Title 49, Education

(a) The department of education shall, using existing resources, develop a conflict resolution program that may be adopted and implemented by LEAs and public charter schools to assist students in any of the grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12) in developing the skills necess…

(a) (1) Each LEA may issue high school diplomas to veterans who failed to receive diplomas due to an interruption of their education by service in World War I, World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War.(2) An LEA shall not require that the veteran be a current resident of t…

(a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, “hazing” means any intentional or reckless act in this state, on or off LEA property, by one (1) student acting alone or with others, that is directed against any other student, that endangers the mental or physi…

(a) (1) In all counties of this state wherein separate school systems are maintained by the county and by one (1) or more incorporated municipalities or one (1) or more special school districts, there may be created and established a unification educational planning commission, s…

(a) Any plan of consolidation shall provide for a consolidated board of education, sometimes called “the board” in this part, to be composed of five (5), seven (7) or nine (9) members whose terms of office shall be either four (4) years or six (6) years, as the plan may determine…

(a) Any plan of consolidation shall provide that the consolidated board of education is authorized to designate a person experienced in public school management and supervision and possessing the qualifications required of a director of schools pursuant to § 49-2-301 as the chief…

(a) (1) Any plan of consolidation shall require continuation of a local retirement system for all officers, teachers and other employees who elect to remain in the system.(2) The plan shall also provide:(A) For continuation of the local retirement system for new officers, teacher…

(a) Any plan of consolidation shall provide for a transitional school board in the event the plan makes consolidation of schools effective at a date prior to September 1 next after the general election in August when members of the consolidated board of education are to be electe…

(a) (1) Where the planning commission has submitted a plan of consolidation to the department of education and has thereafter approved the plan with or without revision, after receiving the recommendations of the department, the proposed plan of consolidation shall be submitted t…

(1) The department of education and the commissioner of education are vested with the following powers and duties respecting the consolidation of school systems as provided in this part:(1) Formulate recommended policies and practices for conducting the consolidation programs;(2)…

(a) This part is declared to be remedial legislation to be liberally construed for the purpose of increased economy and efficiency in the operation of public schools; and, after any plan of consolidation provided for in this part has become effective, no officer or agency of any …

(a) Each LEA is encouraged to conduct an inspection and evaluation program, such as the environmental protection agency's indoor air quality tools for schools program, for its facilities. Such program may include, but shall not be limited to, the following measures:(1) Ensuring t…

(a) As used in this section, “automated external defibrillator” or “AED” has the same meaning as defined in § 68-140-402. (b) All public schools in this state must have at least one (1) automated external defibrillator placed within the school. AEDs, in addition to the AED requir…

(a) This section is known and may be cited as the “Michael Maren Paycheck Protection Act.” (b) As used in this section:(1) “Dues” means the fees imposed on individuals as a condition of their participation or membership in a professional employees' organization; and(2) “Professio…

(a) As used in this section:(1) “Mental health screening” or “socioemotional screening” means, for the purposes of this chapter, the use of one (1) or more brief, structured questionnaires designed to identify the possibility that an individual has a mental health problem;(2) “Ps…

(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Archival Protection Act of 2009.” (b) Upon determination to close a public school, the LEA is urged to employ or contract with a professional archivist to review all personal property contained in the school buildings for h…

County boards of education, whenever they deem it advisable for the purpose of a more economical administration and the improvement of the efficiency of the schools, may combine with another county or counties to operate the schools of the counties as a single multi-county consol…

(a) (1) In all counties in this state there may be created a unification educational planning commission, sometimes called the “commission” in §§ 49-2-1251 — 49-2-1266.(2) It is the duty of the planning commission to study and consider the need for and problems in conjunction wit…

(a) The planning commission shall make a comprehensive study of the need for, issues in, and problems of consolidation of the various county school systems. (b) The study shall be completed and a written report made and filed with the commissioner of education within one (1) year…

(a) (1) The planning commission shall be authorized to prepare a plan for the consolidation of such county school systems.(2) The plan as agreed upon by a majority of the planning commission shall be submitted to the department of education for appraisal.(3) The recommendations t…

(a) Any plan of consolidation shall provide for a consolidated board of education, sometimes referred to as the “board” in §§ 49-2-1251 — 49-2-1266, to be composed of nine (9) members whose terms of office shall be four (4) years. (b) (1) The plan shall provide for the election o…

(a) Any plan of consolidation shall provide that the consolidated board of education is authorized to designate a person experienced in public school management and supervision and possessing a license of qualification issued by the state board of education pursuant to § 49-2-301…

(a) Where the planning commission has submitted a plan of consolidation to the department of education and has thereafter approved the plan, the proposed plan of consolidation shall be submitted to the governing bodies of the counties involved. (b) Before taking action upon the p…

Any consolidated board of education created under §§ 49-2-1251 — 49-2-1266 has the authority to issue bonds as a separate and independent local government under the Local Government Public Obligations Act of 1986, compiled in title 9, chapter 21.

