TITLE 16

Education

CHAPTER 16-77.4

Mayoral Academies [See Title 16 Chapter 97 – The Rhode Island Board

of Education Act]

SECTION 16-77.4-2



   § 16-77.4-2  Procedure for creation of a

mayoral academy. –

(a) Any persons or entities eligible to establish a mayoral academy may submit

a proposed charter to the commissioner. The proposed charter shall:



   (1) Be submitted to the commissioner no later than December

1st of the school year before the school year in which the mayoral academy is

to be established;



   (2) Describe a plan for education, including the mission,

objective, method of providing a basic education, measurable student academic

goals that the mayoral academy will meet, and process for improving student

learning and fulfilling the charter and fulfilling state and national

educational goals and standards;



   (3) Provide a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days of

instruction to students per year;



   (4) Indicate performance criteria that will be used to

measure student learning and to comply with the charter, state, and national

educational goals and standards;



   (5) Include an agreement to provide a yearly report to

parents, the community, the school committee of the sending districts, and the

commissioner, which indicates the progress made by the mayoral academy during

the previous year in meeting the charter objectives;



   (6) Present a plan for the governance, administration, and

operation of the mayoral academy, including the manner in which the governing

board of the school will be chosen, the nature and extent of parental,

professional educator, and community involvement in the governance and

operation of the mayoral academy, and the means of ensuring accountability to

the commissioner, the sending school district(s), and the board of regents;



   (7) Identify the building that will house the mayoral academy

and from whom and under what terms and conditions it is to be provided;



   (8) Describe what support services will be provided by the

sending school district(s) and under what terms and conditions those services

are to be provided, and describe what support services the mayoral academy will

obtain directly from third parties and, to the extent known, under what terms

and conditions those services are to be provided;



   (9) Explain the procedures that will be followed to ensure

the health and safety of pupils and staff;



   (10) Describe enrollment procedures including the permissible

criteria for admission in accordance with applicable state and federal law,

along with a policy or policies that outline outreach and recruitment programs

to encourage the enrollment of a diverse student population;



   (11) Explain the student discipline procedures;



   (12) Explain the relationship that will exist between the

proposed mayoral academy and its employees, including the terms and conditions

of employment and the qualifications that the employees must meet. Teachers and

administrators in mayoral academies must be certified pursuant to state law and

regulation.



   (13) Each mayoral academy established pursuant to this

chapter may, by written notice to the commissioner of elementary and secondary

education, elect to have this subsection apply (or not apply) to its teachers,

administrators, and employees:



   (i) Teachers and administrators in a mayoral academy shall be

entitled to prevailing wages and benefits as enjoyed by other public school

teachers and administrators;



   (ii) Teachers and administrators in a mayoral academy shall

be entitled to participate in the state teachers' retirement system under

chapter 8 of title 36;



   (iii) Employment in a mayoral academy shall be considered

"service" as that term is defined in chapter 16 of this title.



   (14) Identify with particularity the state laws, state

regulations, and school district rules from which variances are sought in order

to facilitate operation of the mayoral academy. Explain the reasons for each

variance and the alternative method by which the concern that gave rise to the

regulation or provision will be addressed;



   (15) Provide a financial plan including a proposed budget for

the term of the charter, and an annual audit of the financial and

administrative operations of the mayoral academy, and the manner in which the

funds allocated to the mayoral academy will be managed and disbursed;



   (16) Provide procedures by which teaching personnel and

parents can legally challenge decisions of the governing board of the mayoral

academy which do not conform to the mayoral academy's charter; and



   (17) Provide a copy of the proposed bylaws of the mayoral

academy.



History of Section.

(P.L. 2010, ch. 84, § 6; P.L. 2010, ch. 107, § 6.)