Groves, Plain quoted in article on Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling in favor of charter school client
PROVIDENCE (July 1, 2011) – Tim Groves and Matt Plain were both quoted in a front page news story in the June 27 issue of The Westerly Sun regarding a precedent-setting decision by the Rhode Island Supreme Court interpreting the state’s charter school law for the first time.
The court ordered the Chariho Regional School District to reimburse The Compass School, a local independent public charter school represented by Groves and Plain, 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 article, Groves and Plain discuss how the ruling impacts funding and budgeting for The Compass School and other charter schools in the state.
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).
