§ 16-53-3. Duties and responsibilities. (a) The board of trustees shall:

(1) Advise the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and the board of education on the development of a biannual state plan for career and technical education;

(2) Advise the commissioner of elementary and secondary education so that he/she may make reports to the governor, the business community, and general public of the state, concerning:

(i) Policies the state should pursue to strengthen career and technical education;

(ii) Initiatives and methods the private sector could undertake to assist in the modernization of career and technical education programs;

(iii) The distribution of spending for career and technical education in the state and on the availability of career and technical education activities and services within the state; and

(3) Furnish consultation to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and the board of education on the evaluation criteria and processes for career and technical education programs within the state as they pertain to:

(i) The establishment, continuation, and discontinuation of career preparation programs;

(ii) Incentives that promote and reward program excellence on the basis of performance;

(iii) Incentives that emphasize the needs of business and labor organizations;

(iv) Instructor preparation and qualifications in the areas of industry credentialing, development opportunities, and relevant field-based experiences;

(v) The integration of academic and technical instruction and skill attainment in career preparation programs; and

(vi) The management and distribution of state funding allocated for the express purpose of establishing or improving career preparation program model sites.

(4) Provide advice and consent on the policy principles and goals that govern the distribution of financial assistance furnished under this chapter, particularly with the analysis of the distribution of financial assistance between secondary career and technical education programs and postsecondary career and technical education programs;

(5) Report annually to the board of education on topics that include:

(i) Recommended procedures to ensure and enhance the participation of the public in the provision of career and technical education at the local level within the state, particularly the participation of local employers and local labor organizations; and

(ii) The extent to which the individuals described in former § 201(b) of United States Public Law 98-524, 20 U.S.C. § 2331(b), are provided with equal access to quality career and technical education programs;

(6) Furnish consultation to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education to evaluate, at least once every two (2) years, the career and technical education program delivery systems assisted under this chapter, and make recommendations to stakeholders on the adequacy and effectiveness of the coordination between career and technical education and the workforce demands of the Rhode Island economy and post-secondary workforce development;

(7) Comply with all federal statutes, requirements, regulations, and guidelines, and in particular, United States Public Law 98-524 and any amendments to it;

(8) Establish, support, and expand private-sector participation programs that enhance career and technical education at the local level within the state, particularly the participation of local employers and local labor organizations in providing funding, equipment, training, apprenticeships, work-study programs, and other services that will enhance student experiences.

(9) Subject to the approval of the board of education, assume management and jurisdiction of state-owned-and-operated career and technical schools, at the request of the governing body of the school with a consultation from the executive director of the state-owned school, and assume management of such other career and technical schools as agreed to by local education districts and with a recommendation from the superintendent of schools.

(b) In the event that the governing board of a state-owned-and-operated career and technical school, or a local education agency in accordance with § 16-53-3(a)(8), requests the board of trustees to assume management and jurisdiction of its career and technical school, then the board of education may assign the care management and responsibility of career and technical facilities to the board of trustees for the express purpose of providing coordinated career and technical educational services. Prior to the assignment of the care, management, and responsibility of the school, the trustees shall prepare a plan that shall examine and make recommendations over the:

(1) Management of the career and technical school, including, but not limited to:

(i) Including how the conversion from a separate school facility to a statewide system will impact:

(A) Personnel;

(B) Labor agreements, including existing, collective bargaining agreements;

(C) Contractual obligations outside of labor agreements;

(D) Management structure;

(E) Program offerings;

(F) Admission policies;

(G) Facilities; and

(H) Other items as requested by RIDE or the board of education.

(2) Management of other state-owned facilities for the sole purpose of offering career and technical programs; and

(3) Method of assuming ownership and management of career and technical facilities within the state that were transferred, including the integration of programs, curriculum, offerings, and the relationship of matching academic requirements to career and technical education to enhance student outcomes.

(c) In the event the board of trustees assumes responsibility pursuant to § 16-53-3(b), the board of trustees shall act with the same authority as a local school committee.

(d) In the event the board of trustees assumes responsibility pursuant to § 16-53-3(a)(8), the board of trustees shall recognize the collective bargaining representatives of all affected employees in each collective bargaining unit and shall recognize the collective bargaining agreements in effect for all affected employees.

History of Section. (P.L. 1972, ch. 284, § 1; P.L. 1977, ch. 189, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 244, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 84, § 58; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 34; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 34; P.L. 2014, ch. 410, § 3.)