2015 -- H 5551

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LC001656

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 FOR THE JASON STEM LEARNING

INITIATIVE

     

     Introduced By: Representative Patricia A. Serpa

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2015

     Referred To: House Finance

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     WHEREAS, The JASON Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by

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University of Rhode Island Professor Robert D. Ballard in 1989; and

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     WHEREAS, The Sea Research Foundation is also a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

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which has implemented JASON and related STEM programs under the JASON initiative; and

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     WHEREAS, These STEM initiatives are designed to help teachers develop their 21st

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century teaching skills while learning to use JASON and other STEM curricula with their

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students. Currently, the Jason initiative serves more than 1000 students and teachers across the

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state with its after-school initiative, known as Immersion Learning, and has established a panoply

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of educational goals and strategies to engage students in the areas of science, technology, and

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literacy, as well as help teachers to motivate students, integrate technology into lesson plans, and

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more effectively manage their classrooms; and

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     WHEREAS, The Jason initiative and other STEM programs provided by Sea Research

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Foundation focuses on low- and moderate-income level students, as determined by Title 1

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eligibility, and specifically addresses the achievement gap among low- and moderate-income

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students in Title 1 communities; and

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     WHEREAS Working in collaboration, The JASON Project, colleges and universities in

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Rhode Island, the Sea Research Foundation, the Feinstein Foundation, businesses, school districts

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and community organizations, the Jason STEM initiative seeks to continue to support previous

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school district efforts to fully integrate Jason and other Sea Research Foundation STEM programs

 

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into their district-wide curricula and will expand implementation of the internationally recognized

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STEM program in the school districts of Central Falls, Chariho, Cranston, Kingston, Newport,

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Pawtucket, Providence, Smithfield, Warwick, West Warwick, and Westerly; and

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     WHEREAS, In order to continue the expansion and implementation of exemplary STEM

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programs, the Jason initiative is requesting $500,000; and

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     WHEREAS, The STEM Programs will build upon the work that has been done in

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bringing the JASON Project and other STEM resources to individual districts and will provide

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customized STEM and career oriented modules to assist Rhode Island teachers in implementing

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Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS); and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island is transitioning for full implementation of NGSS within 4-5

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years, and Districts are in need of resources, programs and curricula including JASON, that can

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support those efforts; and

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     WHEREAS, The Sea Research Foundation is dedicated to supporting this transition by

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working closely with educators to provide engaging programming including new JASON and

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other STEM programs that promote the science and engineering practices, cross cutting concepts,

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and disciplinary core ideas of NGSS; and

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     WHEREAS, Operating in all 50 states, the JASON Project and Immersion Learning

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make a real difference for participating youth and have had a significant impact on closing the

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achievement gap for many students; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not

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otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2015-2016, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars

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($500,000) for the Jason initiative to implement activities outlined within this resolution; and the

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state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for

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the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt

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by him of properly authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 FOR THE JASON STEM LEARNING

INITIATIVE

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 for the JASON

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Project and STEM programs and resources.

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