The bill amends existing laws regarding charter public schools and mayoral academies in Rhode Island, specifically focusing on oversight and compliance with prevailing wage and benefit requirements for educators and administrators. It introduces a new section that mandates the commissioner to administer and enforce compliance with these requirements, including the publication of prevailing wage rates for all teacher and administrator positions at each charter school and the collection of compensation data from charter schools for compliance monitoring.

Charter public schools found in violation of these requirements will be subject to penalties, including full restitution of unpaid wages and benefits to affected teachers and administrators, civil penalties of up to five hundred dollars ($500) per affected teacher or administrator per day of violation, and consideration of documented noncompliance during charter renewal, oversight, or state funding determinations.

Additionally, the bill outlines the procedures for the creation and expansion of mayoral academies, ensuring that teachers and administrators in mayoral academies are entitled to the same prevailing wages and benefits as their counterparts in other Rhode Island public schools. The act aims to enhance accountability and support for educators in charter public schools and mayoral academies, taking effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
8248: 16-77-5.1, 16-77.4-2