a school in the receiving state, the school shall enroll and appropriately place the student based on the information provided in the unofficial records pending validation by the official records, as quickly as possible.

(b) Official education records and transcripts. Simultaneous with the enrollment and conditional placement of the student, the school in the receiving state shall request the students official education record from the school in the sending state. Upon receipt of this request, the school in the sending state will process and furnish the official education records to the school in the receiving state within ten (10) days or within such time as is reasonably determined under the rules promulgated by the interstate commission.

(c) Immunizations. Compacting states shall give thirty (30) days from the date of enrollment or within such time as is reasonably determined under the rules promulgated by the interstate commission, for students to obtain any immunizations required by the receiving state. For a series of immunizations, initial vaccinations must be obtained within thirty (30) days or within such time as is reasonably determined under the rules promulgated by the interstate commission.

(d) Kindergarten and first grade entrance age. Students shall be allowed to continue their enrollment at grade level in the receiving state commensurate with their grade level, including kindergarten, from a local education agency in the sending state at the time of transition, regardless of age. A student that has satisfactorily completed the prerequisite grade level in the local education agency in the sending state shall be eligible for enrollment in the next highest grade level in the receiving state, regardless of age. A student transferring after the start of the school year in the receiving state shall enter the school in the receiving state on their validated level from an accredited school in the sending state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-99-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-99 / Section 16-99-4
§ 16-99-4. Eligible school districts; funding.
Status: in_force

(a) A school district shall be eligible to request funding pursuant to §16-99-4(b), if:

(1) The school district is a public school district; and

(2) The school district operates a half-day kindergarten program as of September 1, 2012, but not a full-day kindergarten, as defined herein, serving more than one-half of the kindergarten students in the district as determined on a headcount basis.

(b) Subject to appropriation, beginning with school year 2013-2014 and through school year 2014-2015, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall rank and approve eligible public school districts that voluntarily implement a full-day kindergarten program as defined herein. The aforementioned school district shall receive funding to offset a portion of the reasonable, one-time start-up costs including, but not limited to, desks, books, facility upgrades, ancillary costs associated with relocation of students, costs associated with the development and implementation of new curriculum, and any other necessary expenses associated with each schools implementation of a full-day kindergarten program. Ranking shall be based upon criteria established by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education to ensure the quality and sustainability of the full-day kindergarten programs implemented.

In ranking the school districts proposals, the commissioner shall consider the quality and sustainability of the program and the average number of children eligible for USDA reimbursable school meals served by the respective districts elementary schools with priority given to school districts with enrollment greater than eight thousand (8,000).

If no school district has enrollment greater than eight thousand (8,000), then priority shall be given to school districts with enrollment greater than four thousand (4,000).

(c) The commissioner shall fully fund all eligible expenditures of each district in rank order. If a districts proposal cannot be fully funded, the district may either accept the available funding for the project or refuse funding. If funding is refused, the commissioner shall fund the next eligible school districts request based on the aforementioned ranking.

(d) School districts receiving funds pursuant to this chapter must operate only a full-day program, no half-day programs. The full-day kindergarten program must continue to operate for five (5) years.

(e) All funding provided under this section is subject to appropriation.

(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d), school districts that request funding pursuant to this chapter may be allowed to phase-in the implementation of a full-day kindergarten program, provided that the district provides the department of elementary and secondary education with a schedule and plan as to the implementation of such program.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-42-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-42 / Section 16-42-1
§ 16-42-1. Establishment of program for gifted and talented children.
Status: in_force

(a) In any city or town where there is a child eligible to attend elementary or secondary schools who is either gifted or talented to an extent that a standard educational program would not foster potential development, the school committee of the city or town may provide the type of educational program that will satisfy the needs of the gifted or talented child in grades pre-kindergarten through twelve (12), the program to be approved by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

(b) Providing programs and services for gifted and talented elementary or secondary level students:

(1) Requires an educational program and/or service which is different from that normally provided in the standard school program and which is educationally, personally, and socially beneficial; and

(2) Requires that programs developed serve students who demonstrate unique talents and/or superior capabilities in areas such as specific academic aptitude, creative thinking, intelligence, visual, performing and industrial arts, and leadership.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-84-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-84 / Section 16-84-3
§ 16-84-3. Rhode Island College.
Status: in_force

Subject to appropriation, the state of Rhode Island may contribute funds to Rhode Island College 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 Rhode Island College or the Rhode Island College 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 Rhode Island College shall be two million dollars ($2,000,000). Appropriations of Rhode Island capital plan funds shall be considered matching funds for the purposes of this section. Any contributions made to the Rhode Island College 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 § 16-40-10.2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-40 / Section 16-40-10.2
§ 16-40-10.2. Mater Ecclesiae.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any rule, regulation or general law to the contrary, the Mater Ecclesiae shall be authorized to grant associate and bachelor degrees provided that it is in compliance with regulations and standards for approval adopted by the board of regents for elementary and secondary education or the board of governors for higher education, as appropriate.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-97-9 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-97 / Section 16-97-9
§ 16-97-9. Comprehensive study  Unified approach to statewide education.
Status: in_force

(a) The board of education, in conjunction with the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and the commissioner of postsecondary education, shall undertake a comprehensive study of the alignment of the core curriculum used by the various school districts throughout the state with the goals and objectives of the states colleges and universities:

(1) The main objective of the study shall be to determine a unified approach for education within and across the state that encompasses the education and development of workforce skills, of our youth and adult learners, from kindergarten through the graduation of college or the entrance into the workforce;

(2) The study shall include, at a minimum, recommended policy objectives, implementation strategies, and a timetable for the implementation of the policies and the formulation of the rules and regulations necessary to achieve a unified approach and curriculum for schools under the authority of the council and in furtherance of the objectives of the state colleges and universities.

(b) The board shall report its findings to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate no later than July 1, 2017.

(c) The board of education shall base its timetable for implementation of the unified approach to education on the time necessary to promulgate rules and regulations with respect to the following policies:

(1) Instituting a process for drawing up curriculum frameworks for the core subjects covered by the academic standards adopted by the board (common core state standards):

(i) The curriculum frameworks shall:

(A) Present approaches and strategies for assisting students in the development of the skills, competencies, and knowledge called for by these standards; and

(B) Provide sufficient detail as to provide objective measures and standards to be met by students and to assist in the education, professional development, certification, and evaluation of both active and aspiring teachers;

(ii) The establishment of curriculum frameworks, and any further revisions, shall be open and consultative and take into consideration:

(A) The knowledge and experiences of classroom teachers, school administrators, faculty of schools of education, parents, and any other persons with the knowledge and experience who may assist the committee in the furtherance of its objectives;

(B) Other accepted curriculum frameworks, model curricula, content standards, attainment targets, courses of study, and instruction materials currently being used, or in the process of being implemented, in the United States;

(C) Approaches being taken internationally that may be of assistance; and

(D) The exploration of collaborative development efforts with other projects, including, but not limited to, the national New Standards Project;

(iii) The curriculum frameworks shall be constructed to guide and assist teachers, administrators, publishers, software developers, and other interested parties in the development and selection of curricula, textbooks, technology, and other instructional materials, and in the design of pedagogical approaches and techniques for elementary, secondary, and vocational-technical schools.

(2) Develop a school-based management model that shall be submitted to the general assembly and the governor for consideration. The management model, at a minimum, shall include:

(i) A process where the superintendent of a school system hires the principals for their schools and the principal of the selected school hires his or her teachers;

(ii) An appropriate level of educational opportunities for teachers and administrators to learn and continue to develop the skills and leadership qualities necessary to become effective administrators and principals;

(iii) The creation of a school council to assist in the management and to provide support to each public elementary, secondary, and independent vocational school utilizing the school-based management model; and

(iv) A recommended transition plan that provides guidance and support to local districts in implementing the school-based management model.

(3) Establish a professional development plan for educational professionals within the k-12 system based upon the successful implementation of similar programs by other school systems/departments throughout the country and the most efficient way to implement similar practices in the state. In addition to continued professional development, any program offered by the board of education shall offer opportunities that encourage the development of leadership skills and the professional advancement of teachers to administrative positions.

