2014 -- H 7887

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LC005031

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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 - RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF TEACHERS GENERALLY

     Introduced By: Representatives O`Grady, Amore, Valencia, Ferri, and Messier

     Date Introduced: March 06, 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) For purposes of this section, "certified teachers" means certified teaching personnel

employed in the public school systems in the state engaged in teaching duties, including support

personnel whose positions require a professional certificate issued by the state department of

education, school personnel licensed by the department of health, and other non-administrative

professional employees.

     (2) The standards for the evaluation of personnel shall continue to be under local control,

and the method and process for the evaluation of certified teachers shall continue to be a subject

matter of collective bargaining pursuant to applicable law.

     (3) Student growth and achievement as a portion of an overall teacher rating shall be

comprised of multiple measures and shall not exceed thirty-three and one third percent (33 1/3%)

of the total final rating. The method of calculating student academic growth and achievement

shall be proven valid and reliable by the state board of education prior to its use in the evaluation

of certified teachers.

     (b) For purposes of this section, multiple measures of student academic growth and

achievement shall include:

     (1) Valid and reliable state standardized assessments aligned to college and career ready

standards;

     (2) Aligned performance-based assessments that are educator-developed and externally

reviewed;

     (3) District-level assessments that align to the state college and career ready standards;

     (4) An assessment of persistent or widening achievement gaps;

     (5) An assessment of the percentage of students participating in rigorous coursework that

aligns with college-and career-ready standards (may include dual enrollment, honors, AP, or IB

courses); and

     (6) An assessment of graduation rates for high schools and attendance rates for

elementary and middle schools.

     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 - RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF TEACHERS GENERALLY

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     This act would make changes to any educator certification provisions implemented by the

department of education.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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