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 | |
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Introduced By: Representative Patricia A. Serpa | |
Date Introduced: February 25, 2015 | |
Referred To: House Finance | |
1 | WHEREAS, The JASON Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by |
2 | University of Rhode Island Professor Robert D. Ballard in 1989; and |
3 | WHEREAS, The Sea Research Foundation is also a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization |
4 | which has implemented JASON and related STEM programs under the JASON initiative; and |
5 | WHEREAS, These STEM initiatives are designed to help teachers develop their 21st |
6 | century teaching skills while learning to use JASON and other STEM curricula with their |
7 | students. Currently, the Jason initiative serves more than 1000 students and teachers across the |
8 | state with its after-school initiative, known as Immersion Learning, and has established a panoply |
9 | of educational goals and strategies to engage students in the areas of science, technology, and |
10 | literacy, as well as help teachers to motivate students, integrate technology into lesson plans, and |
11 | more effectively manage their classrooms; and |
12 | WHEREAS, The Jason initiative and other STEM programs provided by Sea Research |
13 | Foundation focuses on low- and moderate-income level students, as determined by Title 1 |
14 | eligibility, and specifically addresses the achievement gap among low- and moderate-income |
15 | students in Title 1 communities; and |
16 | WHEREAS Working in collaboration, The JASON Project, colleges and universities in |
17 | Rhode Island, the Sea Research Foundation, the Feinstein Foundation, businesses, school districts |
18 | and community organizations, the Jason STEM initiative seeks to continue to support previous |
19 | school district efforts to fully integrate Jason and other Sea Research Foundation STEM programs |
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1 | into their district-wide curricula and will expand implementation of the internationally recognized |
2 | STEM program in the school districts of Central Falls, Chariho, Cranston, Kingston, Newport, |
3 | Pawtucket, Providence, Smithfield, Warwick, West Warwick, and Westerly; and |
4 | WHEREAS, In order to continue the expansion and implementation of exemplary STEM |
5 | programs, the Jason initiative is requesting $500,000; and |
6 | WHEREAS, The STEM Programs will build upon the work that has been done in |
7 | bringing the JASON Project and other STEM resources to individual districts and will provide |
8 | customized STEM and career oriented modules to assist Rhode Island teachers in implementing |
9 | Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS); and |
10 | WHEREAS, Rhode Island is transitioning for full implementation of NGSS within 4-5 |
11 | years, and Districts are in need of resources, programs and curricula including JASON, that can |
12 | support those efforts; and |
13 | WHEREAS, The Sea Research Foundation is dedicated to supporting this transition by |
14 | working closely with educators to provide engaging programming including new JASON and |
15 | other STEM programs that promote the science and engineering practices, cross cutting concepts, |
16 | and disciplinary core ideas of NGSS; and |
17 | WHEREAS, Operating in all 50 states, the JASON Project and Immersion Learning |
18 | make a real difference for participating youth and have had a significant impact on closing the |
19 | achievement gap for many students; now, therefore be it |
20 | RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not |
21 | otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2015-2016, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars |
22 | ($500,000) for the Jason initiative to implement activities outlined within this resolution; and the |
23 | state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for |
24 | the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt |
25 | 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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1 | This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 for the JASON |
2 | Project and STEM programs and resources. |
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