(4) Ensure that all students, regardless of residence or economic status, are provided an opportunity to succeed; and to develop, based on best practices, the system and processes necessary to support the early intervention and long-term development of children from low-income families to maintain learning skills and school success and improve their ability to compete in their chosen endeavor after exiting the secondary school system.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-63-17 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-63 / Section 16-63-17
§ 16-63-17. Liberal construction of chapter required.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be construed liberally in aid of its declared purpose.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-32-12 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-32 / Section 16-32-12
§ 16-32-12. Acquisition of land  Guaranty of loans to societies of students.
Status: in_force

The board of trustees is authorized and empowered on behalf of the university of Rhode Island to acquire land and also to guarantee in the name of the state approved loans made to societies of students at the university, for the purchase or construction, upon lands owned by the university, of society houses which shall serve as student dormitories. Any loans approved, upon default, shall become state obligations in the same manner as any state bond.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-17-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-17 / Section 16-17-1
§ 16-17-1. State retirement system extended to teachers in state schools.
Status: in_force

Teachers in state universities, colleges, or schools shall be covered under the provisions of chapters 8, 9, and 10 of title 36 and chapters 16 and 17.1 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-32-17 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-32 / Section 16-32-17
§ 16-32-17. Appropriations for marine biology.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum as it may deem necessary for maintaining the department of marine biology and the marine biological laboratory; 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 the sum as may from time to time be required, upon receipt by the controller of properly authenticated vouchers.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-95-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-95 / Section 16-95-4
§ 16-95-4. Transfer of aid.
Status: in_force

(a) Any school district in Rhode Island that may have a student, or students, who are currently or were last enrolled in said district and who are diagnosed with substance use disorder or dependency, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV-TR, may be referred to a Rhode Island recovery high school by a clinician licensed pursuant to chapter 69 of title 5 for voluntary enrollment in such school. If said student is admitted to said school, the sending school district shall ensure that payment, pursuant to subsection (b) for students who attend the recovery high school, is paid, and further, that upon completion of all other graduation requirements, said student or students shall receive a diploma.

(b) A sending school district shall transfer the per-pupil core-instructional amount, pursuant to chapter 7.2 of title 16 (The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act) to a recovery high school for any student attending the recovery high school and meeting the following criteria: (1) The student is currently enrolled in the district or currently resides in the municipality in which the district is located; (2) The student is considered by a clinician, licensed pursuant to chapter 69 of title 5, to be clinically appropriate, using the criteria for substance use disorders as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV-TR; and (3) The student meets all matriculation criteria as outlined by the sending district and the department of elementary and secondary education, with determination of academic eligibility based on existing documentation provided by the district. The district and the recovery high school shall arrange to confer a diploma when a student completes state- and district-mandated graduation requirements.

(c) The state shall appropriate no less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for the administration and programmatic costs of each recovery high school.

(d) A recovery high school shall submit to the council on elementary and secondary education academic data considered necessary by the council to provide information regarding each students academic performance, subject to applicable health confidentiality laws and regulations.

(e) The council on elementary and secondary education, in consultation with the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals shall promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to implement and carry out the intent of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-62-18 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-62 / Section 16-62-18
§ 16-62-18. Annual report.
Status: in_force

Within six (6) months after the close of its fiscal year the board shall approve and submit an annual report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the secretary of state of its activities during that fiscal year. The report shall provide: an operating statement summarizing meetings or hearings held, meeting minutes if requested, subjects addressed, decisions rendered, rules or regulations promulgated, studies conducted, policies and plans developed, approved, or modified, and programs administered or initiated; a consolidated financial statement of all funds received and expended including the source of the funds, a listing of any staff supported by these funds, and a summary of any clerical, administrative or technical support received; a summary of performance during the previous fiscal year including accomplishments, shortcomings and remedies; a synopsis of hearings, complaints, suspensions, or other legal matters related to the authority; a summary of any training courses held pursuant to this chapter; a briefing on anticipated activities in the upcoming fiscal year; and findings and recommendations for improvements. The report shall be posted electronically on the general assembly and the secretary of states websites as prescribed in § 42-20-8.2. The director of the department of administration shall be responsible for the enforcement of this provision. The authority shall cause an audit of its books and accounts to be made at least once each fiscal year by certified public accountants selected by it and the its cost shall be paid by the authority from funds available to it pursuant to this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-19-5 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-19 / Section 16-19-5
§ 16-19-5. Inspection and reports of places of employment of minors  Work certificates.
Status: in_force

Truant officers and industrial inspectors may visit any places or establishments where minor children are employed to ascertain whether the provisions of this chapter are duly complied with, and may as often as twice in every year demand from all employers of minor children a report containing the names of all children who have not completed sixteen (16) years of life that are employed by them, the report to give the names, ages, and residences of all these children; and all employers of children under sixteen (16) years of age shall produce for the inspection of truant officers and industrial inspectors the permits to work prescribed by chapter 3 of title 28; and for any refusal to make reports provided for in this section, or for any refusal to produce the permits to work provided for in this section, any employer of children shall be fined not exceeding ten dollars ($10.00).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-19 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-21 / Section 16-21-19
§ 16-21-19. Special rules for students with disabilities bringing firearms to school.
Status: in_force

(a) Students with disabilities as defined by the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1415, shall be subject to the provisions of § 16-21-18 to the extent permitted by the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1415.

(b) Students with disabilities as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, shall be subject to the provisions of § 16-21-18 to the extent permitted by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-40-14 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-40 / Section 16-40-14
§ 16-40-14. Schools unaffected.
Status: in_force

Nothing contained in §§ 16-40-11 through 16-40-13 shall be construed in a manner as to interfere in the operation of any secondary schools that were in existence on May 7, 1941, and which had been approved by the director of education or of private schools or institutions of learning in this state properly registered at the office of the department of elementary and secondary education or the office of higher education and which have been approved by the board of regents for elementary and secondary education or the board of governors for higher education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7-15 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-7 / Section 16-7-15
§ 16-7-15. Statement of purpose.
Status: in_force

The purpose of §§ 16-7-15 to 16-7-34 is to provide a quality education for all Rhode Island youth by requiring a minimum per pupil expenditure level, by encouraging school committees to provide superior education beyond this minimum, by identifying fiscal responsibilities of school committees, by further improving the efficiency of our school systems through encouraging small school districts to combine into larger, more efficient regionalized units, and by incorporating the many various state aids into one comprehensive program.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-103-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-103 / Section 16-103-1
§ 16-103-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) Social media account means an electronic service or account, or electronic content, including, but not limited to, videos, still photographs, blogs, video blogs, podcasts, instant and text messages, email, online service or accounts, or internet website profiles or locations. For the purposes of this chapter, social media account does not include an account opened at a schools behest, or provided by the school, or intended to be used primarily on behalf of the school.

(2) Applicant means an applicant for admission to an educational institution.

(3) Educational institution or school means a private or public institution that offers participants, students, or trainees an organized course of study or training that is academic, technical, trade-oriented, or preparatory for gainful employment in a recognized occupation and shall include any person acting as an agent of the institution.

(4) Student means any student, participant, or trainee, whether full-time or part-time, in an organized course of study at an educational institution.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-91-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-91 / Section 16-91-2
§ 16-91-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

For the purpose of this section, the term youth sports programs means any program organized for recreational and/or athletic competition purposes by any school district or by any school participating in Rhode Island Interscholastic League Competition, and whose participants are nineteen (19) years of age or younger.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-69-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-69 / Section 16-69-1
§ 16-69-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known as the 60/40 Funding of Public Schools Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-60-4.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-60 / Section 16-60-4.1
§ 16-60-4.1. Granting of high school diplomas for World War II and Korean War veterans.
Status: in_force

The board of regents shall have in addition to all the powers enumerated in § 16-60-1 and § 16-60-4 the authority to develop guidelines for issuing high school diplomas for World War II and Korean War veterans who left school early to fight in World War II or the Korean War. The board of regents shall develop and make available an application and a model diploma. The high school diploma shall be available to all veterans who left school in any grade to fight in World War II or the Korean War.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-32-34 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-32 / Section 16-32-34
§ 16-32-34. Fiscal accounts  Receipts  Petty cash funds.
Status: in_force

(a) The treasurer of the university of Rhode Island, as appointed by the board of trustees, shall:

(1) Keep an accurate account of his or her receipts and expenditures, which shall be audited by the state controller; and

(2) Turn over to the general treasurer at monthly intervals all sums of money received by him or her during the preceding month which shall be credited to the proper accounts and funds by the general treasurer.

(b) The state controller shall establish an imprest fund or petty cash fund for the use of the treasurer of the university for expenditures of any nature as may be approved by the state controller.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-50-8 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-50 / Section 16-50-8
§ 16-50-8. Judicial review.
Status: in_force

Any action of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education respecting the issuance, denial, or revocation of a permit pursuant to § 16-50-5 shall be subject to judicial review in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of title 42.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-112-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-112 / Section 16-112-4
§ 16-112-4. Reporting.
Status: in_force

No later than August 1, 2025, the board shall provide the governor, the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives a plan for increasing the number of students who earn credit towards and/or complete bachelors degrees from a Rhode Island public institution of higher education through a registered apprenticeship. The board may create additional reporting requirements to focus on data collection for the purposes of program progress, goals, and participation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-38-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-38 / Section 16-38-1
§ 16-38-1. Discrimination because of race or age.
Status: in_force

(a) No person shall be excluded from any public school on account of race or color, or for being over fifteen (15) years of age, nor except by force of some general regulation applicable to all persons under the same circumstances.

