AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COOPERATIVE SERVICE AMONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS

This bill restructures the Urban Collaborative in Rhode Island by establishing a new board of trustees to govern the organization instead of relying solely on existing school committees. The proposed board would include the superintendent of the Providence school district, representatives from other participating districts, and members appointed by the state's council on elementary and secondary education. Under the new rules, the collaborative would be authorized to run joint education programs and diagnostic services for students who struggle in traditional settings, while also allowing it to receive state and local funding as if it were an independent school district.