2015 -- H 5412

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LC001168

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - THE PAUL W. CROWLEY RHODE ISLAND STUDENT

INVESTMENT INITIATIVE

     Introduced By: Representatives Amore, Regunberg, Keable, Naughton, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2015

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative" is hereby amended by adding thereto the

following sections:

     16-7.1-13.1. Study of costs for conducting annual assessments of student

performance.-- (a) The commissioner of education shall report to the general assembly and the

governor on or before November 1, 2015 a detailed analysis of the cost to the state and

municipalities in attempting to satisfy the requirements contained in the provisions of §16-7.1-13,

entitled "state leadership in conducting annual assessments of student performance," for the

period from the statute's effective date until its repeal in 2014.

     (b) The analysis shall include but not be limited to:

     (1) An assessment of the total funds expended by the department of elementary and

secondary education, herein referred to as the "department," in meeting the goals of §16-7.1-13

from its effective date until its repeal in 2014;

     (2) An assessment of the costs to realign the educational curriculum of the state,

developed pursuant to §16-7.1-13, to the standards adopted by the department including, but not

limited to, the costs to the department, and the costs to each individual school district in the state.

Such costs shall include, but not be limited to:

     (i) The cost of developing and implementing any new assessment, such as the partnership

for assessment for readiness for college and career;

     (ii) Professional development;

     (iii) Any equipment, hardware, software, or technology upgrades needed for compliance

with said new assessment;

     (iv) Any additional costs associated with data mapping of students in the state, as well as

the administrative costs required to collect, maintain, and protect the confidentiality of such data

collection;

     (3) The procedure required to repeal §16-7.1-13; and

     (4) The adoption of standards developed therein.

     (c) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department shall

expend no funds to develop or implement any method of standardized testing until such time as

the commissioner of the department provides the general assembly and the governor with the

report required in this section.

     16-7.1-13.2. Report of department. -- (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to

the contrary, the department of elementary and secondary education, herein known as "the

department," shall report to the speaker of the house, the senate president and the governor on or

before November 1 of each year commencing in 2016, a detailed analysis of the funds expended

by the department since the last report required by §16-7.1-13.1 to realign the educational

curriculum of the state and or develop new rules, regulations and standards applicable to the

towns, cities and school boards throughout the state. This shall include, but not be limited to, any

funds expended pursuant to the provisions of § 16-97-8.

     (b) Such analysis shall include, but not be limited to the following:

     (1) The cost of developing and implementing any new assessment, such as the

partnership for assessment for readiness for college and career;

     (2) Professional development;

     (3) Teacher and administration evaluations;

     (4) Programs provided for by statute;

     (5) Any equipment, hardware, software, or technology upgrades needed for compliance

with said new assessment;

     (6) Any additional costs associated with data mapping of students in the state, as well as

the administrative costs required to collect, maintain and protect the confidentiality of such data

collection; and

     (7) The anticipated cost to each town, city or school board in implementing the changes

proposed by the department.

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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 - THE PAUL W. CROWLEY RHODE ISLAND STUDENT

INVESTMENT INITIATIVE

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     This act would require the department of education to analyze certain costs to the state

and municipalities which costs were incurred in conducting and planning to conduct certain

annual assessments of student performance. This act would also require the department to report

their results to the general assembly and the governor.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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