2015 -- H 5496

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LC001084

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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 Tanzi, Amore, Fogarty, Palangio, and Maldonado

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2015

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Declaration of intent and purpose. (a) The general assembly recognizes that

there are great variations in so-called "standardized tests" or standardized assessments of student

performance employed in our schools, as well as great variations in the manner in which

individual students respond to such testing and assessments.

     (b) The general assembly also recognizes and acknowledges there is a strong debate

among many persons as to the merit and necessity of such testing, as to the nature of what such

testing demonstrates, and as to the benefit achieved through increased use and reliance of such

testing in public school education, and whether, at some point, it becomes the driver, as opposed

to the measure, of a student's education.

     (c) The general assembly finds and declares that there is a need for a concrete

understanding by all stakeholders of, the type of evaluation, whether to access the individual, the

school, the teacher or the program, the cost in both dollars and lost classroom learning time and

the extent of such assessments being employed as well as an understanding of what the tool is

measuring in our schools so that the various parties may work together to promote not only

success for all students, but to promote the best use of limited time in a student's day. Therefore,

it is the intent and purpose of this legislation to promote such understanding among all

stakeholders in this matter, with a special emphasis placed on students, parents, teachers,

administrators, and members of the general assembly in regard to standardized tests and

assessments utilized in public schools.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 16-7.1 of the General Laws entitled "The Paul W. Crowley Rhode

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

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

     16-7.1-13.1. State leadership in conducting annual assessments of student

performance. -- (a) State assessment program. Setting high standards for student performance

must be paired with related assessments that will determine what progress the state is making

toward bringing all children to high levels of achievement. A state assessment program shall be

continued and expanded in core areas including mathematics, reading, writing, and health. The

program shall include performance standards and an annual report that disaggregates performance

by race, poverty, native language and gender. The general assembly shall annually appropriate

funds to support the programs, and the amount shall be recalculated annually. The commissioner

of education shall implement the state assessment program.

     (b) Mandatory reporting requirements. There is also established a mandatory reporting

requirement for all public schools, school districts, mayoral academies, and charter schools as to

testing for students in each grade from K-12, for any federally, state or locally mandated or

voluntary assessments administered. Such reporting requirements shall apply regardless of

whether the assessment is deemed to be a voluntary, mandatory, preparatory, or interim

assessment. The report for each school shall include:

     (1) The dates and grades of each assessment administered;

     (2) The number of students taking such assessment, and the number in each grade

excluded;

     (3) The manner in which the test is administered and taken, such as by paper, computer,

verbally, combination thereof, or other method;

     (4) Whether such test is federally, state, or locally mandated, or voluntary;

     (5) An indication of whether the test is primarily a tool to measure student, teacher,

school district, or state performance;

     (6) Whether an alternative form of the test or alternative method of offering the test is

offered; and

     (7) Whether a student can opt out of a test.

     (c) Annual reports from schools. Commencing on or before July 1, 2016, and annually

thereafter on or before July 1, each public school, school district, mayoral academy, and charter

school shall submit a report pursuant to subsection (b) of this section to the Rhode Island

department of elementary and secondary education as to all such assessments administered during

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the preceding school year.

     (d) Annual report from department of education. Commencing on or before September 1,

2016, and annually thereafter on or before September 1, the department of elementary and

secondary education shall collect the data contained in said reports and present a comprehensive

aggregate report summarizing the data provided. Aggregate data shall be reported on a statewide

basis and shall also be listed by school district, school, and grade. The report shall be submitted to

the council on elementary and secondary education, the speaker of the house, the president of the

senate, the governor, and to each school committee in the state, and shall also be posted on the

department of elementary and secondary education's website, in a format searchable by grade,

school, and district.

     SECTION 3. 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 establish a mandatory reporting requirement for all students in grades K-

12 for any assessments administered along with specifics which must be included in the report. It

also requires annual reports from schools commencing on July 1, 2016 as to all assessments

administered by September 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, a collection of the data in the reports

by the department of education, in a searchable format on the department of education website.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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