§ 16-1-5 - Duties of commissioner of elementary and secondary education. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 16-1-5

   § 16-1-5  Duties of commissioner ofelementary and secondary education. – It shall be the duty of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education:

   (1) To carry out the policies and program formulated by theboard of regents for elementary and secondary education.

   (2) To evaluate credentials of applicants for certificates,to verify that the certification of teachers is in accordance with law andestablished standards, and to issue certificates at the direction of the board.

   (3) To certify the approval of accredited schools.

   (4) To recommend to the board an outline of the subjects andcourses of study and the instructional standards for elementary and secondaryschools.

   (5) To approve the distribution of state school funds inaccordance with law and the regulations of the board.

   (6) To verify that school sites and school building plans arein accordance with law and regulations.

   (7) To exercise supervision over school libraries and libraryservices.

   (8) To certify that school bus routes and schedules and allcontracts for pupil transportation conform with provisions of law and the rulesand regulations of the board.

   (9) To require the observance of all laws relating to schoolsand education.

   (10) To interpret school law and to decide such controversiesas may be appealed to the commissioner from decisions of local schoolcommittees.

   (11) To prepare and recommend standard forms for the use oflocal schools.

   (12) To prepare, with the assistance of the department ofadministration, manuals of uniform budgetary and standard financial records andprocedures for local school officers. The board of regents shall adopt uniformlocal school budgeting procedures no later than July 1, 1989, and thoseprocedures should include, at a minimum, the following:

   (A) Provision for uniform classification of revenues andexpenditures;

   (B) Requirements of detailed expenditure estimates and atable of organization including the proposed staffing of each school;

   (C) Estimates of receipts and expenditures for the last two(2) completed fiscal years, the current and ensuing fiscal years; and

   (ii) To carry out the purpose of this subsection a sum of tenthousand dollars ($10,000) not otherwise appropriated shall be included in theappropriation made to support the department of elementary and secondaryeducation.

   (13) To receive general supervision from the board of regentsfor elementary and secondary education and to appoint the several officers andemployees of the department subject to the provisions of the State Merit SystemAct, chapters 3 and 4 of title 36.

   (14) To establish health education, alcohol and substanceabuse programs for students in grades kindergarten (K) through twelve (12), inaccordance with § 35-4-18. The program will consist of the following: Amandated state health education, alcohol and substance abuse, curriculum forgrades kindergarten (K) through twelve (12), a mandated assessment program inthe areas of health, fitness, alcohol and substance abuse, and an in-servicetraining program which will be developed specifically for the implementation ofthe mandated curriculum.

   (15) To appoint a three (3) member committee for the purposeof choosing a "teacher of the year" among teachers in public school gradeskindergarten (K) through twelve (12). The "teacher of the year" shall receivean award of one thousand dollars ($1,000).

   (ii) It is the intent of the general assembly that the fundsnecessary to carry out the provisions of this subdivision shall be providedwithin the annual appropriations act.