(b) Discrimination on the basis of race is prohibited in all public elementary and secondary schools in the state and in all schools operated by the council on elementary and secondary education. This prohibition shall apply to employment practices, admissions, curricular programs, extracurricular activities including athletics, counseling, and any and all other school functions and activities.

(c) For purposes of this section, the term:

(1) Protective hairstyles means and includes, but is not limited to, hair texture or hairstyles, if that hair texture or that hairstyle is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin (including a hairstyle in which hair is tightly coiled or tightly curled, locks, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, and Afros).

(2) Race means and includes traits historically associated with the race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7-21 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-7 / Section 16-7-21
§ 16-7-21. Determination and adjustment of equalized weighted assessed valuation.
Status: in_force

On or before August 1 of each year the division of property valuation within the department of revenue shall determine and certify to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education the equalized weighted assessed valuation for each city and town in the following manner:

(1) The total assessed valuations of real and tangible personal property for each city and town as of December 31 of the third preceding calendar year shall be weighted by bringing the valuation to the true and market value of real and tangible personal property. The total assessed valuations of real and tangible personal property for all cities and towns shall be applied to the true and market valuations of the property for all cities and towns and the resulting percentage shall determine the average throughout the state. This percentage applied to the sum of the total true and market value of real and tangible personal property of each city and town shall be the equalized weighted assessed valuation of each city and town.

(2) The equalized weighted assessed valuation for each city and town shall be allocated to the particular city or town, and in the case of a regional school district that does not service all grades, except the Chariho regional high school district, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall apportion that proportion of the equalized weighted assessed valuation of the member cities or towns that the average daily membership serviced by the regional school district bears to the total average daily membership, and the equalized weighted assessed valuation of the member cities and towns shall be appropriately reduced.

(3) The equalized weighted assessed valuation for each community as allocated or apportioned in accordance with subsection (2) shall be adjusted by the ratio that the median family income of a city or town bears to the statewide median family income as reported in the latest available federal census data. The total state adjusted equalized weighted assessed valuation shall be the same as the total state equalized weighted assessed valuation.

(4) In the event that certified data is later determined to be incorrect, the division of property valuation, in conjunction with the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, shall inform local education agencies, the senate president, and the speaker of the house of the issue(s) within five (5) days of the determination.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-81-1.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-81 / Section 16-81-1.1
§ 16-81-1.1. Suicide prevention and mental health services.
Status: in_force

(a) Each public institution of postsecondary education shall establish a plan for addressing the mental health needs of its students in a timely fashion that may include written memorandum of understanding with local community service providers or other mental health providers. Sole reliance on off-campus mental health services is strongly discouraged.

(b) Each public institution of postsecondary education shall develop and implement policies and training, if appropriate, that advise students, faculty, and staff, including residence hall staff, of the proper procedures for identifying the needs of a student exhibiting suicidal tendencies or behavior, and where appropriate provide training for addressing said needs.

(c) The plan and policies along with the implementation timetable in subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be provided to the president of the senate, speaker of the house of representatives, and the council on postsecondary education by January 1, 2019.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-90-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-90 / Section 16-90-2
§ 16-90-2. Findings of fact.
Status: in_force

The general assembly makes the following findings of fact:.

(1) The high schools of the state of Rhode Island play an integral role in preparing students for college and work in the 21st century. The high school outcomes improvement act recognizes that high school success is more important than ever for the health of our economy, for civic life, and to ensure equal opportunity. It is of critical importance to the success of our public high schools to prepare all students for college and work in the 21st century.

(2) Without accurate data on graduation rates it is extremely difficult to evaluate the efficacy of the states system of public education. Better information can lead to better policies and program implementation.

(3) Parents and community members, who are critical to ensuring strong educational accountability, are hampered in their efforts to improve our schools if they do not have accurate data.

(4) It is of critical importance that accurate data be collected, maintained, analyzed and publicly reported by our states education system with respect to high school student graduation rates.

(5) In the state of Rhode Island, existing data from independent researchers indicates that when graduation rates are broken down by racial and ethnic group, by students with disabilities compared to their non-disabled peers, by English language learners and by socio-economically disadvantaged students compared to non-disadvantaged peers, that many of these sub-groups are experiencing particularly low rates of high school graduation.

(6) Ultimately, the state of Rhode Island is committed to develop and implement a student-unit-record data system, with unique student identifiers that can track students through the states education system from kindergarten through post-secondary education.

(7) The state must commit to developing and maintaining a data and public reporting system that accurately accounts for all students when calculating high school graduation rates and informs the public of progress toward the goal of universal high school graduation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-4-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-4 / Section 16-4-2
§ 16-4-2. Duties paid by auctioneers.
Status: in_force

The money that shall be paid into the state treasury by auctioneers, for duties accruing to the use of the state, is appropriated, and the money shall annually be added to the school fund.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-67-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-67 / Section 16-67-1
§ 16-67-1. Declaration of policy.
Status: in_force

The state of Rhode Island is committed to equal education opportunity for all citizens. To ensure the fulfillment of this commitment, all persons must have the opportunity to acquire the skills of literacy: basic reading, writing, speaking, listening, and mathematics skills. The opportunity to acquire these skills must be provided in programs designed to meet the varying needs of students. Special attention must be given to prevent students from dropping out of school. Research indicates that large classes prevent teachers from meeting the learning requirements of pupils on an individualized basis, where smaller classes enable teachers to use more varied, innovative, and effective learning approaches. We can increase effectiveness of our schools by promoting smaller classes in kindergarten through third grade. A foundation in these skill areas provides students with the skills they need to complete their elementary and secondary studies, to graduate from high school, and to participate in, and to contribute to, our society as literate and productive adults.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-97-11 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-97 / Section 16-97-11
§ 16-97-11. American Rescue Plan fiscal accountability and transparency.
Status: in_force

(a) The board of education and council on elementary and secondary education shall require all school districts and local education agencies to report on a standardized form each fiscal year, relating to any and all of the American Rescue Plan, elementary and secondary school emergency relief, and state and local recovery funds, the following information:

(1) Amounts received;

(2) Amounts allocated with project/program description;

(3) Amounts spent on hiring staff;

(4) Job titles hired or retained with aforesaid funds;

(5) Premium pay amount issued to employees and type of employees compensated;

(6) Total amount of funds not spent and remaining, if any; and

(7) Copies of all progress reports submitted to federal government agencies concerning the use of ESSER III proceeds.

(b) Said reports shall be published on the department of educations website for public inspection and review.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7-33 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-7 / Section 16-7-33
§ 16-7-33. Evaluation of operations  Recommendations.
Status: in_force

The commissioner of elementary and secondary education is directed to evaluate the operation of this chapter, and at least once every three (3) years the state board of regents for elementary and secondary education shall review the findings of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and shall make its recommendations in writing to the governor and to the general assembly.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-67-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-67 / Section 16-67-3
§ 16-67-3. Coordination with programs for special populations.
Status: in_force

It is required that programs serving special population students be coordinated with the requirements of this chapter. All these programs shall focus on literacy objectives to the extent appropriate for each special population. All coordinating efforts shall not absolve participating school districts from meeting all requirements of state and/or federal laws, regulations, and mandates. In particular, programs for supplementary literacy instruction for educationally disadvantaged students in kindergarten through grade twelve (12) shall meet the following criteria which shall be included in a plan submitted annually and reviewed and approved by the department of elementary and secondary education:

(1) Services shall be based on an annual assessment of need;

(2) Programs shall have performance objectives evaluated annually;

(3) Programs must provide supplementary services;

(4) Programs must be monitored by the department of elementary and secondary education; and

(5) School districts must keep records on the above and afford access to the records by the department of elementary and secondary education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-66-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-66 / Section 16-66-2
§ 16-66-2. Findings.
Status: in_force

The general assembly has found and declares that:

(1) In-service education is different from pre-service education. Effective staff development programs are directed at educational improvements and also encourage the professional development of individual participants.

(2) In-service education, whether local, state, or federally supported, must be designed as an integral part of the school program.

(3) The most effective in-service education programs are those with a high degree of participant control.

(4) In-service education programs most beneficial to students are those designed primarily to improve the quality of teaching in a school or department of a school.

