S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4959
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 9, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. GOODELL, J. M. GIGLIO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M.
   of  A.    BARCLAY, BLANKENBUSH, MORINELLO -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing the estab-
   lishment of regional high school districts in certain counties

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The education law is amended by adding a new article 39-A
 to read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 39-A
                           REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS
 SECTION 1920. REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL; ESTABLISHMENT.
         1921. OPERATION BY BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.
         1922. ADDITIONAL STATE AID.
   § 1920. REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL; ESTABLISHMENT.  A REGIONAL  HIGH  SCHOOL
 MAY  BE  FORMED  BY  A  CONTRACT  ENTERED  INTO  BY  TWO  OR MORE SCHOOL
 DISTRICTS, WHICH ARE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN CITIES HAVING A POPULATION
 OF LESS THAN  ONE  HUNDRED  TWENTY-FIVE  THOUSAND  INHABITANTS,  CENTRAL
 SCHOOL  DISTRICTS,  UNION  FREE  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  AND/OR COMMON SCHOOL
 DISTRICTS, PROVIDED THAT ALL SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE WHOLLY  CONTAINED
 WITHIN  THE  SAME  BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SUPERVISORY
 DISTRICT, AND IS WHOLLY CONTAINED WITHIN ANY COUNTY HAVING  BETWEEN  ONE
 HUNDRED  THIRTY-FOUR THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED THREE AND ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-
 FOUR THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SEVEN INHABITANTS ACCORDING TO THE TWO  THOU-
 SAND TEN DECENNIAL FEDERAL CENSUS.  EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS
 ARTICLE,  THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER AS TO THE COURSES OF STUDY, THE
 QUALIFICATIONS AND EMPLOYMENT OF TEACHERS AND OTHER STAFF, AND THE MAIN-
 TENANCE, CONDUCT AND SUPERVISION OF PUBLIC  SCHOOLS  IN  CENTRAL  SCHOOL
 DISTRICTS  SHALL  APPLY  TO  A  REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL. ANY CONTRACT FOR A
 REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SHALL BE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL  BY  THE  COMMISSIONER
 AND  SHALL  NOT  BE  SUBJECT  TO  APPROVAL BY THE ELECTORS OF THE SCHOOL
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD08972-01-1

