2015 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 16 - Education
Chapter 16-2 - School Committees and Superintendents [See Title 16 Chapter 97 – The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]
Section 16-2-17 - Right to a safe school.

§ 16-2-17 Right to a safe school. – (a) Each student, staff member, teacher, and administrator has a right to attend and/or work at a school which is safe and secure, and which is conducive to learning, and which is free from the threat, actual or implied, of physical harm by a disruptive student. A disruptive student is a person who is subject to compulsory school attendance who exhibits persistent conduct which substantially impedes the ability of other students to learn or otherwise substantially interferes with the rights stated above, and who has failed to respond to corrective and rehabilitative measures presented by staff, teachers, or administrators.

(b) The school committee, or a school principal as designated by the school committee, may suspend all pupils found guilty of this conduct or of violation of those school regulations which relate to the rights set forth in subsection (a), or where a student represents a threat to those rights of students, teachers or administrators, as described in subsection (a). Nothing in this section shall relieve the school committee or school principals from following all procedures required by state and federal law regarding discipline of students with disabilities.

(c) A student suspended under this section may appeal the action of the school committee, or a school principal as designee, to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education who, after notice to the parties interested of the time and place of hearing, shall examine and decide the appeal without cost to the parties involved. Any decision of the commissioner in these matters shall be subject to appeal by the student to the board of regents for elementary and secondary education and any decision of the board of regents may be appealed by the student to the family court for the county in which the school is located as provided in § 42-35-15.

History of Section.
(G.L. 1896, ch. 60, § 12; G.L. 1909, ch. 67, § 8; G.L. 1923, ch. 70, § 21; G.L. 1938, ch. 178, § 21; G.L. 1956, § 16-2-17; P.L. 1992, ch. 358, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 30, § 2; P.L. 1998, ch. 51, § 2.)