2023 -- H 6506
========
LC003197
========
S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
____________
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO REVIEW AND
PROVIDE RECOMMENDATI ONS FOR PROFESSIONAL AND LABOR-MANAGEMENT
STANDARDS THAT PROVI DE SCHOOL-BASED FLEXIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE PROVIDENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Introduced By: Representatives Slater, Corvese, and Diaz
Date Introduced: June 08, 2023
Referred To: House Education
WHEREAS, The Providence Public Schools (PPS) comprise the largest school district in 1
the State, with more than 21,000 students and more than 2,000 educators; and 2
WHEREAS, The PPS student body is one of the most diverse in the State, with a student 3
population that is 65 percent Hispanic, 16 percent White, 5 percent Asian, 4 percent Multi-Racial, 4
and 1 percent Native American; and 5
WHEREAS, Nearly one-third of Providence students are English Language Learners, and 6
the majority of Providence students’ families speak one of 54 primary languages that is not 7
English; and 8
WHEREAS, Approximately 85 percent of the PPS student body qualifies for free or 9
reduced lunch, the second highest incidence of poverty in Rhode Island public schools as 10
measured by this criterion; and 11
WHEREAS, The socioeconomic diversity of the student body in Providence presents 12
unique challenges and opportunities for the district’s professional staff; and 13
WHEREAS, Too few PPS students have been able to obtain academic proficiency for too 14
many years, as measured by the State’s and Nation’s Report Card assessments; and 15
WHEREAS, Enrollment in PPS has declined as students have transferred out of the 16
district into charter schools, creating displacements and disruptions within the schools and their 17
staff; and 18
LC003197 - Page 2 of 4
WHEREAS, The basic framework under State law governing the delivery of public 1
education, as applied to the Providence Public Schools, has not been significantly modified in 2
many years; and 3
WHEREAS, The quality of the education Providence Public Schools students receive in 4
their schools depends critically upon its professional educators; now, therefore be it 5
RESOLVED, That a special joint legislative commission be and the same is hereby 6
created consisting of nine (9) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not 7
more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; 8
three (3) of whom shall be members of the House, not more than two (2) from the same political 9
party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Commissioner of 10
the Rhode Island Department of Education, or designee; and two (2) of whom shall be non-voting 11
ex-officio public members with experience in education to serve in an advisory capacity to the 12
commission, one of whom shall be appointed by the Senate President, and one of whom shall be 13
appointed by the Speaker of the House. 14
In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study 15
commission, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in 16
place of a legislator; provided that, the Senate President/Speaker of the House or the Minority 17
Leader of the political party that is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the 18
member of the general public. 19
The purpose of said commission shall be to: 20
1. Review the professional standards and the labor-management relationship for employees 21
of the Providence Public Schools, particularly as defined by State law; and 22
2. Develop recommendations that promote a rewarding professional environment and great 23
school-based flexibility and accountability for the district's professional educators. 24
All departments and agencies of the State shall furnish such advice and information, 25
documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or 26
desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. 27
Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall be 28
appointed and meet at the call of the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate by July 29
31, 2023, and shall organize and select from among the legislators, two (2) co-Chairpersons. 30
The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide 31
suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further 32
RESOLVED, That the commission shall develop and submit its recommendations to the 33
General Assembly, no later than January 24, 2024, and said commission shall expire on June 30, 34
LC003197 - Page 3 of 4
2024. 1
========
LC003197
========
LC003197 - Page 4 of 4
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO REVIEW AND
PROVIDE RECOMMENDATI ONS FOR PROFESSIONAL AND LABOR-MANAGEMENT
STANDARDS THAT PROVI DE SCHOOL-BASED FLEXIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE PROVIDENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
***
This resolution would create a nine (9) member special joint legislative commission 1
whose purpose it would be to review and provide recommendations for professional and labor-2
management standards for employees of the Providence Public Schools, and who would report 3
back to the General Assembly no later than January 24, 2024, and whose life would expire on 4
June 30, 2024. 5
========
LC003197
========