2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 9A - Department of Education (1999) › Subchapter I - General Provisions (§§ 143a — 143b) › § 143a - Definitions

For the purposes of §§ 143a—146f of this title, the following terms shall have the meaning expressed below:
(a) Autonomy. — The power granted the community schools to make decisions concerning their academic, fiscal and administrative affairs within the margins established in §§ 143a—146f of this title.
(b) Charter.— Official document stating the terms and conditions under which a community school is granted autonomy.
(c) Community.— Neighborhoods located within the area served by a school.
(d) Curriculum.— Study program or plan of a school or subject matter of a course.
(e) Department.— The Department of Education.
(f) District.— Functional unit of the Department under the direction of a Superintendent and where academic facilitation tasks are developed for the benefit of the school located within its geographical area.
(g) Director.— The Director of a community school.
(h) Teaching process.— Interaction between teachers and students in the classroom or in any other place where lessons are given.
(i) Community school.— A community for studies constituted by the parents, the students, the teachers and the teaching and administrative support personnel serving a community and operating autonomously.
(j) Evaluation.— Procedure to appraise the performance of the school teaching and non-teaching personnel for the purposes established in §§ 143a—146f of this title.
(k) Facilitator.— Official of an educational region or a school district who advises the school or the teachers on administrative or academic matters when their services are required.
(l) Teaching personnel.— The teachers, school directors, librarians, guidance counselors, social workers and other technical, administrative and supervisory staff of the System who hold teaching certificates issued pursuant to the law.
(m) Non-teaching personnel.— Officials or employees not included within the “teaching personnel” classification.
(n) School psychologist.— The school psychologists shall provide support and services to the teachers, as well as directly to the student body. Their purpose is to attain a safe and healthy place in which the student can learn and where his/her development and growth is nurtured within the nature and capabilities of the school. He/she may identify possible student problems, intervene with them and, if necessary, refer the case to other health professionals.
Applicants to the position of School Psychologist must submit a Certification from the Board of Examiners of Psychologists, created by §§ 3201 et seq. of Title 20, attesting that the applicant has a major in School Psychology, or if he/she is a psychologist with another major, the certification shall accredit his/her competence in the area of School Psychology, as determined by the Board of Examiner’s Regulations.
(o) Region.— Functional unit of the Department under the supervision of a Director whereby administrative facilitation tasks are developed for the benefit of the schools included within a geographical area comprising several districts.
(p) Secretary.— The Secretary of Education of Puerto Rico.
(q) System.— The Public Education System of Puerto Rico.
(r) Superintendent.— Official in charge of directing the teaching and academic facilitation tasks in a school district.
History —July 15, 1999, No. 149, § 8.01, renumbered as § 9.01 and amended on Aug. 12, 2000, No. 170, § 3, eff. July 1, 2001.