 A. 4959                             2
 
 DISTRICTS ELECTING TO FORM THE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,  AND  THE  REGIONAL
 HIGH SCHOOL AND THE CONTRACT SHALL MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
   1.  THE  CONTRACT  SHALL  BE  FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN TWO SCHOOL
 YEARS AND, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE  COMMISSIONER,  MAY  BE  RENEWED  BY
 MUTUAL AGREEMENT OF THE BOARDS OF EDUCATION;
   2.  THE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SHALL COMMENCE OPERATIONS ON THE FIRST OF
 JULY, AND SHALL NOT CEASE OPERATIONS BEFORE THE THIRTIETH OF JUNE IN ANY
 SCHOOL YEAR;
   3. THE CONTRACT SHALL STATE WHETHER THE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL  WILL  BE
 OPERATED  BY  ONE  OF  THE  PARTICIPATING  SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HEREINAFTER
 REFERRED TO IN THIS ARTICLE AS THE "HOSTING SCHOOL DISTRICT," OR BY  THE
 BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES PURSUANT TO A CONTRACT AUTHOR-
 IZED BY SECTION NINETEEN HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE OF THIS ARTICLE;
   4. THE CONTRACT SHALL SPECIFY THE MANNER IN WHICH THE STUDENTS OF EACH
 PARTICIPATING  SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL BE TRANSPORTED TO THE REGIONAL HIGH
 SCHOOL, AND THE COST OF SUCH TRANSPORTATION SHALL BE  A  CHARGE  AGAINST
 EACH SUCH PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICT AND BE FUNDED IN THE SAME MANNER
 AS  TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED PURSUANT TO SECTION THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED THIR-
 TY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER;
   5. SUCH REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SHALL OPERATE  ITS  OWN  EXTRA-CURRICULAR
 ACTIVITIES  AND  INTER-SCHOLASTIC  ATHLETICS, AND THE STUDENTS ATTENDING
 SUCH REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SHALL  BE  ELIGIBLE  TO  PARTICIPATE  IN  SUCH
 ACTIVITIES  AND  ATHLETICS  AND  SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN
 SUCH ACTIVITIES AND ATHLETICS OF THEIR PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICT;
   6. IF THE REGIONAL  HIGH  SCHOOL  IS  OPERATED  BY  A  HOSTING  SCHOOL
 DISTRICT,  THE  REGIONAL  HIGH  SCHOOL  AND  THE CONTRACT SHALL MEET THE
 FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
   A. THE CONTRACT SHALL DESIGNATE THE SITE OF THE REGIONAL HIGH  SCHOOL,
 WHICH  SHALL BE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF ONE OF THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOL
 DISTRICTS. THE HOSTING SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
 OPERATION, SUPERVISION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE REGIONAL HIGH  SCHOOL,  AS
 SHALL BE DESIGNATED IN THE CONTRACT,
   B.  THE CONTRACT SHALL SPECIFY THAT THE STUDENTS OF EACH PARTICIPATING
 SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL REMAIN AS STUDENTS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PARTICIPAT-
 ING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND THEY SHALL BE TREATED AND COUNTED AS SUCH  FOR
 PURPOSES OF ALL STATE AID CALCULATIONS PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER,
   C.    THE  REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SHALL OPERATE ITS OWN EXTRA-CURRICULAR
 ACTIVITIES AND INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS AND THE STUDENTS ATTENDING SUCH
 REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH ACTIVITIES
 AND ATHLETICS AND SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE  IN  SUCH  ACTIV-
 ITIES AND ATHLETICS OF THEIR PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICT,
   D.    THE CONTRACT SHALL PROVIDE THAT ALL SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT
 PRINCIPALS,  OTHER  SUPERVISORY  PERSONNEL,  TEACHERS  AND  OTHER  STAFF
 MEMBERS OF THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, EXCEPT THE SUPERINTENDENT
 OF  SCHOOLS, WHOSE SERVICES IN THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE NO
 LONGER NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE CREATION OF A REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL  OR  THE
 TRANSFERENCE  OF  STUDENTS TO AN EXISTING REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, SHALL BE
 GRANTED EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS IN THE HOST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
 THE PROVISIONS OF THIS  SUBDIVISION,  AND  IN  THE  SAME  MANNER  AS  IS
 PROVIDED  IN SECTIONS THREE THOUSAND FOURTEEN-A AND THREE THOUSAND FOUR-
 TEEN-B OF THIS CHAPTER,
   E.   IN ANY CASE  IN  WHICH  A  PARTICIPATING  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  SENDS
 STUDENTS  TO  A  REGIONAL  HIGH  SCHOOL  OPERATED  BY  A  HOSTING SCHOOL
 DISTRICT,  EACH  SCHOOL  PRINCIPAL,  ASSISTANT  PRINCIPAL,   SUPERVISORY
 EMPLOYEE,  TEACHER  AND  ALL  OTHER EMPLOYEES PREVIOUSLY EMPLOYED IN THE
 EDUCATION OF SUCH STUDENTS BY SUCH PARTICIPATING SCHOOL  DISTRICT  PRIOR

