Requires the board of regents to adopt support and intervention strategies consistent with Comprehensive Education Strategy and SALT in one district at a time.
If enacted, H5594 could significantly alter how educational support is provided in Rhode Island. Schools that require intervention will be aided for a period of three years. Should there be no improvement in student education as per the established criteria, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will assume progressive levels of control over the affected school or district. This control can involve changes to governance, budget, program, and personnel, as well as potentially leading to a full reconstitution of the school. The intention behind this mechanism is to provide resources and oversight necessary for tangible improvement in school performance.
House Bill H5594, also known as The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative, mandates the Board of Regents to implement a series of progressive support and intervention strategies for failing schools. These strategies are to be aligned with the Comprehensive Education Strategy and a framework known as SALT (School Accountability for Learning and Teaching). The aim is to assist individual schools and districts that have not met performance goals through technical assistance, policy support, and resource oversight.
The discussions surrounding H5594 may highlight points of contention about the balance of control between local educational authorities and state oversight. Critics might raise concerns regarding local control, arguing that increased state intervention could undermine the authority of local school committees. They might worry about the implications of reconstitution, which could lead to significant changes in school operation and governance. Supporters, on the other hand, would likely advocate for the necessity of state intervention to ensure that failing schools receive the attention and resources they need to improve.