2014 -- H 7096 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC003315/SUB A

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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

     Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Mattiello, Marshall, Kazarian, McNamara, and

     Date Introduced: January 15, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-12 of the General Laws entitled "Rights and Duties of Teachers

Generally" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-12-11. Educator evaluations. – (a) As to any teacher evaluation system instituted

pursuant to the department of education’s educator evaluation system standards or similar

methodology, the following provisions shall apply:

     (1) Any teacher who obtains or earns a rating of “highly effective” or a number "4" or

any equivalent thereof shall, subsequent to such evaluation, be evaluated not more than once

every four (4) years thereafter.

     (2) Any teacher who obtains or earns a rating of “effective” or a number "3" or any

equivalent thereof shall, subsequent to such evaluation, be evaluated not more than once every

three (3) years thereafter.

     (b) The provisions of this section permit that if a teacher changes certification, said

teacher shall be evaluated in the subsequent year.

     (c) Any regulations of the department of education providing for the evaluation of

teachers shall be modified to conform with the provisions and schedule set forth herein; provided,

however, that nothing herein shall be construed to direct the department of education to act so as

to jeopardize any current funding from a race to the top grant received by the state.

     (d) The provisions of this section shall apply only to teachers who have at least three (3)

full years of successful teaching experience in their respective district. The provisions of this

section shall not prohibit the annual evaluation of teachers during their first three (3) years in a

district.

     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

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     This act would provide that teachers who obtain a rating of "highly effective" or the

equivalent thereof would be evaluated not more than once every four (4) years, and that teachers

who obtain a rating of "effective" or the equivalent thereof would be evaluated not more than

once every three (3) years. This act would not prohibit annual evaluations for teachers during

their first three (3) years in a district and would provide that a teacher who changes certification

be evaluated the subsequent year.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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