H7146

	2014 -- H 7146
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	LC003119
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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 -- STATE STANDARDIZED TEST ASSESSMENT
	PROGRAM

	Introduced By: Representative Spencer E.Dickinson
	Date Introduced: January 21, 2014
	Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare
	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1	SECTION 1. Section 16-7.1-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7.1 entitled "The Paul
2	W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative" is hereby amended to read as follows:
3	16-7.1-13. State leadership in conducting annual assessments of student
4	performance. – (a) Setting high standards for student performance must be paired with related
5	assessments that will determine what progress the state is making toward bringing all children to
6	high levels of achievement. A The Rhode Island department of education shall study and
7	implement a state standardized test assessment program shall be continued and expanded in core
8	areas (mathematics, reading, writing and health) over a ten (10) year period. The program shall
9	include performance standards and an annual report that disaggregates performance by race,
10	poverty, native language and gender. The general assembly shall annually appropriate funds to
11	support the programs, and the amount shall be recalculated annually. The commissioner of
12	education shall implement the state assessment program over a ten (10) year period. Provided,
13	that teacher evaluations, rates of pay, and promotions or terminations shall not be based upon
14	student results on these state assessment programs during this ten (10) year period. Said period
15	shall commence on July 1, 2014.
16	(b) State assessments conducted pursuant to this chapter or other standardized tests shall
17	not be used to determine a student’s eligibility to be promoted to the next grade and/or to
18	graduate from high school.

1	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 -- STATE STANDARDIZED TEST ASSESSMENT
	PROGRAM
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1	This act would direct the Rhode Island department of education to study and implement a
2	state standardized test assessment program over a ten year period commencing on July 1, 2014.
3	This act would also provide that state assessments would not be used to determine a student’s
4	eligibility to be promoted to the next grade and/or to graduate from high school.
5	This act would take effect upon passage.
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