(5) In-service education programs most beneficial to school department staff are those that are designed to improve professional practices and/or provide professional growth and stimulation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-28 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-21 / Section 16-21-28
§ 16-21-28. Health and wellness subcommittee.
Status: in_force

(a) The school committee of each school district shall establish a district-wide coordinated school health and wellness subcommittee chaired by a member of the full school committee. The subcommittee will make recommendations regarding the districts health education curriculum and instruction, physical education curriculum and instruction, and nutrition and physical activity policies to decrease obesity and enhance the health and well being of students and employees.

(b) The school health and wellness subcommittee shall consist of members of the general public, a majority of whom are not employed by the school district, including at least one parent, and are encouraged to include teachers; administrator; students; community and school-based health professionals; business community representatives; and representatives of local and statewide nonprofit health organizations. The subcommittee will be chaired by a member of the school committee.

(c) Nothing in this section shall preclude the school committee from reconstituting any existing district-wide volunteer committees as the school health and wellness subcommittee so long as said committee membership meets the requirements of this section.

(d) The school health and wellness subcommittee shall be responsible for, but not limited to, development of policies, strategies, and implementation plans that promote purchasing and serving locally grown fruits, vegetables and dairy products and that meet the requirements of the child nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. The school health and wellness subcommittee shall forward all recommendations regarding the districts health education curriculum and instruction, physical education curriculum and instruction, nutrition policies, and physical activity policies to the full school committee.

(e) Reporting shall be consistent with requirements of § 16-7.1-2(h).

(f) The Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education and the Rhode Island department of heath will provide technical assistance and support to the school health and wellness subcommittees on best practices, professional development on coordinated school health issues, suggested initiatives, and will support communication among the school health and wellness subcommittees by sharing information on the activities, efforts, and experiences of subcommittees across the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-54-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-54 / Section 16-54-1
§ 16-54-1. Declaration of policy.
Status: in_force

The Rhode Island Constitution recognizes the diffusion of knowledge as essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of all the people and places the responsibility on the general assembly to promote public schools and to adopt all means deemed necessary and proper to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education. As this responsibility relates to limited English proficient students, the state asserts that these students shall be provided with appropriate programs and services which will make their educational opportunities equal to their English dominant peers. Programs or services developed by local schools must, at the very least, provide for the attainment of English language proficiency and academic achievement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-24-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-24 / Section 16-24-3
§ 16-24-3. Annual census of children with disabilities.
Status: in_force

The school committee of every city and town shall annually ascertain, under regulations prescribed by the state board of regents for elementary and secondary education, in cooperation with the directors of human services and behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, the number of children residing in the town or city of school age who have disabilities.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-60-11 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-60 / Section 16-60-11
§ 16-60-11. Liberal construction of chapter required.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be construed liberally in aid of its declared purpose.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-15 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-2 / Section 16-2-15
§ 16-2-15. Location of schools  Control of property.
Status: in_force

(a) The school committee shall locate all schoolhouses, and shall not abandon, close, or change the location of any without good cause; and, unless provided by law, the school committee of each city or town shall have the care and control of all public school buildings and other public school property of the city or town, including repairs of the buildings and the purchase of furniture and other school equipment.

(b) The school committee of any city or town may provide public school housing for the city or town by lease of buildings or portions of buildings, furniture, and other school equipment, subject to the following provisions:

(1) During the period or periods to which the lease applies the property leased shall be public school property of the city or town in all respects to the same effect as any public school building of the city or town;

(2) The lease shall provide for use and occupancy of periods at least the same as or equivalent to the periods during which public school buildings of the city or town are used and occupied;

(3) As applied to rooms for instruction the lease shall provide for exclusive use and occupancy during the periods of the lease and may provide for common or concurrent use and occupancy of other areas of the property;

(4) The use and occupancy under the lease may be for purpose of instruction at particular grade levels or in particular courses of study and may provide for consecutive use and occupancy of specified areas of the property provided that total use and occupancy under this lease complies with the provisions of subsection (b)(2).

(c) Upon application of the school committee of any city or town, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education may prescribe by regulation standards for the leases in accordance with this chapter and in accordance with the Constitution, laws, and education policies and programs of the state. The expenses of the city or town under the lease shall constitute expenditures to support the basic program pursuant to the provisions of §§ 16-7-15 to 16-7-34.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-97-6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-97 / Section 16-97-6
§ 16-97-6. Reporting requirements.
Status: in_force

The board shall submit an annual report to the governor, speaker of the house, senate president, chairs of the house and senate finance committees and their respective fiscal advisors, the chair of the house health, education and welfare committee, and chair of the senate education committee no later than March 1, 2015, and every March 1 thereafter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-22-17 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-22 / Section 16-22-17
§ 16-22-17. AIDS education program.
Status: in_force

(a) The department of elementary and secondary education shall, pursuant to rules promulgated by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and the director of the department of health, establish comprehensive AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) instruction, which shall provide students with accurate information and instruction on AIDS transmission and prevention, and which course shall also address abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred means of prevention, as a basic education program requirement.

(b) Upon written request to the school principal, a pupil not less than eighteen (18) years of age or 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 curriculum program instruction materials at the school in which his or her child is enrolled.

(c) A parent or legal guardian may exempt his or her child from the program by written directive to the principal of the school. No child so exempted shall be penalized academically by reason of the exemption.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-40-16 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-40 / Section 16-40-16
§ 16-40-16. Student records and school closings  Notice of closing.
Status: in_force

(a) In the event that a private school shall close, provision must be made for continued access to student academic and attendance records. Records of elementary school students shall be sent to the receiving school, except that records of elementary and secondary parochial schools shall be sent to the catholic school office.

(b) When a private secondary school closes, the school shall obtain the approval of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education as to the disposition of the attendance and academic records of the students.

(c) Within thirty (30) days of the closing of a private postsecondary school, the person having care, custody and control of the records shall obtain the approval of the commissioner of higher education as to the disposition of student records.

(d) The department of elementary and secondary education and the office of higher education may promulgate regulations for the custody and disposition of student records of private schools that cease operation.

(e) No private academy, college, university, or other institution of higher education shall be permitted to close without first notifying the current students, any persons who have pre-paid tuition and deposits with the school, and the board of education of the impending closure of the school.

(1) Such notice shall be provided in writing at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the closing of the school, and shall include instructions on the procedures to be implemented:

(i) To return any pre-paid tuition and/or other deposits to the students and/or persons who have made such deposits and tuition payments and for which instruction time will not be provided; and

(ii) To furnish students and the office of higher education with transcripts of courses, grades and credits and any other pertinent academic records regarding said students.

(2) In the event a private academy, college, university, or other institution of higher education closes and does not provide the thirty (30) day notice as set forth in the preceding subsection, the private entity may be subject to a fine and/or other penalties as determined by the board of education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-45-5 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-45 / Section 16-45-5
§ 16-45-5. Acceptance and expenditure of federal funds.
Status: in_force

The board of regents for elementary and secondary education is designated as the agency of this state and shall have full and complete authority to cooperate with and enter into contracts and agreements with the federal government, its agency, or instrumentality in all matters relating to the furtherance of the establishment of vocational and technological schools and the advancement of vocational and technological training programs and to perform any acts that may be necessary and to make application for, receive, and expend in accordance with any requirements, terms, rules, regulations, and conditions as may be established any grants, grants-in-aid, or funds authorized or appropriated by Congress and made available for these purposes to the board of regents for elementary and secondary education by the federal government or any agency or instrumentality of the federal government. The proceeds of grants or funds received shall be paid to the general treasurer who shall place the funds in a special account which shall be utilized for the purposes of these grants; and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of any sums or so much of the sum as may be required upon receipt by the controller of properly authenticated vouchers. The board of regents for elementary and secondary education may authorize any state officer or employee to act as agent of the federal government, as may be provided in any federal legislation within the purview of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-92-17 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-92 / Section 16-92-17
§ 16-92-17. Withdrawal and dissolution.
Status: in_force

(a) Withdrawal. (1) Once effective, the compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each and every member state; provided that a member state may withdraw from the compact by specifically repealing the statute, which enacted the compact into law. (2) Withdrawal from this compact shall be by the enactment of a statute repealing the same, but shall not take effect until one year after the effective date of such statute and until written notice of the withdrawal has been given by the withdrawing state to the governor of each other member jurisdiction. (3) The withdrawing state shall immediately notify the chairperson of the interstate commission in writing upon the introduction of legislation repealing this compact in the withdrawing state. The interstate commission shall notify the other member states of the withdrawing states intent to withdraw within sixty (60) days of its receipt thereof. (4) The withdrawing state is responsible for all assessments, obligations and liabilities incurred through the effective date of withdrawal, including obligations, the performance of which extend beyond the effective date of withdrawal. (5) Reinstatement following withdrawal of a member state shall occur upon the withdrawing state reenacting the compact or upon such later date as determined by the interstate commission.

