AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- ESTABLISHMENT OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Permits local communities to adopt an all-charter public school model for public education upon an affirmative vote of the local municipality’s council and school committee, and an affirmative vote at a special or general election.)

H7615

2026 -- H 7615
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LC004888
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- ESTABLISHMENT OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Introduced By:
Representative David J. Place

Date Introduced:
February 11, 2026

Referred To:
House Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 16-77 of the General Laws entitled "Establishment of Charter Public
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Schools [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended
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by adding thereto the following section:
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16-77-13. Local communities permitted to adopt all-charter public school model for
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public education.
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(a) Each city and town of this state may adopt, as an alternative to traditional public schools,
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an all-charter public school model, to provide public education. This process may utilize the
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establishment of all new charter public schools, a conversion of traditional public schools to charter
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public schools, or a combination thereof. A municipality seeking to convert to an all-charter public
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school model shall submit a plan detailing the provision of education under the plan (“the plan”),
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as well as how the municipality shall transition into the plan.
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(b) The plan referred to in subsection (a) of this section shall be presented to both the
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municipality’s council, board, or other governing body, and to the school committee or board of
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the municipality. If both the governing body and the school committee of the municipality vote in
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favor of the plan, then the plan shall be presented and submitted to the voters of the municipality
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as a referendum at either a special or general election. Upon affirmative vote of those voting in the
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election in favor of and approving the plan, the plan shall be deemed approved. In such event, the
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municipality may undertake such measures as set forth in the plan and as are otherwise necessary
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to implement the all-charter public school model within the municipality.

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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- ESTABLISHMENT OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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This act would permit local communities to adopt an all-charter public school model for
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public education. This act would provide that adoption of this model would require an affirmative
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vote of the local municipality’s council and school committee, followed by an affirmative vote on
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a referendum of the adoption, at a special or general election in the municipality.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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