(b. 1) Private schools shall be permitted, if otherwise qualified, to be members of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. [Clause (b. 1) added October 16, 1972, Act No. 219.]

Pupils and Attendance (art. XIII). [(a) Attendance]

SEC. 1319. Confidentiality of Student Communications.-No guidance counselor, school nurse or school psychologist in the public schools or in private or parochial schools or other educational institutions providing elementary or secondary education, including any clerical worker of such schools and institutions, who, while in the course of his professional duties for a guidance counselor, school nurse or school psychologist, has acquired information from a student in confidence shall be compelled or allowed without the consent of the student, if the student is eighteen (18) years of age or over, or, if the student is under the age of eighteen (18) years, without the consent of his or her parent or legal guardian, to disclose that information in any legal proceeding, civil or criminal, trial, investigation before any grand, traverse or petit jury, or any officer thereof, before the General Assembly or any committee thereof, or before any commission, department or bureau of this Commonwealth, or municipal body, officer or committee thereof. Notwithstanding the confidentiality provisions of this section, no such person shall be execused or prevented from complying with the act of August 14, 1967 (P.L. 239), entitled "An act relating to gross physical neglect of, or injury to, children under eighteen years of age; requiring reports in such cases by examining physicians or heads of institutions to county public child welfare agencies; imposing powers and duties on county public child welfare agencies based on such reports; and providing penalties." [Section added December 6, 1972, Act No. 287.]

(b) Enforcing Attendance

SEC. 1335. Furnishing Food, Including Milk, to School Children.-The directors in all school districts are hereby authorized and empowered to furnish food, including milk, to the undernourished and poor school children attending the schools within their districts at the expense of the school district. The provisions of this section shall not be limited or affected by the acceptance and distribution by school directors of surplus commodities made available by the Federal Government.

Taxation (art. XXX). [(a) Subjects of Taxation;
Exemptions; Valuations]

SEC. 3002. Exemptions from Taxation.—(a) The following property shall be exempt from all county, borough, town, township, road, poor, county institution district and school (except in cities) tax, to wit: ***

(3) All hospitals, universities, colleges, seminaries, academies, associations and institutions of learning, benevolence or charity, including fire and rescue stations, with the grounds thereto annexed and necessary for the occupancy and enjoyment of the same, founded, endowed and maintained by public or private charity: Provided, That the entire revenue derived by the same be applied to the support and to increase the efficiency and facilities thereof, the repair and the necessary increase of grounds and buildings thereof, and for no other purpose: Provided further, That the property of associations and institutions of benevolence or charity be necessary to and actually used for the principal purposes of the institution and shall not be used in such a manner as to compete with commercial enterprise. [Clause (3) amended August 7, 1963, P.L. 558.]

(b) To adopt standards and qualifications for the certification of teachers and to provide for the issuance of certificates.

(c) To establish rules for the approval and accrediting of secondary schools. (d) To review the subjects and courses of study to be taught and instructional standards to be maintained in the elementary and secondary schools. *** (h) To make recommendations relative to the transportation of pupils, school bus routes, time schedules and other matters relating to pupil transportation, together with the right to cause every city and town school department to submit its respective school bus routes, schedules and other matters pertinent thereto. ****

SEC. 16-1-5. Duties of commissioner.—It shall be the duty of the commissioner of education:

(a) To carry out the policies and program formulated by the board of educa

tion.

(b) To evaluate credentials of applicants for certificates, to verify that the certification of teachers is in accordance with law and established standards, and to issue such certificates at the direction of the board. (c) To certify the approval of accredited schools.

(d) To recommend to the board an outline of the subjects and courses of study and the instructional standards for elementary and secondary schools.

***

(h) To certify that school bus routes and schedules and all contracts for pupil transportation conform with provisions of law and the rules and regulations of the board.

SEC. 16-1-6. Annual report of schools to department.-The officers or persons in charge of all schools and educational institutions supported wholly or in part by this state, whether entirely devoted to education or only partially so, shall make a report annually in the month of July to the department of education, of such facts as shall show the number of pupils and instructors, the courses of study, cost of maintenance, and general needs and conditions of the school or institution.

Compulsory Attendance (ch. 19).

