2012 -- S 2534

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LC01596

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - KINDERGARTEN

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Paiva Weed, DiPalma, Goodwin, and DeVall

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Finance

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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by adding thereto the following chapter:

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     CHAPTER 99

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FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN ACCESSIBILITY ACT

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     16-99-1. Short title. -- This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Full-Day

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Kindergarten Accessibility Act.”

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     16-99-2. Legislative findings.-- The general assembly hereby finds and declares as

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follows:

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     (1) According to the National Center for Education Statistics, children in full-day

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kindergarten classes make greater academic gains in both reading and mathematics compared to

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those in half-day classes;

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     (2) According to Kids Count RI, full-day kindergarten can contribute to closing academic

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achievement gaps between lower and higher income children;

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     (3) According to the National Center for Education Statistics, full-day kindergarten

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classes are more likely than half-day classes to instruct students daily in the areas of mathematics,

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social studies and science;

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     (4) According to Kids Count RI, children in full-day kindergarten are more likely to be

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ready for first grade than those in half-day programs, regardless of family income, parental

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education and school characteristics; and

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     (5) While this act does not mandate school districts to operate a full-day kindergarten

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program, it provides limited one-time, start-up funding for school districts that move to provide

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students with access to full-day kindergarten programs, distributed on a competitive basis.

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     16-99-3. Full-day kindergarten. -- (a) For the purpose of this chapter, the term “full-day

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kindergarten” means a kindergarten program that operates a minimum of five and one-half (5

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1/2) hours or three hundred thirty (330) minutes of actual school work, excluding lunch, recess

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periods, common planning time, pre- and post-school teacher time, study halls, homeroom

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periods, student passing time and any other time that is not actual instructional time.

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     (b) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education has discretion to further

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define and approve full-day kindergarten programs consistent with this section.

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     16-99-4. Eligible school districts; funding. -- (a) A school district shall be eligible to

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receive funding pursuant to subsection 16-96-4(b), if:

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     (1) The school district is a public school district; and

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     (2) The school district operates a half-day kindergarten program as of September 1, 2011,

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but not a full-day kindergarten, as defined herein, serving more than one-half of the kindergarten

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students in the district as determined on a headcount basis.

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     (b) Subject to appropriation, beginning with school year 2013-2014, the commissioner of

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elementary and secondary education shall approve up to four (4) eligible public school districts

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per year to voluntarily implement a full-day kindergarten program as defined herein. The

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aforementioned schools shall receive funding to offset a portion of the reasonable one-time, start-

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up costs including, but not limited to, desks, books, facility upgrades and any other necessary

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expenses associated with each school’s implementation of a full-day kindergarten program.

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Funds will be appropriated based upon criteria established by the commissioner of elementary

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and secondary education to ensure the quality and sustainability of the full-day kindergarten

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programs implemented.

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     (c) If more than four (4) eligible school districts apply in one year, or if the appropriation

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does not support four (4) eligible districts, the commissioner of elementary and secondary

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education shall determine which districts shall access the available funds for start-up costs. The

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commissioner’s decision may consider the ability of the district to house the kindergarten

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enrollment, implement a quality full-day program and sustain the program once implemented, and

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the decision should maximize the number of students that can enter full-day kindergarten

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program for that year.

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     (d) School districts receiving funds pursuant to this chapter must operate only a full-day

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program, no half-day programs.  The full-day kindergarten program must continue to operate for

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five (5) years. 

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     (e) All funding provided under this section is subject to appropriation.

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     16-99-5. Reporting. -- The Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary

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education shall report to the senate president, speaker of the house, and the governor on the

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progress of this initiative on or before May 1st, 2013, and on an annual basis by May 1st of each

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year thereafter.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01596

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - KINDERGARTEN

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     This act would provide for the funding of up to four (4) districts for full-day kindergarten.

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The commissioner of elementary and secondary education would determine which districts would

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receive these funds. The department of elementary and secondary education would report on the

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progress of the program annually by May 1st of each year.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01596

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