 A. 4959                             3
 
 TO  THE  TIME  THAT  SUCH  COMPONENT  DISTRICT SENDS ITS STUDENTS TO THE
 REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SHALL BE CONSIDERED EMPLOYEES OF THE HOSTING SCHOOL
 DISTRICT, WITH THE SAME TENURE STATUS HELD IN SUCH  COMPONENT  DISTRICT,
 AND  IN  THE SAME MANNER AS IS PROVIDED IN SECTIONS THREE THOUSAND FOUR-
 TEEN-A AND THREE THOUSAND FOURTEEN-B OF THIS CHAPTER.  FOR  PURPOSES  OF
 THIS  SECTION,  WHEN A PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICT TAKES BACK STUDENTS
 THAT IT SENT TO ANOTHER DISTRICT ON  A  TUITION  BASIS  AND  SENDS  SUCH
 STUDENTS  TO  A  REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL OPERATED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE,
 THE HOSTING SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SHALL BE  DEEMED
 TO  BE  THE  SENDING DISTRICT FOR PURPOSES OF THE RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS
 PROVIDED IN SECTION THREE THOUSAND FOURTEEN-C OF THIS CHAPTER,
   F. IF THE NUMBER OF SUPERVISORY, TEACHING AND OTHER  POSITIONS  NEEDED
 TO  PROVIDE  THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES REQUIRED BY A REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
 IS LESS THAN THE NUMBER  OF  SCHOOL  PRINCIPALS,  ASSISTANT  PRINCIPALS,
 SUPERVISORY  EMPLOYEES,  TEACHERS  AND  OTHER  EMPLOYEES  ELIGIBLE TO BE
 CONSIDERED EMPLOYEES OF THE HOSTING SCHOOL  DISTRICT  OF  SUCH  REGIONAL
 HIGH SCHOOL AS PROVIDED BY PARAGRAPH E OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE SERVICES
 OF  THE  SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES,
 TEACHERS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES HAVING THE LEAST SENIORITY IN  THE  PARTIC-
 IPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE TENURE AREA OF THE POSITION SHALL BE
 DISCONTINUED.  SUCH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, SUPERVISORY
 EMPLOYEES, TEACHERS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES SHALL BE PLACED ON  A  PREFERRED
 ELIGIBLE LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR APPOINTMENT TO A VACANCY THAT MAY THERE-
 AFTER  OCCUR  IN  AN  OFFICE  OR  POSITION UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE
 PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE "RECEIVING DISTRICT"  AS  DEFINED  IN
 SECTION  THREE THOUSAND FOURTEEN-C OF THIS CHAPTER, FROM WHICH A PARTIC-
 IPATING SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS TAKEN BACK STUDENTS, AND THE HOSTING  SCHOOL
 DISTRICT  OF  THE  REGIONAL  HIGH  SCHOOL SIMILAR TO THE ONE SUCH SCHOOL
 PRINCIPAL, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEE, TEACHER  OR  OTHER
 EMPLOYEE  FILLED  IN  SUCH  COMPONENT  DISTRICT.  THE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS,
 ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES, TEACHERS AND OTHER  EMPLOY-
 EES  ON  SUCH  PREFERRED  LISTS SHALL BE REINSTATED OR APPOINTED TO SUCH
 VACANCIES IN SUCH CORRESPONDING OR SIMILAR POSITIONS UNDER THE JURISDIC-
 TION OF THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE HOSTING SCHOOL DISTRICT
 OF THE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN THE ORDER OF THEIR LENGTH OF  SERVICE  IN
 SUCH  PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICT, WITHIN SEVEN YEARS FROM THE DATE OF
 THE PLACEMENT OF THE EMPLOYEE ON SAID LIST, AND
   G. FOR ANY SUCH SCHOOL  PRINCIPAL,  ASSISTANT  PRINCIPAL,  SUPERVISORY
 EMPLOYEE,  TEACHER  OR OTHER EMPLOYEE AS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPHS D AND E
 OF THIS SUBDIVISION, FOR SALARY, SICK LEAVE AND ANY OTHER PURPOSES,  THE
 LENGTH  OF  SERVICE CREDITED IN SUCH PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL
 BE CREDITED AS EMPLOYMENT TIME WITH THE HOSTING SCHOOL DISTRICT;
   7. THE CONTRACT SHALL SPECIFY THAT THE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL  SHALL  BE
 SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND COMPLETION OF ALL ACADEMIC
 ACHIEVEMENT   STANDARDS   FOR   THE  STUDENTS  OF  PARTICIPATING  SCHOOL
 DISTRICTS; AND
   8. THIS SECTION SHALL IN NO WAY BE CONSTRUED TO LIMIT  THE  RIGHTS  OF
 ANY OF SUCH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, SUPERVISORY EMPLOY-
 EES,  TEACHERS  OR  OTHER EMPLOYEES DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION GRANTED BY
 ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW.
   § 1921.  OPERATION  BY  BOARD  OF  COOPERATIVE  EDUCATIONAL  SERVICES.
 NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE BOARDS
 OF EDUCATION WHICH ARE PARTIES TO AN AGREEMENT  TO  OPERATE  A  REGIONAL
 HIGH  SCHOOL,  WITH  THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSIONER, MAY CONTRACT WITH
 THE  BOARD  OF  COOPERATIVE  EDUCATIONAL  SERVICES  OF  THE  SUPERVISORY
 DISTRICT  IN  WHICH THEY ARE LOCATED FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF

