2014 -- S 2947

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LC004595

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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-STUDENT PERFORMANCE

     

     Introduced By: Senators Metts, Jabour, Picard, Gallo, and Doyle

     Date Introduced: May 01, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-7.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7.1 entitled "The Paul

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W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-7.1-2. Accountability for student performance. -- (a) The board of regents shall

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adopt and publish statewide standards of performance and performance benchmarks in core

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subject areas, to include writing and mathematics (grades four (4), eight (8), and ten (10)). These

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standards and performance benchmarks shall be ratified by the board and implemented, and

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performance standards and performance benchmarks for reading in two (2) grades shall be added.

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      (b) Districts and schools need to be held accountable for student performance results.

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Therefore, every school district receiving state education aid under this title shall develop a

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district strategic plan. The district strategic plan shall: (1) bBe based on high academic standards

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for student performance consistent with the statewide standards and benchmarks; (2) bBe the

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product of a shared communitywide process which that defines a vision of what students should

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know and be able to do; (3) aAddress the needs of each school in the district; (4) eEncourage the

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development of school-based improvement planning and implementation; (5) iInclude a process

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for mentoring of new teachers; (6) bBe designed to improve student achievement with emphasis

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on closing the performance gaps among groups of students, such as the performance gaps

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correlated with poverty, gender, language background, and disability; (7) iInclude establishment

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of student intervention teams to address the instructional needs of diverse learners, include high

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standards of student behavior designed to create an orderly educational environment with due

 

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regard for the rights of students, and an asset protection plan; and (8) bBe consistent with Rhode

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Island's comprehensive education strategy. In order to assure ensure the most efficient use of

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resources implementing strategic plans, districts and schools are encouraged to work together as

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consortia and as part of the regional collaboratives.

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      (c) (1) The strategic plan shall include strategies to improve the performance of students

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in mathematics, reading, and writing. Each plan must describe a scientific, research-based, as

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described in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Title 1, Part B, Section §1208 [20 U.S.C.

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section §6368], reading instruction to improve the reading skills of all students in the early grades

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(kindergarten through grade five (5)) that is aligned with the board of regents reading policy. The

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district must develop, implement, and evaluate a Ppersonal Lliteracy Pprogram for each student

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in these grades who is performing below grade level. These strategies shall be based on the

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adequate yearly progress expected for students and schools. Annual performance targets for

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determining whether schools and districts have made adequate yearly progress will be set by the

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commissioner of elementary and secondary education. The general assembly expects these

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district strategies to increase the number of fourth grade students performing at, or above, the

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proficient standard in mathematics, reading, and writing in each district and school. The increase

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shall be established annually in accordance with section §16-7.1-4.

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      (2) The general assembly recognizes the contribution of school counselors to positive

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educational change,; to the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001,; and to the

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success of students in three (3) developmental domains: academic, career, and personal/social. It

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endorses the National Standards for School Counseling Programs as developed by the American

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School Counselor Association (ASCA). Further, the general assembly encourages every district

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to implement a K-12 standards-based, comprehensive, developmental school counseling program.

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The general assembly further encourages every district to provide professional development

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opportunities for school counselors that focus on best practices in collaborating with business,

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industry, and other community organizations to create internships and apprenticeships for

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secondary students.

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      (d) Each strategic plan must indicate the manner in which self-studies will be completed

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at the school level in accordance with guidelines established by the commissioner. Funds shall be

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appropriated to the department of elementary and secondary education to assist districts with on-

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site reviews. Schools to be visited shall be determined by the commissioner.

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      (e) Each strategic plan must indicate the method in which school administrators and staff

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shall achieve and maintain an orderly educational environment in accordance with due process

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and with due regard for the rights of students.

 

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      (f) Each strategic plan shall include the development of inter-agency agreements for the

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coordination of services among state and local agencies responsible for service to children and

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families. These agreements shall address the identification and provision of services to pre-school

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children with disabilities and children and youth with behavioral health care needs.

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      (g) All district strategic plans and annual updates shall be submitted to the commissioner

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of elementary and secondary education no later than May 1, of each year.

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      (h) All strategic plans shall include strategies to decrease obesity and improve the health

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and wellness of students and employees through nutrition, physical activity, health education, and

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physical education. Said strategies shall be submitted by May 1st of each year to the Rhode Island

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department of elementary and secondary education and the Rhode Island department of health.

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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-STUDENT PERFORMANCE

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     This act would encourage school districts to provide professional development

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opportunities for school counselors that focus on best practices in collaborating with business,

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industry, and other community organizations to create internships and apprenticeships for

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secondary students.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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