SEC. 16-19-2. Approval of private schools. For the purposes of this chapter the school committee shall approve a private school or private instruction only when it complies with the following requirements, namely: That the period of attendance of the pupils in such school or on such private instruction is substantially equal to that required by law in public schools; that registers are kept and returns to the school committee, the superintendent of schools, truant officers and the department of education in relation to the attendance of pupils, are made the same as by the public schools; that reading, writing, geography, arithmetic, the history of the United States, the history of Rhode Island, and the principles of American government shall be taught in the English language substantially to the same extent as such subjects are required to be taught in the public schools, and that the teaching of the English language and of other subjects indicated herein shall be thorough and efficient; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed or operate to deny the right to teach in such private schools or on such private

instructions any of said subjects or any other subject in any other language in addition to the teaching in English as prescribed herein; provided, further, that any interested person resident in any city or town aggrieved by the action of the school committee of such city or town either in approving or refusing to approve such private school or such private instruction, may appeal therefrom to the department of education. The department of education, after notice to the parties interested of the time and place of hearing, shall examine and decide the same without cost to the parties. The decision of the board of education shall be final. [G.L., ch. 76, sec. 8, as enacted by P.L. 1925, ch. 678, sec. 4; G.L. 1938, ch. 181, sec. 8; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-19-2.]

Private Schools (ch. 40).

SEC. 16-40-1. Approval of secondary and higher schools by board of education; certification to secretary of state. No academy, college, university or other institution of secondary or higher education shall be incorporated or established in this state or be permitted to transact business within this state unless and until suitable provision, approved by the board of education, shall be made for adequate faculty and educational facilities and equipment and the proper maintenance thereof. The secretary of state, upon the receipt by him under the provisions of the general laws, of articles of association purporting to establish an educational institution, shall transmit the same to the board of education and shall not issue the certificate of incorporation provided by the general laws unless and until the commissioner of education shall file with the secretary of state a certificate over his signature that the said board of education has approved the application for incorporation as complying with the requirements of this section. [P.L. 1932, ch. 1897, sec. 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 200, sec. 1; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2752, secs. 10,21; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-40-1.]

SEC. 16-40-3. Reference of charter amendments to board of education.— The secretary of state, upon the receipt by him of amendments to a charter or articles of incorporation, as required by the general laws, which amendments shall add educational functions or the granting of degrees to the powers or purposes of any existing corporation, shall submit the proposed amendments to the board of education, and shall not issue the certificate authorizing such changes unless and until he shall receive from the board of education a certificate that such changes subject to the provisions of section 16-40-1 have been approved by said board of education. [P.L. 1932, ch. 1897, sec. 3; G.L. 1938, ch. 200, sec. 3; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2752, sec. 21; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-40-3.]

SEC. 16-40-4. Degrees without specific authority prohibited.- No academy, college, university or institution of education conducted within this state, nor any officer or member thereof, in recognition of the attainment. r proficiency of any member thereof, scholar, student, subscriber or other person, in pursuing or graduating from any course or courses of study, arts or learning conducted by it or another such school, corporation, association or institution, or in recognition of the attainment or achievement of any person, shall admit any such person to the grade of a degree by conferring or by participating in conferring any degree upon any such person or persons, except under the authority of a charter or articles of association specifically authorizing the granting of degrees, issued in accordance with the laws of this state. [P.L. 1932, ch. 1897, sec. 4; G.L. 1938, ch. 200, sec. 4; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-40-4.]

SEC. 16-40-5. Revocation of approvals.-The approval of the board of education, so given, as in this chapter provided, may for proper cause, in the discretion of the board of education be revoked, after hearing upon twenty (20) days' notice of the time and place of such hearing given, to any such academy, college, university or other institution of education by service upon any officer thereof, upon proof made at such hearing to the satisfaction of the board of education that adequate faculty and educational facilities and equipment are not being maintained by such academy, college, university or other institution of education, or by the officers thereof. [P.L. 1932, ch. 1897, sec. 5; G.L. 1938, ch. 200, sec. 5; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2752, sec. 21; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-40-5.]

SEC. 16-40-6. Degrees conferred after revocation of approval.—The admitting of any person or persons to any grade of a degree by conferring the same upon any such person or persons during the continuation of the revocation of such approval shall render any such academy, college, university or other institution of education, or any officer or member thereof, participating therein, liable to the penalty in this chapter provided, as though no approval had been granted in the first instance. [P.L. 1932, ch. 1897, sec. 5; G.L. 1938, ch. 200, sec. 5; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-40-6.]