(b) Dissolution of compact. (1) This compact shall dissolve effective upon the date of the withdrawal or default of the member state which reduces the membership in the compact to one member state. (2) Upon the dissolution of this compact, the compact becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the interstate commission shall be concluded and surplus funds shall be distributed in accordance with the bylaws.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-17 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-2 / Section 16-2-17
§ 16-2-17. Right to a safe school.
Status: in_force

(a) Each student, staff member, teacher, and administrator has a right to attend and/or work at a school which is safe and secure, and which is conducive to learning, and which is free from the threat, actual or implied, of physical harm by a disruptive student. A disruptive student is a person who is subject to compulsory school attendance, who exhibits persistent conduct which substantially impedes the ability of other students to learn, or otherwise substantially interferes with the rights stated above, and who has failed to respond to corrective and rehabilitative measures presented by staff, teachers, or administrators.

(b) The school committee, or a school principal as designated by the school committee, may suspend all pupils found guilty of this conduct, or of violation of those school regulations which relate to the rights set forth in subsection (a), or where a student represents a threat to those rights of students, teachers, or administrators, as described in subsection (a). Nothing in this section shall relieve the school committee or school principals from following all procedures required by state and federal law regarding discipline of students with disabilities.

(c) A student suspended under this section may appeal the action of the school committee, or a school principal as designee, to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education who, after notice to the parties interested of the time and place of hearing, shall examine and decide the appeal without cost to the parties involved. Any decision of the commissioner in these matters shall be subject to appeal by the student to the council on elementary and secondary education and any decision of the council may be appealed by the student to the family court for the county in which the school is located as provided in § 42-35-15.

(d) All school superintendents, or their designees, shall review annually, the discipline data for their school district, collected in accordance with the specifications set forth in § 16-60-4(a)(21), to determine whether the discipline imposed has a disproportionate impact on students based on race, ethnicity, or disability status and to appropriately respond to any such disparity. In addition to the data submitted, if a disparity exists, the school district shall submit a report to the council on elementary and secondary education describing the conduct of the student, the frequency of the conduct, prior disciplinary actions for the conduct, any other relevant information and corrective actions to address the disparity, after consultation with representatives of the faculty has been taken to address the disparity. The reports shall be deemed to be public records for purposes of title 38.

(e) On or before September 1, 2023, and annually by September 1 thereafter, the Rhode Island department of education, in coordination with the Rhode Island office of the attorney general, shall, for each school district, annually collect, report, and publish on its website, data on: the number of school resource officers; the use of force against students, including, but not limited to, the number of instances force was used and the type of the force used; arrests of students and reasons for arrest; student referrals to law enforcement and reasons for referral; student referrals to court or court service units; and the number and type of any other disciplinary actions taken or recommended by school resource officers involving students. All data shall be published in a manner that protects the identities of students and shall be collected and designated by student age, grade, race, ethnicity, gender, language status, and disability, to the extent that the demographic data is available.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-3-4 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-3 / Section 16-3-4
§ 16-3-4. Creation of planning committee  Appropriations.
Status: in_force

(a) Any city or town, by majority vote of its appropriating authority, may create a special unpaid committee to be known as a regional school district planning committee, to consist of three (3) members, two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the president of the city or town council and one of whom shall be appointed by the chairperson of the school committee; and shall at the same meeting appropriate for the expense of the committee a sum, not exceeding one tenth of one percent (.1%) of the assessed valuation of the city or town in the preceding year.

(b) The committee may consist of more than three (3) members; if this is the case then two-thirds ( ) shall be appointed by the president of the city or town council, and the remaining members by the chairperson of the school committee.

(c) In cities and towns where the mayor or town administrator is directly elected, the committee shall be appointed in equal numbers of members by the mayor or town administrator, president of the city or town council, and chairperson of the school committee.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-89-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-89 / Section 16-89-2
§ 16-89-2. Findings of fact.
Status: in_force

The general assembly makes the following findings of fact:

(1) The present financial resources of cities, towns and the state are stretched to their limit with regard to providing adequate funding for education, yet the need to fund public education at its present level remains unabated.

(2) School districts, school departments, and school committees are limited in their ability to seek alternative sources of funding for budgetary items outside of the annual appropriation of state aid to education and municipal tax levies.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-67-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-67 / Section 16-67-2
§ 16-67-2. The literacy program.
Status: in_force

(a) Activities under this section shall include strategies to improve the performance of students in mathematics, reading and writing, and to specifically address issues of dyslexia. Such activities must be founded on a scientific research base, as described in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, title I, part B, § 1208 (20 U.S.C. § 6368). Reading instruction to improve the reading skills of all students in the early grades (specifically kindergarten (K) through to and including grade five (5)) shall be consistent with the council on elementary and secondary educations reading policy. This legislation requires that the following six (6) activities, which comprise the literacy program, be conducted:

(1) Screening for all children first entering school. All school districts that provide elementary education are required to screen all children prior to, or upon, their first entry to school to determine their level of educational readiness. All children are required to participate in this screening. Screening shall address the childs educational development and shall be used to determine whether he or she is educationally disadvantaged in terms of readiness for instruction in the literacy skills of reading, writing, speaking, listening, or mathematics.

(2) Literacy focus in instruction in kindergarten through grade three (3) for all students. All school districts that provide elementary education shall focus their kindergarten through grade three (3) instruction for all students on literacy: reading, writing, speaking, listening, and mathematics. All instruction shall be geared to helping students achieve the outcomes in literacy that have been specified by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. School districts are encouraged to consider reducing class size to no more than fifteen (15) students as one means to achieving these outcomes. School districts will be held accountable for student achievement of the literacy outcomes.

(ii) Supplementary literacy (reading, writing, speaking, listening, and mathematics) instruction may be required for educationally disadvantaged students. The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall stipulate for each school district the specific cutoff points and the grades for required service each year. Services must be provided first to students who are most educationally disadvantaged. Services shall focus on instruction in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and mathematics. Program emphasis shall be as follows:

(A) Intensive development in literacy. Kindergarten through grade three (3).

(B) Early intervention in literacy. Grades four (4) through six (6).

(C) Remediation in literacy. Grades seven (7) through eight (8).

(D) Intensive remediation in literacy. Grades nine (9) through twelve (12).

(iii) School districts will be held accountable for student achievement of the literacy outcomes.

(4) Dropout prevention programs. Programs shall address the academic, social, or personal needs of potential dropouts. Projects shall be selected at the discretion of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

(5) State-level program support. Activities shall provide for necessary planning and administrative functions and for a broadly representative advisory council.

(6) Dyslexia-targeted assistance. The literacy program shall also include assistance to students by providing strategies that formally address dyslexia, when appropriate. In addition, the department of elementary and secondary education shall offer to school districts, at no cost to the school district or to participants in the training, professional development services to enhance the skills of elementary teachers in the use of evidence-based strategies to improve the literacy skills of students with dyslexia.

(b) As used in this section, the term dyslexia means a specific and significant impairment in the development of reading, including, but not limited to, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension that is not solely accounted for by intellectual disability, sensory disability or impairment, or lack of appropriate instruction.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-104-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-104 / Section 16-104-1
§ 16-104-1. Student data-cloud computing.
Status: in_force

(a) For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) Cloud computing service means a service that enables convenient on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources to provide a student, teacher, or staff member account-based productivity applications such as email, document storage, and document editing that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or cloud computing service provider interaction.

(2) Cloud computing service provider means an entity other than a public elementary or secondary school that operates a cloud computing service.

(3) Process means to use, access, manipulate, scan, modify, transform, disclose, store, transmit, transfer, retain, aggregate, or dispose of student data.

(4) Student data means any information in any media or format created or provided:

(i) By a student; or

(ii) By a school board employee about a student in the course of using a cloud computing service, including the students name, email address, postal address, email message, documents, unique identifiers, and metadata.

(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any person who provides a cloud computing service to an educational institution operating within the state shall process data of a student enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth (12th) grade for the sole purpose of providing the cloud computing service to the educational institution and shall not process such data for any commercial purposes, including, but not limited to, advertising purposes that benefit the cloud computing service provider.

