Bill Sponsors
DiMario, Lawson, Gallo, Valverde, Murray, Zurier, McKenney, Lauria, Pearson, and Quezada
Committee
Senate Education
Summary
Select
This legislation amends the composition of the Rhode Island Board of Education and the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education. Specifically, it increases the number of governor-appointed members on the Council from eight to ten. It grants the chairperson of the Student Advisory Council full voting rights on the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education, whereas previously this role was non-voting. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Student Advisory Council meet at least quarterly. It also requires that the student representative and the Teacher of the Year receive advice and consent from the senate for their board positions.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Empowers youth by granting the student representative a voting seat, ensuring that the perspective of those most directly affected by educational policies is formally counted in decision-making.
- Promotes civic engagement and democratic participation among young people by elevating the status of the Student Advisory Council and mandating more frequent quarterly meetings.
- Expands the Board of Education membership, creating opportunities for a broader range of community voices and stakeholders to participate in shaping the state's educational future.
Cons for Progressives
- Increases the number of gubernatorial appointees, potentially consolidating executive power over education policy rather than democratizing the selection process through elections.
- Requires the student representative to receive advice and consent from the senate, which could politicize a youth position and create unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles for a high school student.
- Does not guarantee that the additional adult seats added to the board will represent marginalized communities or educators, leaving open the possibility of increased corporate influence.
Pros for Conservatives
- Increases the number of board members appointed by the Governor, ensuring the executive branch maintains strong oversight and direction over state education policy.
- Requires the student representative and Teacher of the Year to receive advice and consent from the Senate, adding a layer of legislative vetting and accountability to board membership.
- Formalizes the meeting schedule of the Student Advisory Council to a quarterly minimum, ensuring that government-sanctioned bodies are active and not dormant.
Cons for Conservatives
- Grants full voting power to a high school student who lacks the life experience, taxpayer status, and professional expertise necessary to manage complex state education budgets and policies.
- Expands the size of the administrative state by increasing the number of board members, likely leading to more bureaucracy and slower decision-making processes.
- Mandates more frequent meetings for the advisory council, potentially increasing administrative costs and usage of state resources for a body composed of minors.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Students
- Teachers
- School Administrators
- Parents
- Board of Education Members
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
None
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
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Public Services
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Regulatory
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Clarity of Bill Language
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Environmental Impact
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Privacy Impact
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/16/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Education
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Section 16-60-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-60 entitled "Council on Elementary and Secondary Education [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:
16-60-2. Appointment of board members.
(a) The governor shall establish the council on elementary and secondary education by appointingeight (8) ten (10) members of the board of education established pursuant to chapter 97 of this title to serve as members of the council until the expiration of their term and appointment of their successor as a member of the board of education. The chair of the board of education shall serve on the council in a voting, ex-officio capacity. Five (5) Six (6) voting members of the council shall constitute a quorum and the vote of the majority of those present and voting shall be required for action. The governor shall appoint the chair of the council on an annual basis from among the eight (8) ten (10) council members.
(b) In addition to theeight (8) ten (10) members appointed by the governor, the Rhode Island teacher of the year shall serve as an ex officio and voting member on the council on elementary and secondary education pursuant to § 16-97-1(c) and (d) 16-97-1(d).
(c) No person shall be eligible for appointment to the board after the effective date of this act [March 24, 2006] unless he or she is a resident of this state, with the exception of the individual serving in the ex officio seat as Rhode Island teacher of the year.
(d) There is hereby established a student advisory council to the council on elementary and secondary education, consisting of one elected high school student representative from each public secondary school in the state of Rhode Island.