SEC. 16-40-7. Register of approved schools and revocations.– The department of education shall keep a written record in a book to be provided and used solely for the purpose of recording therein such approvals and revocation of approvals thereof at its office in Providence for the inspection of any person upon request. [P.L. 1932, ch. 1897, sec. 5; G.L. 1938, ch. 200, sec. 5; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2752, sec. 21; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-40-7.]

SEC. 16-40-8. Penalty for violations.- Any academy, college, university or institution of education or any person being an officer or agent of any academy, college, university or institution of education incorporated under the laws of this state or transacting business within this state, who shall as such officer or agent, as aforesaid, by vote or in any manner or capacity, admit or participate in admitting any scholar or student, or any person in recognition of attainment or achievement to any grade of a degree by conferring or participate in conferring a degree upon such scholar or student or person contrary to the provisions of this chapter, or who shall sign any certificate or diploma as evidence of the conferring of such degree, shall be liable to a penalty of three hundred dollars ($300) for each offense to be sued for and recovered by and in the name of the department of education but to the use of the state. [P.L. 1932, ch. 1897, sec. 6; G.L. 1938, ch. 200, sec. 6; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2752, sec. 21; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-40-8.]

SEC. 16-40-9. Prosecution of violations; forfeiture of charter.-The district court for the sixth division is hereby empowered, upon the filing of a complaint in writing, duly verified, which said verification, when made by the department of education, may be made upon information and belief that any person has violated the provisions of this chapter, as aforesaid, to issue process in the nature of a summons at the suit of the department of education as plaintiff; such summons shall be returnable in not less than five (5) and not more than fifteen (15) entire days; such process shall state in what respect this chapter has been violated by the defendant or defendants, and upon the return of such process, or at any time to which the trial shall be adjourned, the said court shall proceed in a summary manner to hear testimony and to determine and give judgment in the matter, without the filing of any further pleadings for the plaintiff, for the recovery of such penalty, with costs or for the defendant or defendants and said court shall, if judgment be rendered for the plaintiff, cause such defendant or defendants other than a body corporate, who may refuse or fail forthwith to pay the amount of the judgment rendered against him or them, and all the costs and charges incident thereto, to be imprisoned for any period not exceeding ninety (90) days. Upon any conviction under this section, the department of education shall forthwith file in the office of the secretary of state as a public record the name of the corporation thus convicted or the name of any corporation whose officer or agent shall have been thus convicted, and upon such filing the charter or articles of association of any such corporation shall thereupon become forfeited by reason of such conviction and every such corporation shall thereupon cease to be a body corporate, except as provided in section 7-5-26, and the secretary of state shall forthwith mail a notice of such forfeiture of charter or articles of association to such corporation at its last known address, but failure to receive said notice shall not invalidate said notice. [P.L. 1932, ch. 1897, sec. 6; G.L 1938, ch. 200, sec. 6; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2752, sec. 21; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-40-9; P.L. 1969, ch. 239, sec. 32.]

SEC. 16-40-11. Registration and reports of private schools.-All private schools or institutions of learning in this state shall be registered at the office of the department of education, said registry showing location, name, officers or persons in charge, grade of instruction, and common language used in

teaching. They shall also make a report annually in the month of July to the board of education, showing the number of different pupils enrolled, the average attendance, the number of teachers employed, and such other facts of age, attendance and subjects of instruction taught as said board may require. [G.L. 1896, ch. 51, sec. 10; G.L. 1909, ch. 63, sec. 11; P.L. 1922, ch. 2234, sec. 5; G.L. 1923, ch. 65, sec. 15; P.L. 1925, ch. 678, sec. 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 176, sec. 6; P.L. 1941, ch. 1032, sec. 1; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2752, sec. 21; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-40-11.]

SEC. 16-40-14. Schools unaffected.-Nothing contained in sections 16-40-11 to 16-40-13, inclusive, shall be construed in such manner as to interfere in the operation of such secondary schools as were in existence on May 7, 1941, and which had been approved by the director of education or of private schools or institutions of learning in this state properly registered at the office of the department of education and which have been approved by the board of education. [P.L. 1941, ch. 1032, sec. 2; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2752, sec. 21; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-40-14.]