(c) Each cloud computing service that enters into a contract to provide such services shall certify, in writing, that it shall comply with the provisions of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-22-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-22 / Section 16-22-3
§ 16-22-3. Instruction in physiology and hygiene.
Status: in_force

The school committees of the several cities and towns shall make provision for the instruction of the pupils in all schools supported wholly, or in part, by public money, in physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the effects of alcoholic liquors, stimulants, and narcotics upon the human system.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-3-6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-3 / Section 16-3-6
§ 16-3-6. Studies and reports by planning board.
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the regional school district planning board to study the advisability of establishing a regional school district, its organization, operation, and control, and of constructing, maintaining, and operating a school or schools and the types of services to be performed by the school or schools to serve the needs of the district; to estimate the construction and its operating costs; to investigate the methods of financing the school or schools, and any other matters pertaining to the organization and operation of a regional school district; and to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the city or town councils of the several participating cities or towns. Planning boards created under § 16-3-3.1 shall include in their report the items listed in § 16-3-3.1.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-62-9 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-62 / Section 16-62-9
§ 16-62-9. Bonds and notes of the authority.
Status: reserved

(a) The authority shall have the power and is authorized to issue its negotiable bonds and notes in one or more series in any principal amounts as in the opinion of the authority shall be necessary to provide sufficient funds for achieving its purposes, including the payment of interest on bonds and notes of the authority; the establishment of reserves to secure these bonds and notes; and the making of all other expenditures of the authority incident to and necessary or convenient to carrying out its corporate purposes and powers.

(b) All bonds and notes issued by the authority may be secured by the full faith and credit of the authority; or may be payable solely out of revenues and receipts derived from the pledge or assignment of, grant of security interest in, or sale of eligible loans or education loans owned by it, or any part of it; or out of receipts upon repayment of any eligible loans or education loans or any part of these made to students or to parents, legal guardians, or sponsors of students, or to institutions or lenders; or upon the undisbursed proceeds of the bonds or notes; or upon guaranty payments of principal and interest on eligible loans; or upon interest subsidy payments; or upon investment earnings of any of these revenues, receipts, proceeds or payments; or upon any other form of security available to the authority for this purpose, all as may be designated in the proceedings of the authority under which the bonds or notes shall be authorized to be issued. The bonds and notes may be executed and delivered by the authority at any time; may be in any form and denominations and of any tenor and maturities; and may be in bearer form or in registered form, as to principal and interest or as to principal alone, all as the authority may determine.

(c) Bonds may be payable in any installments, and at any times not exceeding forty (40) years from their date, as shall be determined by the authority.

(d) Notes, and any renewals of notes, may be payable in any installments and at any times not exceeding ten (10) years from the date of the original issue of the notes, as shall be determined by the authority.

(e) Bonds and notes may be payable at any places, whether within or without the state; may bear interest at any rate or rates payable at any time or times and at any place or places and evidenced in any manner; and may contain any provisions not inconsistent with this section, all as shall be provided in the proceedings of the authority under which they shall be authorized to be issued.

(f) There may be retained, by provisions made in the proceedings under which any bonds or notes of the authority are authorized to be issued, an option to redeem all or any part of these, at any prices and upon any notice, and on any further terms and conditions as shall be set forth on the record of those proceedings and on the face of the bonds or notes.

(g) Any bonds or notes of the authority may be sold at any prices, at public or private sale, and in any manner as shall be determined by the authority, and the authority shall pay all expenses, premiums, and commissions as it shall deem necessary or advantageous in connection with the issuance and sale of these.

(h) Money of the authority, including without limitation: revenues, receipts, proceeds, payments, or earnings listed in subsection (b), may be invested and reinvested in any obligations, securities, and other investments consistent with the purposes of this chapter, including, but not limited to, bonds and notes of the authority as shall be specified in the resolutions under which the bonds or notes are authorized. In no case shall such investment in bonds or notes of the authority constitute an extinguishment of the obligations represented by such bonds and notes.

(i) Issuance by the authority of one or more series of bonds or notes for one or more purposes shall not preclude it from issuing other bonds or notes for the same purpose, or purposes, but the proceedings where any subsequent bonds or notes may be issued shall recognize and protect a prior pledge or mortgage made for a prior issue of bonds or notes unless, in the proceedings authorizing the prior issue, the right is reserved to issue subsequent bonds or notes on a parity with that prior issue.

(j) The authority is authorized to issue bonds or notes for the purpose of refunding its bonds or notes outstanding, including the payment of any redemption premium on them and any interest accrued, or to accrue, to the earliest or subsequent date of redemption, purchase, or maturity of the bonds or notes. The proceeds of bonds or notes, issued for the purpose of refunding outstanding bonds or notes may be applied, in the discretion of the authority, to the purchase, retirement at maturity, or redemption of the outstanding bonds or notes either on their earliest or a subsequent redemption date, and may, pending that application, be placed in escrow. These escrowed proceeds may be invested, and reinvested, in obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States, or in certificates of deposit or time deposits or repurchase agreements, fully secured or guaranteed by the state or the United States, or an instrumentality of either, maturing at any time or times as shall be appropriate to assure the prompt payment, as to principal, interest, and redemption premium, if any, of the outstanding bonds or notes to be refunded. The interest, income, and profits, if any, earned or realized on this investment, may also be applied to the payment of the outstanding bonds or notes to be refunded. After the terms of the escrow have been fully satisfied and carried out, any balance of the proceeds and interest, income, and profits, if any, earned or realized on the investments of these, may be returned to the authority for use by it in furtherance of its purposes. All these bonds or notes shall be issued and secured and shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter in the manner, and to the same extent, as any other bonds or notes issued pursuant to this chapter.

(k) The directors, officers of the authority, and other persons executing the bonds shall not be subject to personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance of these.

(l) Bonds or notes may be issued under the provisions of this chapter without obtaining the consent of any department, division, commission, board, body, bureau, or agency of the state, and without any other proceedings, conditions, or things other than those proceedings, conditions, or things that are specifically required by this chapter and by the provisions of the resolution authorizing the issuance of those bonds or notes or the trust agreement securing this.

(m) The authority, subject to any agreements with noteholders or bondholders as may then be in force, shall have power, out of any funds available for this, to purchase bonds or notes of the authority, which shall then be cancelled, at a price not exceeding:

(1) If the bonds or notes are then redeemable, the redemption price then applicable plus accrued interest to the next interest payment date; or

(2) If the bonds or notes are not then redeemable, the redemption price applicable on the earliest date that the bonds or notes become subject to redemption, plus the interest that would have accrued to that date.

(n) Whether or not the bonds and notes are of the form and character as to be negotiable instruments under the terms of the Rhode Island Uniform Commercial Code, title 6A, the bonds and notes are made negotiable instruments within the meaning of, and for all of the purposes of, the Rhode Island Uniform Commercial Code, subject only to the provisions of the bonds and notes for registration.

(o) If a director or officer of the authority whose signature appears on the bonds, notes, or coupons shall cease to be a director or officer before the delivery of those bonds or notes, that signature shall be valid and sufficient for all purposes, as if the director or officer had remained in office until the delivery.

(p) The authority shall also have the power out of any funds available to purchase bonds and notes of the authority if the authority determines that such purchases will stabilize or make the market for the authoritys bonds more efficient. Such purchases shall not result in the extinguishment of the debt of the authority represented by such bonds or notes. At the discretion of the authority, such bonds and notes may be held until the purpose of the purchase has been effected and then sold to the market or used as a credit against future redemptions or maturities.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-57-18 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-57 / Section 16-57-18
§ 16-57-18. 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 § 16-7-45 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-7 / Section 16-7-45
§ 16-7-45. Annual appropriations.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate those sums that it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of §§ 16-7-35 to 16-7-47, 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 it as may be required from time to time, upon the receipt by the controller of properly authenticated vouchers. In the event that the full amount of housing aid has not been appropriated in a particular fiscal year, school housing aid will not be ratably reduced. In such cases, aid computed for school housing costs for debt service which has been paid by the local community prior to project completion will be deferred. Such aid will be paid within three (3) equal installments beginning the fiscal year after project completion. This deferral provision shall only be applicable if the computed aid for debt service paid by the local community prior to project completion exceeds five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-18.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-2 / Section 16-2-18.1
§ 16-2-18.1. Criminal records review.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person seeking employment with a private school or public school department who has not previously been employed by a private school or public school department in Rhode Island during the past twelve (12) months shall undergo a national and state criminal background check to be initiated prior to, or within one week of, employment after receiving a conditional offer of employment; provided, however, that employees hired prior to August 1, 2001, and or who have been continuously employed by a public school department in Rhode Island during the past twelve (12) months shall be exempt from the requirements of this section and § 16-2-18.2.

