The bill amends Section 16-3.1-11 of the General Laws regarding cooperative services among school districts, specifically focusing on the urban collaborative in Providence. It establishes a governance structure for the urban collaborative, which will be governed by a board of trustees. The bill allows school committees to assign and delegate responsibilities to the urban collaborative board, which will include appointed members based on student enrollment from each district, with one board member for each member district plus an additional member for every thirty students attending from that district.

The bill clarifies that the Providence public schools cannot terminate their participation in the urban collaborative during the state takeover of the Providence public schools without the approval of the Providence school board. It also stipulates that any decision to withdraw Providence students from the urban collaborative without their consent must be approved by the Providence school board. Furthermore, it allows students denied matriculation in the urban collaborative by the Providence public school district to apply directly to the urban collaborative for admission.

Additionally, the bill ensures that the Providence public schools shall not reduce either per pupil or total funding to the urban collaborative below the fiscal year 2025 level, increased by the same percentage as the state total of school aid is increased. The urban collaborative shall also be eligible to receive various forms of aid, grants, and Medicaid revenue. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
2208: 16-3.1-11