SEC. 16-40-15. Registers and blanks.—The department of education shall provide registers for all such schools and institutions, and shall prepare blank forms of inquiry for the facts called for in sections 16-1-6, 16-40-11, and 16-40-12, and in doing so shall have special reference to the requirements of the office of education at Washington. [G.L. 1896, ch. 51, sec. 11; G.L. 1909, ch. 63, sec. 12; G.L. 1923, ch. 65, sec. 16; G.L. 1938, ch. 176, sec. 7; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2752, sec. 21; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-40-15.]

Compulsory Education

Foundation Level School Support (ch. 7).

SEC. 16-7-30. School attendance when high school not maintained by community.-A community not maintaining a high school shall make provision for the free attendance of its children at some high school or academy approved by the state board of education. [P.L. 1960, ch. 27, sec. 12.]

Compulsory Attendance (ch. 19).

SEC. 16-19-1. Attendance required; excuses for ronattendance.-Every child who has completed seven (7) years of life and has not completed sixteen (16) years of life shall regularly attend some public day school during all the days and hours that the public schools are in session in the city or town wherein the educational facilities are approved by the school committee of the city or town wherein the child resides; and every person having under his control a child as above described in this section shall cause such child to attend school as required by the above stated provisions of this section, and for every neglect of such duty the person having control of such child shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00); provided, that if the person so charged shall prove or shall present a certificate made by or under the direction of the school committee of the city or town wherein he resides, setting forth that the child has attended for the required period of time a private day school or received instruction approved by the school committee of the city or town where said private school was located or where said private instruction was given; or that the physical or mental condition of the child was such as to render his attendance at school inexpedient or impracticable; or that the child was excluded from school by virtue of some general law or regulation-then such attendance shall not be obligatory nor shall such penalty be incurred; but nothing in this section shall be construed to allow the absence or irregular attendance of any child who is enrolled as a member of any school, or of any child sent to school by the person having control of such child. [G.L. 1896, ch. 64, sec. 1; P.L. 1902, ch. 1009, sec. 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 72. sec. 1; P.L. 1917, ch. 1492, sec. 1; P.L. 1922, ch. 2234, sec. 14; G.L. 1923, ch. 76, sec. 1; P.L. 1923, ch. 482, sec. 1; P.L. 1925, ch. 678, sec. 3; P.L. 1926, ch. 812, sec. 1; P.L. 1936, ch. 2360, sec. 1; P.L. 1937, ch. 2505, sec. 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 181, sec. 1; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-19-1.]

Compiler's Note: See also APPROVAL/SUPERVISION/SUPPORT, Ch. 19, sec. 16-19-2.

Special Education

Handicapped Children (ch. 24).

SEC. 16-24-1. Duty of school committee to provide special education.— In any city or town where there is a child within the age range as designated by the regulations of the state board of education, who is either mentally retarded or physically or emotionally handicapped to such an extent that normal educational growth and development is prevented, the school committee of such city or town shall provide such type of special education that will best satisfy the needs of the handicapped child, as recommended and approved by the state board of education in accordance with its regulations. [P.L. 1952, ch. 2905, sec. 1; P.L. 1954, ch. 3368, sec. 1; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-24-1.]

SEC. 16-24-2. Regulations of state board. It shall be the duty of the state board of education to set up regulations for the purpose of carrying out the intent of this chapter; such regulations shall include:

1. criteria to determine who is to be included in the category of the exceptional child and all persons from the age of three (3) to twenty-one(21) who are mentally retarded and/or multi-handicapped must be included in establishing the category of exceptional child;

2. minimum criteria for establishment and/or reimbursement of special facilities (such as public school classes, hospital schools, etc.) for each category of exceptionality;

3. methods of reimbursement;

4. teacher-training recommendations, minimum teacher qualifications; 5. transportation; and

6. any other regulations the state board deems necessary to implement this chapter. [P.L. 1952, ch. 2905, sec. 2; P.L. 1954, ch. 3368, sec. 1; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-24-2; P.L. 1971, ch. 210, sec. 1.]