(b) The applicant shall apply to the bureau of criminal identification (BCI), department of attorney general, state police, or local police department where they reside, for a national and state criminal records check. Fingerprinting shall be required. Upon the discovery of any disqualifying information, the bureau of criminal identification, state police or local police department will inform the applicant, in writing, of the nature of the disqualifying information; and, without disclosing the nature of the disqualifying information, will notify the employer, in writing, that disqualifying information has been discovered.

(c) An employee against whom disqualifying information has been found may request that a copy of the criminal background report be sent to the employer who shall make a judgment regarding the employment of the employee.

(d) In those situations in which no disqualifying information has been found, the bureau of criminal identification, state police, or local police department shall inform the applicant and the employer, in writing, of this fact.

(e) For purposes of this section:

(1) Disqualifying information means those offenses listed in §§ 23-17-37, 11-37-8.1, 11-37-8.3, 11-9-1(b), 11-9-1(c), 11-9-1.3; and

(2) Employment means those individuals hired directly by the private school or public school department, contractual employees of the private school or public school department, and those individuals, who may have direct or unmonitored contact with children or students, who are hired by a third party who or that has contracted with the private school or public school department to provide services.

(f) The employer shall maintain on file, subject to inspection by the department of elementary and secondary education, evidence that criminal records checks have been initiated on all employees seeking employment subsequent to July 13, 1998, and the results of the checks. The applicant shall be responsible for the costs of the national and state criminal records check.

(g) At the conclusion of the criminal background check required in this section, the attorney general, state police, or local police department shall promptly destroy the fingerprint record of the applicant obtained pursuant to this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7-23.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-7 / Section 16-7-23.1
§ 16-7-23.1. Special maintenance of effort rules for high local contribution and high per pupil expenditure communities.
Status: in_force

(a) Any community that has a local appropriation that funds at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the basic education program shall be defined as a high local contribution community. A high local contribution community that has provided full funding of the basic education program and all other approved programs required in law and regulation is authorized to reduce its local appropriation to schools by an amount up to ten percent (10%) of any increase it receives in state school funds, pursuant to the implementation of the permanent foundation education aid formula as defined in § 16-7.2-3.

(b) Any community that has a local appropriation that combined with state education aid provides full funding of the basic education program and exceeds the benchmarks established by the department of elementary and secondary education for costs outside the permanent foundation education aid formula, pursuant to § 16-7.2-3, including but not limited to transportation, facility maintenance, and retiree health care, shall be defined as a high per pupil expenditure community. A high per pupil expenditure community is authorized to reduce its local appropriation to schools by an amount up to ten percent (10%) of any increase it receives in state school funds, pursuant to the implementation of the permanent foundation education aid formula as defined in § 16-7.2-3.

(c) Upon request of the local community, and for good cause shown, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education may grant variances to subsection (a) and (b) if the commissioner finds that such adjustment does not disrupt the continued effective operation of the public school system of the city or town.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-3.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-21 / Section 16-21-3.1
§ 16-21-3.1. Approval.
Status: in_force

(a) It shall be the duty of the superintendent of schools, private school official, or in the case of state operated schools, the responsibility of the director of the state operated school, to ensure that schools are not opened until notification is received from the aforementioned agencies that the schools are in compliance with their respective codes.

(b) Neglect by any superintendent, private school official, or the director of any state operated school to comply with the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-28.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-2 / Section 16-2-28.1
§ 16-2-28.1. Regulations.
Status: repealed

The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall promulgate regulations, including criteria for eligibility for waiver, pertaining to § 16-2-28 [repealed].
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-38-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-38 / Section 16-38-2
§ 16-38-2. Immunization.
Status: in_force

(a) Every person upon entering any public or private school including any college or university in this state as a pupil shall furnish to the administrative head of the school evidence that the person has been immunized against any diseases that may from time to time be prescribed by regulation of the director of health and tested for tuberculosis, or a certificate from a licensed physician stating that the person is not a fit subject for immunization for medical reasons, or a certificate signed by the pupil, if over eighteen (18) years of age, or by the parent or guardian stating that immunization and/or testing for communicable diseases is contrary to that persons religious beliefs. It shall be the responsibility of the administrative head of the school to secure compliance with these regulations.

(b) Every child more than twenty-four (24) months of age, resident in the state of Rhode Island, shall be eligible to receive the immunization against meningococcal disease. The Department of Health shall include meningococcal vaccine in the departments immunization program, established by § 23-1-44.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-64-1.3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-64 / Section 16-64-1.3
§ 16-64-1.3. Educational responsibility for children in group homes and other residential placements.
Status: in_force

(a) The city or town in which a foster home, group home, or other residential facility that does not include the delivery of educational services is located shall be responsible for the free appropriate public education of any child residing in those placements, including all procedural safeguards, evaluation, and instruction in accordance with regulations under chapter 24 of this title, for any period during which a child is residing in the city or town. The city or town shall coordinate its efforts with any other city or town to which a child moves when exiting the city or town responsible under this subsection.

(b) The city or town responsible for payment under § 16-64-1.1(c) for payment of a city or towns per pupil special education cost to DCYF for a child placed in a residential facility, group home, or other residential facility that includes the delivery of educational services shall be responsible for the free, appropriate public education, including all procedural safeguards, evaluation and instruction in accordance with regulations under chapter 24 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-8-12 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-8 / Section 16-8-12
§ 16-8-12. Studies and appraisals of lunch programs.
Status: in_force

The department of elementary and secondary education is authorized, to the extent that funds are available for these purposes, and in cooperation with local school boards and other appropriate organizations, to conduct studies as to methods of improving and expanding school lunch programs and promoting nutritional education in the schools, to conduct appraisals of the nutritive benefits of school lunch programs, and to report its findings from time to time to the governor.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-71-6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-71 / Section 16-71-6
§ 16-71-6. Records defined.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter the term records shall be defined in accordance with the definition of education records contained in 20 U.S.C. § 1232g.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-98-7 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-98 / Section 16-98-7
§ 16-98-7. Availability of advanced placement courses.
Status: in_force

(a) Any school district offering advanced placement courses to students shall notify parents of their availability and the guidelines the school district uses in determining which students may be eligible to enroll in an advanced placement course.

(b) Any school district offering advanced placement courses to students shall publish on the school districts website the names of the advanced placement courses being offered to students and the guidelines the school district uses in determining which students may be eligible to enroll in an advanced placement course.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-64-6 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-64 / Section 16-64-6
§ 16-64-6. Disputes over residency  Determination proceedings.
Status: in_force

When a school district or a state agency charged with educating children denies that it is responsible for educating a child on the grounds that the child is not a resident of the school district or that the child is not the educational responsibility of the state agency, the dispute shall, on the motion of any party to the dispute, be resolved by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or the commissioners designee who shall hold a hearing and determine the issue. At any hearing, all parties in interest shall have the right to a notice of the hearing and an opportunity to present evidence and argument on their own behalf. A hearing under § 16-39-2 shall not be a prerequisite to a hearing under this section. The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall have power to issue any interim orders pending a hearing needed to insure that a child receives education during the pendency of any matter. Interim orders and all final orders shall be enforceable in the superior court for Providence County at the request of any interested party and shall be subject to review in the superior court in accordance with the Rhode Island Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of title 42.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-22-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-22 / Section 16-22-2
§ 16-22-2. Civics education.
Status: in_force

(a) The general assembly recognizes the importance of a citizenry well educated in the principles of democracy as enunciated in the constitutions of the state of Rhode Island and the United States. The general assembly directs the board of regents for elementary and secondary education to develop and adopt a set of grade level standards K-12 in civics education no later than August 31, 2007. These standards shall include, but not be limited to, the history of the state of Rhode Island, representative government, the rights and duties of actively engaged citizenship, and the principals of democracy. These civic education standards shall be used in the public schools of this state beginning in kindergarten and continuing through to and including grade 12. No private school or private instruction shall be approved for the purposes of chapter 19 of this title unless the course of study shall make provision for instruction substantially equivalent to that required by this chapter for public schools.

(b) All middle and high school students attending public schools, or any other schools managed and controlled by the state, shall demonstrate proficiency, as defined by the local school district, in civics education that shall also satisfy half credit or course requirement in history and social studies.

(c) Each public school district shall provide not less than one student-led civics project for students during either middle or high school; provided, however, that each such project shall be consistent with the history and social studies standards and frameworks promulgated by the Rhode Island board of education. Civics projects may be individual, small group, or class wide, and designed to promote a students ability to:

(1) Reason, make logical arguments, and support claims using valid evidence; and

(2) Demonstrate an understanding of the connections between federal, state, and local policies, including issues that may impact the students community.

