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Rhode Island General Laws 16-77-2.1. Definitions

Current as of: 2024 | Check for updates | Other versions

     

As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:

(1)  “District charter schools” means schools created by existing public schools, groups of public school personnel, public school districts, or a group of school districts.

(2)  “Independent charter schools” means schools created by: (I) Rhode Island nonprofit organizations provided that these nonprofit organizations shall have existed for at least two (2) years and must exist for a substantial reason other than to operate a school; or (ii) Colleges or universities within the State of Rhode Island.

(3)  “Mayoral academies” means schools created by a mayor of any city or town within the State of Rhode Island, acting by or through a nonprofit organization (regardless of the time said nonprofit organization is in existence) to establish a mayoral academy as hereinafter described in chapter 16-77.4 (“Mayoral Academies”). For purposes of this chapter the term “mayor” shall include any elected town administrator.

(4)  “Charter public schools” means district charter schools, independent charter schools, or mayoral academies.

(5)  “Board of regents” means the Rhode Island board of regents for elementary and secondary education.

(6)  “Commissioner” means the Rhode Island commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

(7)  “Sending school district” means the district where the student attending or planning to attend a charter public school resides.

History of Section.
P.L. 2010, ch. 84, § 3; P.L. 2010, ch. 107, § 3.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 16-77-2.1

  • Board of regents: means the Rhode Island board of regents for elementary and secondary education. See Rhode Island General Laws 16-77-2.1
  • Commissioner: means the Rhode Island commissioner of elementary and secondary education. See Rhode Island General Laws 16-77-2.1
  • District charter schools: means schools created by existing public schools, groups of public school personnel, public school districts, or a group of school districts. See Rhode Island General Laws 16-77-2.1
  • Independent charter schools: means schools created by: (I) Rhode Island nonprofit organizations provided that these nonprofit organizations shall have existed for at least two (2) years and must exist for a substantial reason other than to operate a school; or (ii) Colleges or universities within the State of Rhode Island. See Rhode Island General Laws 16-77-2.1
  • mayor: shall include any elected town administrator. See Rhode Island General Laws 16-77-2.1
  • Mayoral academies: means schools created by a mayor of any city or town within the State of Rhode Island, acting by or through a nonprofit organization (regardless of the time said nonprofit organization is in existence) to establish a mayoral academy as hereinafter described in chapter 16-77. See Rhode Island General Laws 16-77-2.1
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9
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Rhode Island General Laws 16-77.2-1. Entities eligible to apply to become district charter schools

Current as of: 2024 | Check for updates | Other versions

     

(a)  Persons or entities eligible to submit an application to establish a district charter school shall be limited to:

(1)  Existing public schools;

(2)  Groups of public school personnel;

(3)  Public school districts; or

(4)  A group of school districts.

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(b)  No existing public school shall be converted into a district charter school unless a majority of the parents and/or guardians of the students currently assigned to the school and two- thirds (?) of the certified teaching personnel currently assigned to the school approve the proposed charter, as provided in § 16-77.2-2.

(c)  School professionals employed by a local or regional school committee or the State of Rhode Island shall be entitled to a two (2) year leave of absence, without compensation, in order to be employed in a district charter school, provided this leave shall be extended upon request for an additional two (2) years. At any time during or upon completion of this leave of absence, a school professional may return to work in the school district in the position in which he or she was previously employed or a comparable position. This leave of absence shall not be deemed to be an interruption of service for purposes of seniority and teachers’ retirement.

(d)  No child shall be required to attend a district charter school nor shall any teacher be required to teach in a district charter school. The school committee shall make accommodations to facilitate the transfer of students who do not wish to participate in the district charter school into other public schools. It shall also make accommodations for those students who wish to participate to transfer into the district charter school as space permits. If the total number of students who are eligible to attend and apply to a district charter school is greater than the number of spaces available, the charter school shall conduct a lottery to determine which students shall be admitted.

History of Section.
P.L. 2010, ch. 84, § 4; P.L. 2010, ch. 107, § 4.

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