2012 -- S 2276 SUBSTITUTE A

=======

LC01026/SUB A/2

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - STATEWIDE VIRTUAL EDUCATION

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Sheehan, Gallo, DeVall, and Metts

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Education

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

1-2

by adding thereto the following chapter:

1-3

     CHAPTER 16-22.1

1-4

THE STATEWIDE VIRTUAL EDUCATION ACT

1-5

     16-22.1-1. Short title. -- This chapter shall be known as and may be cited as “The Rhode

1-6

Island Statewide Virtual Education Act."

1-7

     16-22.1-2. Legislative findings. -- The legislature hereby finds and declares the

1-8

following:

1-9

     (1) A well-educated population benefits Rhode Island, supports its communities,

1-10

enhances the standard of living for all of its citizens, increases its capacity for success, and lays

1-11

the foundation for shared prosperity.

1-12

     (2) Students in Rhode Island’s public elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools

1-13

and institutions should be able to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible to support

1-14

and extend their learning. Their learning opportunities should allow them to acquire the

1-15

knowledge and technology skills that will allow them to contribute to and participate in a digital

1-16

world.

1-17

     (3) The number and type of virtual learning programs and courses have increased

1-18

considerably, and the prevalence of virtual learning continues to grow. Virtual learning utilizes

1-19

the power and scalability of technology to remove the constraints of traditional classroom

1-20

learning, which can allow Rhode Island’s students to access personalized learning at any time, in

2-1

any place, and in ways that complement and extend traditional school settings.

2-2

     (4) Public schools, school districts, and postsecondary institutions in Rhode Island should

2-3

have the freedom to work with teachers, families, and students to create customizable learning

2-4

opportunities that incorporate technology and reflect effective practices.

2-5

     (5) The freedom that comes from technologically-supported opportunities to learn must

2-6

be accompanied by a clear responsibility to ensure that such opportunities are of high quality,

2-7

consistent with state standards for teaching and instruction, fulfill high school graduation

2-8

requirements, reflect the principles of equity and access, and include accountability provisions

2-9

that assure citizens that any investment of public tax dollars is well spent.

2-10

     (6) Rhode Island is one of a few states that has not established the kind of statewide

2-11

policies on virtual education that will create the optimal conditions for effective learning and

2-12

instruction.

2-13

     (7) The general assembly therefore finds that it is in the best interests of the people of the

2-14

state of Rhode Island to enact the Rhode Island statewide virtual education act to create

2-15

comprehensive guidelines that will result in high quality, integrated virtual K-20 learning

2-16

experiences that will engage and challenge students through structured, sustained study.

2-17

     16-22.1-3. Purpose. -- The purposes of this chapter are to provide additional

2-18

opportunities to Rhode Island’s public school students for high quality virtual instruction; put into

2-19

place a series of guidelines that will ensure that high quality virtual instruction is offered

2-20

consistently throughout the state; and facilitate and promote public school districts’ effective

2-21

decision making for virtual program and course providers.

2-22

     16-22.1-4. Definitions. -- When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the

2-23

following meanings:

2-24

     (1) “Board” means the Rhode Island board of regents for elementary and secondary

2-25

education.

2-26

     (2) “Commissioner” means the Rhode Island commissioner for elementary and secondary

2-27

education.

2-28

     (3) “Course” means a course of study consistent with subdivision 16-1-5(4) and that

2-29

meets the requirements of the basic education program.

2-30

     (4) “School district” means local education agencies in Rhode Island operated by

2-31

municipalities and those entities established under sections 16-77.2-1, 16-77.3, and 16-77.4.

2-32

     (5) “Virtual course” means a course in which:

2-33

     (i) Instruction and content are delivered primarily through technology, including over the

2-34

Internet, via television, and through multi-media;

3-1

     (ii) A student and teacher may be in physically different locations for a portion of the

3-2

student’s instructional period;

3-3

     (iii) Most instructional activities take place in a technology-supported environment;

3-4

     (iv) The technology-supported instructional activities are integral to the students’

3-5

academic program;

3-6

     (v) Extensive communication between a student and a teacher and among students is

3-7

emphasized; and

3-8

     (vi) A student is not necessarily required to be located on the physical premises of a

3-9

public school.

3-10

     (6) “Virtual course provider” means:

3-11

     (i) A public school district or school in Rhode Island that provides virtual courses to:

3-12

     (A) Students enrolled in that district or school; or

3-13

     (B) Students enrolled in another school district or school;

3-14

     (ii) An accredited public or private institution of higher education in Rhode Island or

3-15

another state that provides virtual courses or programs to students attending public schools in

3-16

Rhode Island;

3-17

     (iii) A not-for-profit organization whose mission focuses on offering virtual courses or

3-18

programs to students attending public schools in Rhode Island.

3-19

     16-22.1-5. Regulations for virtual learning. -- (a) With the direction and approval of the

3-20

board of regents for elementary and secondary education, the commissioner for elementary and

3-21

secondary education shall develop and promulgate regulations for Rhode Island school districts

3-22

and other educational organizations that are using or intend to use virtual courses and other online

3-23

learning opportunities with K-12 students and adult learners. The regulations shall include:

3-24

     (1) Objective, standard criteria that ensures that virtual courses and content for K-12

3-25

students are aligned with state content standards, meet or exceed the requirements of the state’s

3-26

basic education program, fulfill high school graduation requirements, and promote articulation

3-27

with public higher education institutions in the state;

3-28

     (2) Objective, standard criteria for school districts to use to select quality providers of

3-29

virtual courses and online content, which may include local school districts, not-for-profit and

3-30

for-profit postsecondary institutions, and other organizations;

3-31

     (3) Objective, standard criteria that ensures teachers of virtual courses and other online

3-32

learning activities are appropriately trained and qualified and meet certification requirements set

3-33

forth by the commissioner of education;

4-34

     (4) Objective, standard criteria that ensures that local policies must not limit student

4-35

access to quality online learning opportunities;

4-36

     16-22.1-6. Oversight, quality assurance, reporting and evaluation of virtual courses.

4-37

-- (a) The commissioner shall utilize existing evaluation processes and protocols established

4-38

through board of regents adopted regulations to ensure student access to quality and effective

4-39

online content and instruction.

4-40

     (b) Quality assurance reporting shall occur through the existing comprehensive data

4-41

collection, analysis and accountability procedures at both the local and state level.

4-42

     (c) The commissioner shall prepare a report each fiscal year that documents the

4-43

conditions under which virtual education supports student learning in Rhode Island. The report

4-44

must include;

4-45

     (1) Virtual course participation rates, with participation information disaggregated for

4-46

core content areas;

4-47

     (2) Expenditures related to virtual education, in aggregate and by district;

4-48

     (3) The results of student assessments for students participating in virtual education in

4-49

core content areas, disaggregated from overall district data; and

4-50

     (4) Any other information the commissioner deems relevant.

4-51

     (d) The report must be delivered to the speaker of the House of Representatives by

4-52

January 31 of each year, and the information posted for public inspection on the Rhode Island

4-53

department of education’s website.

4-54

     16-22.1-7. Cooperation with public institutions of higher education. – In partnership

4-55

with the commissioner of higher education, the commissioner of elementary and secondary

4-56

education shall promote access to high quality virtual courses for all public elementary,

4-57

secondary, and postsecondary students.

4-58

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01026/SUB A/2

========

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - STATEWIDE VIRTUAL EDUCATION

***

5-1

     This act would establish the Rhode Island statewide virtual education act, to promote the

5-2

use of quality virtual courses as part of public education in Rhode Island.

5-3

     This act would take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01026/SUB A/2

=======