 A. 4959                             4
 
 THE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL. SUCH CONTRACT SHALL BE FOR  A  PERIOD  OF  NOT
 LESS  THAN  TWO SCHOOL YEARS AND, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSIONER,
 MAY BE RENEWED BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT OF THE BOARDS OF  EDUCATION  AND  THE
 BOARD  OF  COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.   EVERY SUCH CONTRACT SHALL
 PROVIDE FOR THE COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS OF THE REGIONAL  HIGH  SCHOOL
 ON  THE  FIRST OF JULY, AND SHALL ONLY CEASE OPERATIONS ON THE THIRTIETH
 OF JUNE OF ANY SCHOOL YEAR.
   1. UPON ENTRY INTO SUCH CONTRACT, THE BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL
 SERVICES SHALL TAKE OVER ALL OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF THE REGIONAL
 HIGH SCHOOL AND ANY AND ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH  ACADEMIC
 ACHIEVEMENT  STANDARDS, AND ANY EMPLOYEES OF THE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL OR
 OF THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AS THE CASE MAY BE, SHALL  BECOME
 EMPLOYEES  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  COOPERATIVE  EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND THE
 PROVISIONS OF SECTION THREE THOUSAND FOURTEEN-A OF  THIS  CHAPTER  SHALL
 APPLY.  SUCH  EMPLOYEES  SHALL  BE EMPLOYEES OF THE BOARD OF COOPERATIVE
 EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND SHALL NOT BE DEEMED EMPLOYEES OF  THE  REGIONAL
 HIGH  SCHOOL OR THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR ANY PURPOSE. UPON
 TERMINATION OF THE CONTRACT, THE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL OR THE PARTICIPAT-
 ING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AS THE CASE MAY BE, SHALL  TAKE  OVER  THE  EDUCA-
 TIONAL  PROGRAMS AND THE EMPLOYEES SHALL BECOME EMPLOYEES OF THE HOSTING
 SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE REGIONAL  HIGH  SCHOOL,  AND  THE  PROVISIONS  OF
 SECTION THREE THOUSAND FOURTEEN-B OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL APPLY.
   2. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISIONS OF SECTION NINETEEN HUNDRED FIFTY OF
 THIS TITLE OR ANY OTHER LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE PROGRAM AND ADMINISTRA-
 TIVE  EXPENSES  ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE PROGRAMS OF THE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
 SHALL BE A  CHARGE  UPON  THE  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  PARTICIPATING  IN  THE
 REGIONAL  HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
 SHALL PORTION SUCH EXPENSES TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS PARTICIPATING IN THE
 REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MANNER PRESCRIBED IN  THE  CONTRACT  BETWEEN
 THE  PARTICIPATING  SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCA-
 TIONAL SERVICES. THE BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SHALL NOT
 CHARGE ANY PORTION OF THE PROGRAM OR  ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENSES  INCURRED
 PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SUBDIVISION TO ITS OTHER COMPONENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
 SUCH ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROGRAM EXPENSES SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE  FOR  AID
 PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION FIVE OF SECTION NINETEEN HUNDRED FIFTY OF THIS
 TITLE, BUT SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR  AID  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  THIRTY-SIX
 HUNDRED  TWO  OF  THIS CHAPTER TO THE SAME EXTENT AS THE EXPENSES OF ANY
 OTHER HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM. NOTHING IN THIS  SUBDIVISION  SHALL
 BE   CONSTRUED  TO  PREVENT  THE  PARTICIPATING  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  FROM
 CONTRACTING WITH THE BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR AIDA-
 BLE SHARED SERVICES IN THE SAME MANNER AND UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS  AS
 ANY OTHER COMPONENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THE COST OF SUCH AIDABLE SHARED
 SERVICES  SHALL  BE  ELIGIBLE  FOR  AID  PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FIVE OF
 SECTION NINETEEN HUNDRED FIFTY OF THIS TITLE.
   3. DURING THE TERM OF A CONTRACT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, ALL SCHOOLS
 AND OTHER FACILITIES  OF  THE  PARTICIPATING  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  OF  THE
 REGIONAL  HIGH  SCHOOL WHICH ARE USED BY THE BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCA-
 TIONAL SERVICES IN THE OPERATION OF THE REGIONAL HIGH  SCHOOL  SHALL  BE
 DEEMED  LEASED  TO  THE  BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AT NO
 COST. SUCH SCHOOLS AND OTHER FACILITIES SHALL REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF THE
 PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ANY  CAPITAL  EXPENSES  AND  BUILDING
 MAINTENANCE  COSTS  INCURRED  WITH RESPECT TO SUCH FACILITIES SHALL BE A
 CHARGE UPON THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  THE
 TERMS OF THE CONTRACT. SUCH CAPITAL EXPENSES AND MAINTENANCE COSTS SHALL
 NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR AID PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FIVE OF SECTION NINETEEN
 HUNDRED  FIFTY  OF  THIS TITLE BUT SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR AID PURSUANT TO