SEC. 16-24-4. Transportation.-The school committee of each city and town shall provide for the transportation to and from school either within the school district or in another school district of the state for any child who is handicapped in accordance with the regulations of the state board of education. [P.L. 1952, ch. 2905, sec. 4; P.L. 1954, ch. 3368, sec. 1; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-24-4.]

SEC. 16-24-7. Retarded minors defined.-As referred to in sections 16-24-8 to 16-24-13, inclusive, the term "mentally retarded minors" means all children between the age of five (5) and twenty-one (21) who because of retarded intellectual development, as determined by individual psychological examination, are incapable of being educated profitably and efficiently through ordinary classroom instruction. [P.L. 1952, ch. 2905, sec. 3, as enacted by P.L. 1955, ch. 3464, sec. 1; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-24-7.]

SEC. 16-24-8. Special classes to make retarded children economically useful.-Each city and town where there are ten (10) or more mentally retarded minors, who may be expected to profit from special educational facilities designed to make them economically useful and socially adjusted, shall establish such special classes as may be necessary to provide instruction adapted to the mental attainments of such minors from their fifth birthday and when they have reached a mental age of three (3), until the end of the term during which they attain their twenty-first birthday, under regulations to be established by the state board of education. [P.L. 1952, ch. 2905, sec. 3, as enacted by P.L. 1955, ch. 3464, sec. 1; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-24-8.]

SEC. 16-24-16. Transportation of mentally retarded children.-For the purpose of furnishing transportation and providing incidental expenses for the education of mentally retarded children under the age of eighteen (18), a center approved by the director of mental health, retardation and hospitals shall be decreed to be a school as considered in this chapter. [G.L., sec. 16-24-16, as enacted by P.L. 1968, ch. 129, sec. 1; P.L. 1970, ch. 322, sec. 1; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970.]

Education of Deaf, Blind, and Retarded

Children (ch. 25).

SEC. 16-25-1. Appointment of state beneficiaries at special institutions.— The governor, on recommendation of the department of education and upon application of the parent or guardian, may appoint any deaf or blind child being a legal resident of this state, who shall appear to said department to be a fit subject for education, as a state beneficiary at any suitable institution or school now established, or that may be established, either within or without the state, for such period as he may determine, within the limit of ten (10) years; provided, that he may, upon the special recommendation of the department of education, extend the period and that he shall have the power to revoke any appointment at any time for cause. [G.L. 1896, ch. 85, sec. 1; P.L. 1896, ch. 322, sec. 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 100, sec. 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 186, sec. 1; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2752, sec. 21; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-25-1; P.L. 1963, ch. 160, sec. 1; P.L. 1971, ch. 89, art. 2, sec. 1.]

Education of Gifted Children (ch. 42).

SEC. 16-42-1. Area advisory committee created.-There is hereby created a Rhode Island area advisory committee, consisting of one (1) superintendent of schools from each of the areas of the state determined by the commissioner of education; three (3) representatives-at-large from the superintendents and assistant superintendents of the state; and the president of the Rhode Island superintendents' association. [P.L. 1958, ch. 95, sec. 1.]

SEC. 16-42-4. Duties of committee. It shall be the duty of the area advisory committee to recommend to the commissioner of education: (a) programs within a school for gifted and talented children; (b) area programs for gifted and talented children; and

(c) outside school programs for gifted and talented children, provided however that no city or town shall participate or be required to participate in such programs without the affirmative vote of the respective school committees. [P.L. 1958, ch. 95, sec. 4.]

Curriculum

Compiler's Note: See APPROVAL/SUPERVISION/SUPPORT, Ch. 19, sec. 16-19-2.

Curriculum (ch. 22).

SEC. 16-22-1. Study of curricula; vocational guidance. The department of education shall make a study of the curricula offered by the public schools within this state for the purpose of planning a more practical educational program. The object of said program shall be the training of pupils so that at the completion of their schooling they may be qualified to seek specialized occupations in the fields of business, industry, manufacturing and the various trades, or to pursue further studies for the various professions. Through vocational guidance counselors within the schools each pupil shall receive assistance in selecting studies which will help to fit him for some specialized occupation or profession upon his graduation from high school or college. [G.L., ch. 177, sec. 11, as enacted by P.L. 1940, ch. 826, sec. 1; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2752, sec. 21; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-22-1.]