(d) The department of education shall begin implementing subsections (b) and (c) of this section for the 2022-2023 academic year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-3-7.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-3 / Section 16-3-7.1
§ 16-3-7.1. Equalized representation.
Status: in_force

Any other provisions of this chapter or any other general or public law to the contrary notwithstanding, members of the regional district school committee shall be selected from voting districts as nearly equal in population as is practicable within each city or town in the district, and member cities or towns in the districts shall be entitled to representation on the school committee in proportion to their population.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-85-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-85 / Section 16-85-1
§ 16-85-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Lindsay Ann Burke Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-98-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-98 / Section 16-98-2
§ 16-98-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings given to them unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) Advanced placement means a college-level class taught at the high school level that provides students the opportunity to earn college credit upon passage of an exam that:

(i) Incorporates all topics specified by the College Board on its standards syllabus for a given subject area; and

(ii) Is authorized by the College Board.

(2) [Deleted by P.L. 2021, ch. 162, art. 10, § 4.]

(3) College Board means and refers to the nonprofit organization that develops and administers standardized tests and curricula used by kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) and postsecondary education institutions to promote college readiness.

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

(5) Eligible teacher means a professional employee who is certified in the subject area of the advanced placement course that he or she will be teaching.

(6) Examination or exam means the test provided by the College Board to measure a students mastery of the advanced placement subject matter.

(7) Four core academic areas means advanced placement courses in English, mathematics, science, and social science.

(8) Poverty level means students whose family income is at or below one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of federal poverty guidelines.

(9) Program means furtherance of the advanced placement classes in the public schools and includes teacher training and increased student participation.

(10) School district means any public school district, school unit, area-vocational-technical school, charter school, or mayoral academy that composes a school district; the term also encompasses a single high school or multiple high schools within a school district where applicable.

(11) Teacher training entities means institutions of higher education, intermediate units or organizations approved/certified by the College Board to train teachers to teach advanced placement courses.

(12) Virtual learning instruction means providing academic courses to students via the Internet and/or the use of technology in providing instruction to students.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-44-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-44 / Section 16-44-1
§ 16-44-1. Declaration of intention.
Status: in_force

The general assembly, having found that the welfare of the state and the educational interests of many of its young people will be served by college programs of two (2) years duration offered by institutions established for this specific purpose, declares its intention to provide those educational programs through the establishment and operation of two (2) year community colleges as a part of a unified system of higher education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-35-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-35 / Section 16-35-2
§ 16-35-2. Annual report of directors.
Status: in_force

The directors of the school of design shall make an annual report to the office of higher education in manner and form prescribed by the office of higher education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-24-11 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-24 / Section 16-24-11
§ 16-24-11. Transportation for pupils with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Status: in_force

Transportation shall be provided for all pupils attending a special class or suitable day schools.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-116-2 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-116 / Section 16-116-2
§ 16-116-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(1) Arts means instruction, classes, courses, or organized school-based performance in dance, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts. The term arts shall also include fine arts, including painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and poetry.

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

(3) School means a public middle or high school.

(4) TAEAPA means transparency in arts education access and proficiency act (TAEAPA).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-32-2.1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-32 / Section 16-32-2.1
§ 16-32-2.1. Additional powers of the President of the University.
Status: in_force

In addition to any powers granted to the president of the university of Rhode Island by law or regulation, and consistent with shared governance practices, in conformity with § 16-32-10, the president shall have the following additional powers and duties:

(a) To create and consolidate departments, divisions, programs, and courses of study within the university and the approved role and scope of the presidents authority adopted by the board of trustees. Any new or proposed eliminations of departments, divisions, programs, or courses of study that are outside the role and scope approved by the board shall require the review and approval of the board.

(b) To adopt a budget for the university and submit it to the board of trustees for approval.

(c) To be responsible for the general management of property of the university.

(d) To recommend to the board of trustees, tables of organization for the university.

(e) To submit to the board of trustees and to compile and analyze the following information for presentation to the board annually by May 1st the following:

(1) A detailed departmental breakdown of all faculty members employed at the university by rank (including all professors, associate professors, assistant professors, lecturers, and instructors) and tenure (tenured and non-tenured, and other) and by race (African American, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian) and gender.

(2) A detailed report on current student enrollments for each class at the university by race and gender, by academic department, and by outreach program (e.g. talent development), guaranteed admissions program, and the current levels of funding and staff support for each of these programs.

(3) [Deleted by P.L. 2019, ch. 88, art. 9, § 3.]

(4) A plan for recruitment of African American and Hispanic faculty into tenure track positions at the university with specific reference to and planned involvement with the New England higher educations minority faculty recruitment and development plan.

(5) Copies of the report shall be furnished to the board of trustees.

(f) To assist the board of trustees in preparation and maintenance of a three-year (3) strategic funding plan for the university; to assist the board in the preparation and presentation annually to the state budget officer in accordance with § 35-3-4 of a total university budget.

(g) To monitor, publish, and report to the board of trustees the level of performance on all metrics of the universities set forth in § 16-32-2 and in accordance with this chapter. The president shall revise the metrics at a time when performance has reached a level pre-defined by the board. Future metrics may further goals identified by the board, the board of education, and the governors workforce board, and the purpose and mission of the university. The university shall publish its performance on all of its associated metrics prescribed in this chapter on its website.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-3-7 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-3 / Section 16-3-7
§ 16-3-7. Recommendations as to establishment of regional district.
Status: in_force

The regional district planning board may recommend that there shall be established a regional school district which may include all the cities or towns represented by its membership, or alternatively, any specified combination of the cities or towns. If the regional district planning board so recommends, it shall submit a proposed agreement or agreements setting forth as to each alternative recommendation, if such be made, the following:

(1) The number, composition, method of selection, and terms of office of the members of the regional district school committee.

(2) The cities or towns in which the regional district school or schools are to be located.

(3) The type of regional district school or schools and the type of services to be undertaken by the regional school district.

(4) The method of apportioning the expenses of the regional school district, and the method of apportioning the costs of school construction, including any interest and retirement of principal of any bonds or other obligations issued by the district among the several cities or towns comprising the district, and the time and manner of payment of the shares of the several cities or towns of the expenses.

(5) The method by which school transportation shall be provided, and if transportation is to be furnished by the district, the manner in which the expenses shall be borne by the several cities or towns.

(6) The terms by which any city or town may be admitted to or separated from the regional school district.

(7) The method by which the agreement may be amended.

(8) The detailed procedure for the preparation and adoption of an annual budget.

(9) Any other matters, not incompatible with law, which the board may deem advisable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-40-3 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-40 / Section 16-40-3
§ 16-40-3. Reference of charter amendments to boards.
Status: in_force

The secretary of state, upon the receipt by him or her of amendments to a charter or articles of incorporation, as required by the general laws, which amendments shall add educational functions or the granting of degrees to the powers or purposes of any existing corporation, shall submit the proposed amendments to the board of regents for elementary and secondary education or the board of governors for higher education and shall not issue the certificate authorizing those changes unless and until he or she shall receive from the appropriate board a certificate that the changes subject to the provisions of § 16-40-1 have been approved by the appropriate board.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-22-26 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-22 / Section 16-22-26
§ 16-22-26. Age appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness education.
Status: in_force

(a) Short title. This section shall be known and may be cited as Erin Merryns Law.

(b) Prevention of child abduction, child sexual exploitation, and child sexual abuse. (1) All pupils in grades kindergarten through eight (8) in all public schools in the state shall receive instruction designed to prevent the abduction, exploitation, or sexual abuse of children. Such instruction shall be provided by, or under the direct supervision of, regular classroom teachers; provided, however, that such instruction may be provided by any other agency, public or private. (2) The department of elementary and secondary education shall continue to provide guidance and materials on age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention. The commissioner shall provide technical assistance to assist in the development of curricula that shall be age-appropriate and developed according to the needs and abilities of pupils at successive grade levels in order to provide awareness skills, information, self-confidence, and support to aid in the prevention of child abduction, child sexual exploitation, and child sexual abuse.

(c) Action by school committees. The school committees of the several cities, towns, and school districts shall provide for the incorporation of the curricula described herein into existing health education courses.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-95-1 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-95 / Section 16-95-1
§ 16-95-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as The Recovery High Schools Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-87-5 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-87 / Section 16-87-5
§ 16-87-5. Reporting.
Status: in_force

The Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education shall report back to the general assembly and the governor on the progress of the pilot planning phase no later than October 31, 2008.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-32-11 — RI Code / Title 16 / Chapter 16-32 / Section 16-32-11
§ 16-32-11. Power to guarantee loans.
Status: in_force

The board of trustees is authorized and empowered to carry out the provisions of §§ 16-32-12 through 16-32-14 in regard to the guaranty of loans made to societies and students at the university.