 A. 4959                             5
 
 SECTION THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED TWO OF THIS CHAPTER TO  THE  SAME  EXTENT  AS
 SUCH EXPENSES OF ANY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT.
   4.  STUDENTS RECEIVING INSTRUCTION FROM THE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SHALL
 NOT BE DEEMED TO BE ENROLLED IN THE  BOARD  OF  COOPERATIVE  EDUCATIONAL
 SERVICES,  EXCEPT  TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN A SHARED
 SERVICE IN THEIR ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE WHICH SHALL  BE  INCLUDED  IN
 THE  ENROLLMENT  AND  ATTENDANCE  COUNTS  OF  THE  PARTICIPATING  SCHOOL
 DISTRICTS FOR THE PURPOSES OF STATE AID. HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS  SHALL  BE
 ISSUED  BY THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
 OF EACH PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL REMAIN RESPONSIBLE  FOR  THE
 PERFORMANCE  OF ITS STUDENTS IN THE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL UNDER THE STATE
 ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM AS IF THE STUDENTS OF EACH PARTICIPATING  DISTRICT
 WHERE  IN  ATTENDANCE  AT  A  HIGH  SCHOOL OPERATED BY THE PARTICIPATING
 DISTRICT.
   § 1922. ADDITIONAL STATE AID. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER  PROVISION  OF
 LAW  TO  THE  CONTRARY,  THE BOARDS OF EDUCATION WHICH ARE PARTIES TO AN
 AGREEMENT TO OPERATE A REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND WHICH DO IN FACT OPERATE
 A REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADDITIONAL STATE AID PURSU-
 ANT TO SUBDIVISION FOURTEEN OF SECTION THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED  TWO  OF  THIS
 CHAPTER  IN  THE SAME MANNER AND TO THE SAME EXTENT AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT
 WHICH QUALIFIES FOR SUCH AID PURSUANT  TO  PARAGRAPH  J  OF  SUBDIVISION
 FOURTEEN OF SECTION THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED TWO OF THIS CHAPTER.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.