2014 -- H 7096 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

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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:

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

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

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

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

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methodology, the following provisions shall apply:

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

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

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every four (4) years thereafter.

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

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

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three (3) years thereafter.

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

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teacher shall be evaluated in the subsequent year.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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district.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on August 10, 2014.

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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

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

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

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

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

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be evaluated the subsequent year.

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     This act would take effect on August 10, 2014.

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