Bill > S0745

This bill amends the teachers' tenure act specifically for Providence public school teachers, establishing a detailed process for dismissal and demotion of teachers and full-time school personnel. The bill introduces a new framework for teacher dismissals that distinguishes between the Providence school district and other districts in Rhode Island. For Providence public schools, the bill allows principals to dismiss or demote teachers with superintendent review, and provides specific protections for teachers who have worked for at least 90 calendar days. Teachers with tenure can only be dismissed for specific reasons such as inefficiency, incompetency, conduct unbecoming a teacher, or failure to meet performance standards. The bill establishes a mandatory arbitration process for tenured teachers challenging their dismissal, which involves selecting an arbitrator from the American Arbitration Association, conducting a hearing where the school district bears the burden of proof, and potentially allowing for reinstatement or back pay if the dismissal is found improper. The arbitrator's decision is limited to specific remedies and cannot include punitive or consequential damages. Importantly, the bill specifies that these arbitration procedures are the exclusive remedies available to teachers for wrongful termination, providing a clear and structured approach to handling teacher dismissals in the Providence public school system.

Education, Labor and Employment

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