SEC. 16-22-2. Courses in history and government.-The principles of popular and representative government as enunciated in the constitution of Rhode Island and the constitution of the United States shall be taught in all the public schools of this state. The course of study shall be prescribed by the department of education. Commencing with the fourth grade in elementary schools instruction shall be given in the history and government of Rhode Island, and in every high school thorough instruction shall be given in the constitution and government of Rhode Island and in the constitution and government of the United States. No private school or private instruction shall be approved for the purposes of chapter 19 of this title unless the course of study therein shall make provision for instruction substantially equivalent to that required by this chapter for public schools. [G.L., ch. 67, sec. 17, as

enacted by P.L. 1922, ch. 2195, sec. 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 70, sec. 30; P.L. 1926, ch. 838, sec. 1; P.L. 1929, ch. 1400, sec. 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 177, sec. 10; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2752, sec. 21; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-22-2.]

SEC. 16-22-4. Instruction in health and physical education. - All children in grades one (1) through twelve (12) attending public schools, or such other schools as are managed and controlled by the state, shall receive therein instruction in health and physical education under such rules and regulations as the department of education may prescribe or approve during periods which shall average at least twenty (20) minutes in each school day. No private school or private instruction shall be approved by any school committee for the purposes of chapter 19 of this title, as substantially equivalent to that required by law of a child attending a public school in the same city and/or town unless instruction in health and physical education similar to that required in public schools shall be given. [G.L., ch. 182, sec. 9, as enacted by P.L. 1949, ch. 2341, sec. 1; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2752, sec. 21; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-22-4.]

SEC. 16-22-8. Foreign language courses.-Whenever there shall be twenty (20) students who apply for a course in the Italian, Portuguese or Spanish language in any high school of the state, the school committee of the specific town shall arrange a course in Italian, Portuguese or Spanish to be conducted by a competent teacher. [G.L., ch. 70, sec. 32, as enacted by P.L. 1934, ch. 2127, sec. 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 178, sec. 32; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-22-8; P.L. 1960, ch. 185, sec. 1.]

SEC. 16-22-9. Uniform testing.-The commissioner of education shall establish a program and provide materials for uniform aptitude and intelligence testing of all pupils in elementary and secondary schools in this state. All pupils attending public schools, and all pupils attending elementary and secondary schools approved in accordance with the provisions of the general and public laws of the state of Rhode Island shall be administered tests under the supervision of the state department of education in accordance with said program. [G.L., sec. 16-22-9, as enacted by P.L. 1963, ch. 12, sec. 1.]

Regional Vocational Schools (ch. 45).

SEC. 16-45-2. Curriculum; certificates.-The state board of education may authorize the registration of students in the regional vocational schools, arrange the curriculum, and at the completion of a course or courses, issue a certificate stating that the student has completed such course and achieved proficiency therein. [G.L., sec. 16-45-2, as enacted by P.L. 1964, ch. 8, sec. 1.]

Textbooks

Textbooks (ch. 23).

SEC. 16-23-2. Loan of textbooks.-The school committee of every community as the same is defined in section 16-7-16 shall furnish upon request at the expense of such community, textbooks in the fields of mathematics, science and modern foreign languages appearing on the published list of textbooks recommended by the commissioner of education as provided in section 16-1-9 of the general laws, as herein amended, to all pupils of elementary and secondary school grades resident in such community, said textbooks to be loaned to such pupils free of charge, subject to such rules and regulations as to care and custody as the school committee may prescribe.

Every such school committee shall also furnish at the expense of such community all other textbooks and school supplies used in the public schools of said community, said other textbooks and supplies to be loaned to the pupils of said public schools free of charge, subject to such rules and regulations as to care and custody as the school committee may prescribe. School books removed from school use may be distributed to pupils, and any textbook may become the property of a pupil who has completed the use of it in school, subject to rules and regulations prescribed by the school committee. [G.L. 1896, ch. 60, sec. 22; G.L. 1909, ch. 67, sec. 12; P.L. 1913, ch. 944, sec. 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 70, sec. 25; G.L. 1938, ch. 178, sec. 25; G.L. 1956, sec. 16-23-2; P.L. 1963, ch. 12, sec. 2.]