(1) Each public secondary school shall hold elections for its representative to the student advisory council no earlier than the first (1st) day of March and no later than the end of the second (2nd) full week of April. Each school shall elect only one representative. Elected members shall be notified of their election on or before the Friday of the third (3rd) week of April of the year of their election. No person shall be eligible to be elected to the student advisory council unless at the time of his or her election he or she is enrolled as a student in a secondary school between the grades of nine (9) and eleven (11) within the state of Rhode Island. No person shall be allowed to vote if they are not currently enrolled in a Rhode Island public secondary school between the grades of nine (9) and eleven (11). If at any time during his or her term of office a member of the student advisory council ceases to be so enrolled, his or her membership shall be terminated and his or her position shall be deemed vacant. This vacancy shall be filled by the public secondary school within thirty (30) school days of the opening of the vacancy.
(2) The student advisory council will serve from the first (1st) day of May of the year it is elected until the last day of April of the following year. A student may serve no more than three (3) terms.
(3) Said student advisory council shall meetfrom time to time quarterly, at a minimum, and shall consider such matters as it deems appropriate.
(4) Prior to the first (1st) day of June of each annual session the student advisory council shall adopt a set of bylaws.
(5) Members of the council shall not be compensated for service in attending meetings except that they shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in traveling to and from meetings.
(6) The members of said student advisory council shall, by majority vote prior to the first (1st) day of June in each year, elect from their members a chairperson who shall serve for a term of one year beginning on the first (1st) day of June. Said chairperson shall serve as an ex officio andnonvoting voting member of the council for a term of one year, unless the student advisory council removes said chairperson from his or her position in a manner described within the bylaws of that council.
SECTION 2. Section 16-97-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-97 entitled "The Rhode Island Board of Education Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
16-97-1. Rhode Island board of education established. LC003641 - Page 2 of 5
(a) Effective January 1, 2013, there is created a board of education that shall be responsible for and shall exercise the purposes, powers, and duties of, this chapter and chapters 59 and 60 of this title. The board is responsible for the coordination of education from pre-K through higher education and shall set goals and policies for the effective coordination of these public education systems.
(b) The board of education shall consist ofseventeen (17) nineteen (19) public members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, eight (8) of whom shall be designated to serve on the council on elementary and secondary education and eight (8) of whom shall be designated to serve on the council on postsecondary education. The two (2) members of the board not directly appointed by the governor shall be the Rhode Island teacher of the year and the chairperson of the student advisory council whom shall be designated to serve on the council on elementary and secondary education, each of whom shall be limited to one term and would have to receive advise and consent from the senate. The chairperson of the board shall serve as a member of both councils. Six (6) of the members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of three (3) years; six (6) members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of two (2) years; and, four (4) members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of one year. To the greatest extent possible, the initial staggered terms shall be equitably divided among the councils so as to protect against sudden changes in membership and reversal of policy. Thereafter, all members appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of three (3) years. At the expiration of their terms, members shall remain and continue in their official capacity until their successor is appointed and qualified. Members shall not be appointed to more than three (3), successive three-year (3) terms each; provided that the chair of the board shall have no term and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. Any vacancy among the members of the board shall be filled by appointment of the governor for the remainder of the unexpired term. In the selection and appointment of the board, the governor shall seek persons who best serve the needs of the entire state. No person shall be eligible for appointment to the board after the effective date of this act unless a resident of this state. Members of the board shall not be compensated for their service in attending board or council meetings.
(c) The chair of the Governor’s workforce board, or designee; the chair of the Rhode Island commerce corporation, or designee; the chair of the university of Rhode Island board of trustees, or designee; and the Rhode Island teacher of the year shall serve as non-voting, ex-officio members of the board.
(d) The Rhode Island teacher of the year shall serve on the board for one year, beginning after their term as teacher of the year has expired. If the teacher of the year is unable or unwilling LC003641 - Page 3 of 5 to serve, a former Rhode Island teacher of the year may be selected to serve on the board by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education; provided that, the individual is still teaching in Rhode Island public schools.
(e) The governor shall select from the appointed members a chairperson and vice chairperson. A quorum shall consist of nine (9) members of the board. A majority vote of those present shall be required for action.
(f) Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, members of the board shall be removable by the governor for cause only. Removal solely for partisan or personal reasons unrelated to performance, capacity, or fitness for the office shall be unlawful.
