2014 -- H 7256

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LC003772

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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 - THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Cimini, Naughton, Tanzi, E Coderre, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-7.1-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7.1 entitled "The Paul

W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative" is hereby repealed.

     16-7.1-13. State leadership in conducting annual assessments of student

performance. -- Setting high standards for student performance must be paired with related

assessments that will determine what progress the state is making toward bringing all children to

high levels of achievement. A state assessment program shall be continued and expanded in core

areas (mathematics, reading, writing and health). The program shall include performance

standards and an annual report that disaggregates performance by race, poverty, native language

and gender. The general assembly shall annually appropriate funds to support the programs, and

the amount shall be recalculated annually. The commissioner of education shall implement the

state assessment program.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 16-97 of the General Laws entitled "The Rhode Island Board of

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

     16-97-8. Assessment of student performance. -- (a) The commissioner of education

shall implement the state assessment program. The program shall include performance standards

and an annual report that disaggregates performance by race, poverty, native language and

gender. The general assembly shall annually appropriate funds to support the programs, and the

amount shall be recalculated annually.

     (b) Prior to July 1, 2019, no state assessment conducted pursuant to this chapter, and no

other standardized testing program or assessment, shall be used to determine a student's eligibility

to graduate from high school. Any such assessments implemented prior to July 1, 2019, shall be

used to promote school improvement and to target remediation programs to individual students

and groups of students.

     SECTION 3. 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 - THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT

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     This act would amend the method by which the state assessment program would be

implemented in public schools. The act would provide that no state assessment conducted

pursuant to chapter 16-97 and prior to July 1, 2019, would be used to determine a student's

eligibility to graduate from high school.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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