2013 -- S 1047

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LC02965

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION RECONSIDER THE

STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENT PORTION OF THE STATE GRADUATION

REQUIREMENTS AND CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGIES

     

     

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Metts, Sheehan, Satchell, and Miller

     Date Introduced: July 03, 2013

     Referred To: Placed on Senate Calendar

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     WHEREAS, According to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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approximately 4000 high school students from the Class of 2014 are in jeopardy of not graduating

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from high school due to the students' score on the state assessment; and

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     WHEREAS, The General Assembly is concerned about the impact of not having a high

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school diploma on students' lives and the economy of the State; and

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     WHEREAS, The common core standards are currently being implemented in schools

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throughout the State; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island and twenty-one additional states have agreed to utilize the

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Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) as the state assessment

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that aligns with the common core standards; and

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     WHEREAS, The New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) will be

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replaced by the PARCC beginning in the 2014-2015 school year; and

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     WHEREAS, The former Rhode Island Board of Regents adopted regulations for

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graduation standards beginning with the 2013-2014 school year that will require three measures

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to be eligible to graduate which are: 1) Successfully completing 20 academic courses in six core

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content areas; 2) Successfully completing a performance-based diploma assessment such as a

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senior project, exhibition, or electronic portfolio; and 3) Reaching the level of partial proficiency

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on the first administration of the state assessment or showing growth between the first and

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subsequent administrations of the state assessment; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence

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Plantations hereby supports a rigorous curriculum, high standards, and high expectations for all of

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our students; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly hereby urges the Board of Education to

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reconsider the current graduation requirements including the use of the state assessment and

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examine using a weighted compilation of the state assessment, coursework performance, and

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senior project or portfolio; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly respectfully requests that the Board of

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Education delay the state assessment portion of the graduation requirement to allow for adequate

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time for students to be immersed in the common core curriculum; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Chairperson of the Rhode Island Board of

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Education.

     

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LC02965

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S1047