(g) The statutory responsibilities of the department of elementary and secondary education, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, and the commissioner of postsecondary education shall remain unchanged.
(h) The chair of the board of education shall consult with the chairs of the council on elementary and secondary education, the council on postsecondary education, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, and the commissioner of postsecondary education in developing agendas, goals, policies, and strategic plans for the board.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
16-60-2. Appointment of board members.
(a) The governor shall establish the council on elementary and secondary education by appointing
(b) In addition to the
(c) No person shall be eligible for appointment to the board after the effective date of this act [March 24, 2006] unless he or she is a resident of this state, with the exception of the individual serving in the ex officio seat as Rhode Island teacher of the year.
(d) There is hereby established a student advisory council to the council on elementary and secondary education, consisting of one elected high school student representative from each public secondary school in the state of Rhode Island.
(1) Each public secondary school shall hold elections for its representative to the student advisory council no earlier than the first (1st) day of March and no later than the end of the second (2nd) full week of April. Each school shall elect only one representative. Elected members shall be notified of their election on or before the Friday of the third (3rd) week of April of the year of their election. No person shall be eligible to be elected to the student advisory council unless at the time of his or her election he or she is enrolled as a student in a secondary school between the grades of nine (9) and eleven (11) within the state of Rhode Island. No person shall be allowed to vote if they are not currently enrolled in a Rhode Island public secondary school between the grades of nine (9) and eleven (11). If at any time during his or her term of office a member of the student advisory council ceases to be so enrolled, his or her membership shall be terminated and his or her position shall be deemed vacant. This vacancy shall be filled by the public secondary school within thirty (30) school days of the opening of the vacancy.
(2) The student advisory council will serve from the first (1st) day of May of the year it is elected until the last day of April of the following year. A student may serve no more than three (3) terms.
(3) Said student advisory council shall meet
(4) Prior to the first (1st) day of June of each annual session the student advisory council shall adopt a set of bylaws.
(5) Members of the council shall not be compensated for service in attending meetings except that they shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in traveling to and from meetings.
(6) The members of said student advisory council shall, by majority vote prior to the first (1st) day of June in each year, elect from their members a chairperson who shall serve for a term of one year beginning on the first (1st) day of June. Said chairperson shall serve as an ex officio and
SECTION 2. Section 16-97-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-97 entitled "The Rhode Island Board of Education Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
16-97-1. Rhode Island board of education established. LC003641 - Page 2 of 5
(a) Effective January 1, 2013, there is created a board of education that shall be responsible for and shall exercise the purposes, powers, and duties of, this chapter and chapters 59 and 60 of this title. The board is responsible for the coordination of education from pre-K through higher education and shall set goals and policies for the effective coordination of these public education systems.
(b) The board of education shall consist of
(c) The chair of the Governor’s workforce board, or designee; the chair of the Rhode Island commerce corporation, or designee; the chair of the university of Rhode Island board of trustees, or designee
(d) The Rhode Island teacher of the year shall serve on the board for one year, beginning after their term as teacher of the year has expired. If the teacher of the year is unable or unwilling LC003641 - Page 3 of 5 to serve, a former Rhode Island teacher of the year may be selected to serve on the board by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education; provided that, the individual is still teaching in Rhode Island public schools.
(e) The governor shall select from the appointed members a chairperson and vice chairperson. A quorum shall consist of nine (9) members of the board. A majority vote of those present shall be required for action.
(f) Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, members of the board shall be removable by the governor for cause only. Removal solely for partisan or personal reasons unrelated to performance, capacity, or fitness for the office shall be unlawful.
(g) The statutory responsibilities of the department of elementary and secondary education, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, and the commissioner of postsecondary education shall remain unchanged.
(h) The chair of the board of education shall consult with the chairs of the council on elementary and secondary education, the council on postsecondary education, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, and the commissioner of postsecondary education in developing agendas, goals, policies, and strategic plans for the board.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.