Rhode Island Senate Bill S0860

Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/21/25
• Refer: 3/21/25

Caption

Allows the board of regents to appoint a receiver to manage a school district with the authority described in § 16-7.1-5.2 relating to state intervention in the Providence public school district.

Impact

The bill is significant as it stipulates that after a period of three years of inadequate academic performance, determined by objective criteria defined by the board of regents, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education can assume control over various aspects of a school or district's operations. This includes budget oversight, program management, and personnel decisions. In effect, this initiative provides a structured response to chronic underachievement in specific districts, particularly those struggling to meet set academic standards.

Summary

Senate Bill S0860, known as the Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative, aims to enhance the state's capacity to intervene in failing schools by empowering the board of regents to appoint a receiver to manage school districts. Specifically, it amends existing regulations on intervention and support for schools that continue to struggle in meeting educational performance goals. The bill establishes a framework for progressive support and intervention strategies aligned with the state's Comprehensive Education Strategy and the principles of the School Accountability for Learning and Teaching (SALT).

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding S0860 is the balance between state intervention and local control over school governance. Advocates assert that the bill is necessary to ensure that struggling schools receive the necessary oversight and resources required to improve student outcomes. Conversely, critics may argue that such measures can undermine local autonomy and decision-making, which may lead to backlash from communities that feel their governance is being infringed upon. The bill's implementation will likely spur discussions about the efficacy and ethics of state-level control over local educational matters.