2014 -- H 7095

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LC003173

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - PAUL W. CROWLEY STUDENT INVESTMENT

INITIATIVE

     Introduced By: Representatives Amore, DeSimone, O'Brien, Naughton, and Diaz

     Date Introduced: January 15, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-7.1 of the General Laws entitled "The Paul W. Crowley Rhode

Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of

Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-7.1-2.1. Establishment of common core state standards, evaluation commission -

Duties and responsibility. -- (a) The general assembly hereby establishes the common core state

standards evaluation commission. The commission's purpose is to study and evaluate the

department of education's standardized testing based on common core curriculum, and shall

advise and make recommendations to the governor and the general assembly as to the adequacy

and efficiency of such standardized testing. The commission shall consist of twenty-one (21)

members as follows:

     (1) The commissioner of education, or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve ex

officio;

     (2) Eight (8) of whom shall be appointed by the governor: two (2) of whom shall be

recommended by the American federation of teachers in Rhode Island; two (2) of whom shall be

recommended by the Rhode association of school principals; two (2) of whom shall be

recommended by the Rhode Island school superintendents association; and two (2) public

members who are the parents or guardians of a student enrolled in a Rhode Island public school;

     (3) Six (6) of whom shall be appointed by the senate president; two (2) of whom shall be

from the senate, who are not members of the same political party; one who demonstrates

expertise in language arts literacy instruction and curriculum; one who demonstrates expertise in

mathematics instruction and curriculum; and two (2) of whom are parents or guardians of a

student enrolled in a Rhode Island public school;

     (4) Six (6) of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house: two (2) of whom

shall be from the house, who are not members of the same political party; one who demonstrates

expertise in language arts literacy instruction and curriculum; one who demonstrates expertise in

mathematics instruction and curriculum; and two (2) of whom are, parents or guardians of a

student enrolled in a Rhode Island public school.

     (b)(1) Vacancies in the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original

appointments were made. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but

shall be reimbursed for necessary expenditures incurred in the performance of their duties under

this section.

     (2) The commission shall organize, no later than sixty (60) days after the appointment of

the members. The members shall elect one member appointed from the senate, and one member

appointed from the house to serve as co-chairpersons, and a secretary of the commission. The

secretary need not be a member of the commission.

     (3) The commission may request and shall receive from any instrumentality of the state

and from any municipality or any instrumentality of the municipality, any information and

assistance it deems necessary for the proper execution of its powers and duties under this section.

The department of education shall provide such stenographical, clerical, other administrative and

professional assistance as the commission requires.

     (c)(1) The commission shall evaluate the implementation of the standardized testing

based on common core curriculum. The evaluation shall include, but need not be limited to the

following:

     (i) A description of actions taken by the state to implement the common core standards,

and a timeline of actions to be taken;

     (ii) A comparison of the common core state standards for English language arts and

mathematics to the core curriculum content standards in language arts literacy and mathematics

that existed prior to the adoption of the common core state standards;

     (iii) An estimate for the full cost for municipalities to implement the common core state

standards, including those costs already incurred by municipalities, and those to be incurred in the

future; and the feasibility of technical implementation.

     (2) The commission shall study and evaluate the issue of student and family personal data

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mining and a student's right to privacy. The commission shall consider, but not be limited to, data

relating to learning disabilities, student behavior, political affiliation religious affiliation and

medical history.

     (3) The commission shall investigate:

     (i) All issues and concerns regarding the pilot testing implemented in the states of New

York and Kentucky;

     (ii) The validity of the common core assessment as a tool to be used to determine

graduation requirements and measure teacher effectiveness.

     (d) The commission shall meet at least quarterly, in addition to holding quarterly public

hearings in each of the northern, central and southern regions of the state. The purpose of the

public meetings shall be to gather information regarding the implementation of the common core

state standards, the mining of student and family data and student privacy rights. No later than

twelve (12) months after the commission organizes, it shall submit a final report containing

findings and recommendations to the governor and the general assembly.

     (e) Notwithstanding any provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, or rule or

regulation, the department of education shall not administer any assessment developed by the

assessment of readiness for college and careers, or any similar assessment, prior to the submission

of the final report by the commission to the governor and the general assembly.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - PAUL W. CROWLEY STUDENT INVESTMENT

INITIATIVE

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     This act would delay the implementation of the standardized testing based on common

core curriculum until a commission, created by this law, has had an opportunity to study and

evaluate it, and further, has submitted its findings and recommendations to the governor and the

general assembly as to the adequacy and efficiency of such standardized testing.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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