Creating a Special Legislative Commission to Study the Disparate Impact of Disciplinary Policies on Students

RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of twelve (12) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Commissioner of The Rhode Island Department of Education, or designee; one of whom shall be a member of Rhode Island Kids Count, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Chief of the Providence Police Department, or designee; one of whom shall be a school resource officer from the Providence Public School Department, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals (RIASP), or designee; one of whom shall be a school social worker or psychologist, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a student currently enrolled in Providence Public Schools, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be an administrator in Woonsocket Public Schools, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be a Rhode Island licensed attorney who specializes in education, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House. In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study commission, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator. The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study evaluating the impact on family and school performance in relation to current disciplinary policies on students in public schools including, but not limited to, attendance and performance metrics, the effectiveness of exclusionary verses inclusionary discipline practices, to provide recommendations on best practices and evaluate the impact on family and school performance. Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the legislators. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services or reimbursement for expenses. All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters and clerical support for said commission; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives on or before November 17, 2027, and said commission shall expire on February 17, 2028. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HOUSERESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE DISPARATE IMPACT OF DISCIPLINARY POLICIES ON STUDENTS *** This resolution would create a twelve (12) member special legislative commission whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study evaluating the impact on family and school performance in relation to current disciplinary policies in public schools and provide recommendations, and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later than November 17, 2027, and whose life would expire on February 17, 2028.