2014 -- S 2949

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LC004817

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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 CTE RE-IMAGINED ACT

     Introduced By: Senators Picard, Miller, Metts, Gallo, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: May 01, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 45.2

THE CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION RE-IMAGINED ACT

     16-45.2-1. Short title. – This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Career

Technical Education Re-Imagined Act".

     16-45.2-2. Definitions. – As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the

following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

     (1) "Board of education" means the Rhode Island board of education.

     (2) "Career and technical education" (CTE) means the programs and schools established

under chapter 16-45.

     (3) "Charter school" means any public school established under chapters 16-77.1, 16-

77.2, 16- 77.3, and 16-77.4.

     (4) "Commissioner" means the Rhode Island commissioner of elementary and secondary

education.

     (5) "Model site" means a career preparation program located in a public high school,

charter school, or consortia of public schools that is selected on a competitive basis to serve as a

test site for a re-imagined approach to career and technical education in Rhode Island.

     (6) "School district" means any public school district in Rhode Island.

     (7) "Resident district" means the school system of the city or town in which a student

resides, as identified in § 16-64-1.

     16-45.2-3. CTE Re-Imagined model site(s). – (a) It is the intent of the general assembly

to re-imagine the approach to career and technical education statewide in Rhode Island, by

authorizing the board of education to establish a competitive process, to examine implementation

of up to two (2) model sites over a one-year period, to modify the resulting model(s) based on

initial evidence, and then to pursue their deployment statewide.

     (b) Any school district, charter school, or consortia of public schools is eligible to submit

a proposal to establish a model site for a re-imagined career and technical high school. Said

proposal shall be submitted to the commissioner and to the school committee in which the model

site is to be located no later than November 1, 2014. The approval of the board of education and

the school committee shall be required in order to begin operation.

     (c) The applicant(s) must identify any state laws, regulations, and, if applicable, school

district rules from which variance is necessary for the purposes of establishing a model site.

Applicants may not seek waiver of the provisions enumerated in § 16-77.3-7. By approval of the

proposal upon the recommendation of the commissioner, the board of education will be deemed

to have authorized all necessary variances from law and regulation enumerated in the proposal.

     16-45.2-4. Student eligibility for enrollment in model site(s). – (a) Any student that

meets all the following criteria shall be eligible to apply for a seat in one or more model site(s):

(1) The student must reside within the state transportation district in which the model site is

located; and (2) The student meets all model site program eligibility standards consistent with

section 5.3 of the regulations of the Rhode Island board of regents governing career and technical

education; and (3) Any other eligibility requirements set forth in the model site application and

approved by the board of education.

     (b) If a student is admitted to a model site outside his or her resident district, the resident

school district is responsible for paying for the benchmarked costs of student participation in

accordance with section 7.2 of the regulations of the Rhode Island board of regents governing

career and technical education.

     (c) The model site shall submit to the board of education information regarding each

student's academic performance, credentials earned, job offers, and eventual employment or post-

secondary enrollment; the school's partnerships with business, industry, and other organizations;

apprenticeship and internship placements; and any other information the board deems necessary.

     (d) The board of education shall promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to

implement and carry out the intent of this chapter.

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     16-45.2-5. Start-up of model site. – The general assembly shall, by appropriation,

provide funding for one-time start-up costs for the model site(s) and for costs associated with the

department of education's support across model site(s) and statewide as the general assembly

determines to be in the best interests of and in furtherance of its duties to promote schools and

education pursuant to article XII of the constitution of Rhode Island.

     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 - THE CTE RE-IMAGINED ACT

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     This act would authorize the establishment of two (2) model sites to serve as test sites for

a re-imagined approach to career and technical education under the supervision of the board of

education. The model sites would be chosen as a result of a competitive process open to charter

schools, school districts, or a consortium of public schools with the general assembly providing

one-time funding of start-up costs, and costs associated with the department of education's

support.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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