Matt Plain featured in article on Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling in favor of charter school client
PROVIDENCE (June 21, 2011) – Matt Plain was featured in the June 20 issue of Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly regarding a precedent-setting ruling by the Rhode Island Supreme Court interpreting the state’s charter school law for the first time.
The court ordered a local school district to reimburse The Compass School, a local independent public charter school represented by Plain and Tim Groves, for tuition payments the district had wrongfully withheld under a mistaken interpretation of state law.
The Rhode Island Charter Public School Act requires quarterly payments based on the actual number of students attending a charter school, the court ruled. This interpretation of the law, according to the court, is consistent with the Rhode Island Legislature’s intent to improve public school education in part by fostering diverse public education options and innovative learning environments at charter schools.
In the Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly article, Plain discusses the impact of this ruling for Rhode Island charter schools, the administrative process underlying the dispute, and key lessons for education lawyers offered by the decision.
About Taylor Duane
Taylor Duane is one of New England’s leading civil litigation law firms with offices in Boston and Providence. It represents educational institutions, professionals and students in all aspects of school law. The Providence Business News has named the firm as one of Rhode Island’s Best Places to Work for four consecutive years (2008-11).
