2014 -- S 2135

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LC003782

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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 - PAUL W. CROWLEY STUDENT INVESTMENT

INITIATIVE

     

     Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Cool Rumsey, Conley, Metts, and Goldin

     Date Introduced: January 29, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-7.1 of the General Laws entitled "The Paul W. Crowley Rhode

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Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of

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

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     16-7.1-2.1. Establishment of common core state standards, evaluation commission -

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Duties and responsibility. -- (a) The general assembly hereby establishes the common core state

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standards evaluation commission. The commission's purpose is to study and evaluate the

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department of education's standardized testing based on common core curriculum, and shall

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advise and make recommendations to the governor and the general assembly as to the adequacy

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and efficiency of such standardized testing. The commission shall consist of twenty-one (21)

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members as follows:

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     (1) The commissioner of education, or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve ex

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officio;

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     (2) Eight (8) of whom shall be appointed by the governor: two (2) of whom shall be

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recommended by the American Federation of Teachers in Rhode Island; two (2) of whom shall be

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recommended by the Rhode Island Association of School Principals; two (2) of whom shall be

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recommended by the Rhode Island School Superintendents Association; and two (2) public

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members who are the parents or guardians of a student enrolled in a Rhode Island public school;

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     (3) Six (6) of whom shall be appointed by the senate president; two (2) of whom shall be

 

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from the senate, who are not members of the same political party; one who demonstrates

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expertise in language arts literacy instruction and curriculum; one who demonstrates expertise in

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mathematics instruction and curriculum; and two (2) of whom are parents or guardians of a

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student enrolled in a Rhode Island public school;

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     (4) Six (6) of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house: two (2) of whom

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shall be from the house, who are not members of the same political party; one who demonstrates

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expertise in language arts literacy instruction and curriculum; one who demonstrates expertise in

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mathematics instruction and curriculum; and two (2) of whom are, parents or guardians of a

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student enrolled in a Rhode Island public school.

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     (b)(1) Vacancies in the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original

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appointments were made. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but

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shall be reimbursed for necessary expenditures incurred in the performance of their duties under

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this section.

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     (2) The commission shall organize, no later than sixty (60) days after the appointment of

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the members. The members shall elect one member appointed from the senate, and one member

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appointed from the house to serve as co-chairpersons, and a secretary of the commission. The

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secretary need not be a member of the commission.

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     (3) The commission may request and shall receive from any instrumentality of the state

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and from any municipality or any instrumentality of the municipality, any information and

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assistance it deems necessary for the proper execution of its powers and duties under this section.

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The department of education shall provide such stenographical, clerical, other administrative and

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professional assistance as the commission requires.

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     (c)(1) The commission shall evaluate the implementation of the standardized testing

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based on common core curriculum. The evaluation shall include, but need not be limited to the

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following:

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     (i) A description of actions taken by the state to implement the common core standards,

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and a timeline of actions to be taken;

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     (ii) A comparison of the common core state standards for English language arts and

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mathematics to the core curriculum content standards in language arts literacy and mathematics

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that existed prior to the adoption of the common core state standards;

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     (iii) An estimate for the full cost for municipalities to implement the common core state

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standards, including those costs already incurred by municipalities, and those to be incurred in the

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future; and the feasibility of technical implementation.

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     (2) The commission shall study and evaluate the issue of student and family personal data

 

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mining and a student's right to privacy. The commission shall consider, but not be limited to, data

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relating to learning disabilities, student behavior, political affiliation religious affiliation and

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medical history.

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     (3) The commission shall investigate:

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     (i) All issues and concerns regarding the pilot testing implemented in the states of New

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York and Kentucky;

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     (ii) The validity of the common core assessment as a tool to be used to determine

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graduation requirements and measure teacher effectiveness.

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     (d) The commission shall meet at least quarterly, in addition to holding quarterly public

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hearings in each of the northern, central and southern regions of the state. The purpose of the

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public meetings shall be to gather information regarding the implementation of the common core

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state standards, the mining of student and family data and student privacy rights. No later than

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twelve (12) months after the commission organizes, it shall submit a final report containing

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findings and recommendations to the governor and the general assembly.

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     (e) Notwithstanding any provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, or rule or

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regulation, the department of education shall not administer any assessment developed by the

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assessment of readiness for college and careers, or any similar assessment, prior to the submission

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of the final report by the commission to the governor and the general assembly.

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     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 - PAUL W. CROWLEY STUDENT INVESTMENT

INITIATIVE

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     This act would delay the implementation of the standardized testing based on common

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core curriculum until a commission, created by this law, has had an opportunity to study and

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evaluate it, and further, has submitted its findings and recommendations to the governor and the

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general assembly as to the adequacy and efficiency of such standardized testing.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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