Consolidated boards of education shall be subject to the audit provisions of § 49-2-112.

A school may establish an early postsecondary course fund to receive donations or grants from individuals or from private corporations, associations, or other artificial entities, both nonprofit and for profit, who desire to help support an early postsecondary course offered or a…

Prior to or in conjunction with the adoption of a multi-county school system, the counties that adopt a multi-county school system shall adopt the same local option sales tax rate and distribute according to law.

(a) A multi-county school system created pursuant to this part shall budget according to the County Budgeting Law of 1957, compiled in title 5, chapter 12, part 1. (b) The school system shall follow the fiscal procedures of the County Fiscal Procedure Law of 1957, compiled in tit…

To aid in the offset of the expenses incurred in the consolidation process, the state shall supplement combining systems with a five percent (5%) funding bonus for the first five (5) years of the existence of the combined system. This five percent (5%) bonus shall be over and abo…

(1) The department of education and the commissioner of education are vested with the following powers and duties respecting the consolidation of school systems:(1) Formulate recommended policies and practices for conducting the consolidation programs;(2) Develop suggested method…

(a) Any municipal or special school district within a county contemplating consolidation may participate in the consolidation process. The municipal or special school district shall notify the county commission of their respective county of their wish to consolidate with the coun…

(a) In addition to any other tax applicable to property located within the consolidated school district created pursuant to this part, there shall be levied a property tax sufficient to fund the consolidated school district. The tax rate shall be set by the general assembly by pr…

(a) Sections 49-2-1251 — 49-2-1265 are declared to be remedial legislation to be liberally interpreted for the purpose of increased economy and efficiency in the operation of public schools and after any plan of consolidation provided for shall become effective, no officer or age…

(a) If a municipality seeks to create a city school system; and if the municipality is authorized by its charter, as set forth by statute or private act, to operate a city school system; and if the proposed city school system would possess a student population of sufficient size …

(a) Before the start of each school year, an LEA shall identify each school that, based on the school's capacities at the building, grade, class, and program levels, has space available to enroll and serve additional students. In determining available space at the class level, an…

(a) No school administrator, teacher, or other employee of an LEA shall require a student or the student's parent to provide information on firearm ownership by the student's family. (b) No school administrator or other employee of an LEA shall require a teacher or other school e…

(a) As used in this section, “released time course” means a period of time during which a student is excused from school to attend a course in religious moral instruction taught by an independent entity off school property. (b) A local board of education may adopt a policy that e…

This part shall be known and may be cited as the “Educational Cooperation Act.”

It is the purpose of this part to permit local governmental units and boards of education the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate with other localities on a basis of mutual advantage and to thereby provide educational services and facilities in a mann…

(1) As used in this part, “public agency” includes:(1) A board of education of any county, city or special school district or school system;(2) A county or municipal governing body; and(3) A director of schools. (1) A board of education of any county, city or special school distr…

(a) (1) Any power or powers, privileges or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a public agency of this state may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other public agency of this state having the same powers, privileges or authority.(2) Any agency of the state gover…

(a) (1) Counties and municipalities are authorized and empowered to levy taxes and issue bonds for all joint or cooperative undertakings authorized by this part.(2) Counties, municipalities and school districts are authorized and empowered to expend funds, acquire property throug…

(a) Before its entry into force, an agreement made under this part shall be filed with the custodian of local public records and with the secretary of state. (b) (1) In any case or controversy involving performance or interpretation of an agreement made under this part or liabili…

(a) If an agreement made under this part addresses in whole or in part the provision of services or facilities with regard to which an officer or agency of the state government has constitutional or statutory powers of control, the agreement shall, as a condition precedent to its…

Nothing in this part shall prohibit any public agency from contracting with other public agencies under existing statutory or charter authority.

(a) An LEA is prohibited from entering into, or requiring an opposing party to enter into, a non-disclosure agreement during a settlement, or as a prerequisite to settlement, for any act of sexual misconduct, including, but not limited to, sexual harassment or sexual assault. (b)…