§ 16-97-1.2. Powers and duties of the board of education.
The board of education shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) To develop and adopt a strategic plan defining broad goals and objectives for education
in the state. These goals and objectives shall be expressed in terms of the future
educational attainment of the population, quality of life and economy of Rhode Island,
including but not limited to what children, men and women should know and be able
to do as a result of their educational experience and the contributions of education
to meeting the workforce and economic development needs of Rhode Island. The
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§ 16-97-1.2. Powers and duties of the board of education.
The board of education shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) To develop and adopt a strategic plan defining broad goals and objectives for education
in the state. These goals and objectives shall be expressed in terms of the future
educational attainment of the population, quality of life and economy of Rhode Island,
including but not limited to what children, men and women should know and be able
to do as a result of their educational experience and the contributions of education
to meeting the workforce and economic development needs of Rhode Island. The board
shall approve the strategic plans for elementary and secondary education and postsecondary
education in terms of the alignment of these strategic plans with the overall strategic
plan of the board of education. The board shall continuously evaluate the efforts
of the council on elementary and secondary education and the council on postsecondary
education to implement the strategic plans and shall review the results of education
in the light of these objectives;
(b) To prepare and maintain a five (5) year strategic funding plan for all levels of education
in Rhode Island. The board shall determine priorities of expenditures for public education
purposes of state revenues and other public resources made available for the support
of public education and direct the council on elementary and secondary education and
the council on postsecondary education to implement those priorities when developing
the annual budget for elementary and secondary education and higher education. The
councils shall present their annual budgets to the board for its review and approval.
Nothing contained in this subdivision shall authorize the board to alter the allocation
of grants or aid otherwise provided by law;
(c) To develop and submit to the general assembly for approval a performance funding formula
for public higher education that furthers the purposes of the board and ensures that
all students may achieve educational excellence;
(d) To develop policies that maximize the potential of collaboration from elementary and
secondary education through higher education systems and that improve efficiencies
at all levels of the education system through improved coordination of activities;
(e) To embrace the legislative findings regarding virtual education established by § 16-22.1-2 and adopt goals and policies that address these findings and to encourage the council
on elementary and secondary education and the council for postsecondary education
to develop and or improve virtual learning experiences for Rhode Island students;
(f) To approve the appointment of a commissioner of elementary and secondary education.
(g) To approve the appointment of a commissioner of postsecondary education.
(h) To conduct a training course for newly appointed and qualified board members within
six (6) months of their qualification. The course shall be developed by the chairperson
of the board, approved by the board, and conducted by the chairperson of the board.
The board may approve the use of any board or staff members or other individuals to
assist with training. The training course shall include instruction in the following
areas: the provisions of chapter 46 of title 42, chapter 14 of title 36, and chapter 2 of title 38; and the board's own rules.