2016 -- H 7221

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - THE COMPLETE COLLEGE RHODE ISLAND ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Amore, Craven, O'Brien, and Azzinaro

     Date Introduced: January 15, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     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 106

THE COMPLETE COLLEGE RHODE ISLAND ACT

     16-106-1. Purpose. -- The purpose of this chapter is to increase the number of students

who complete college or other forms of higher education to achieve degrees and credentials that

have value in the labor market, and to close the achievement gaps for groups who are traditionally

under-represented in higher education.

     16-106-2. Council on post-secondary education to set goals. -- The Rhode Island

council on post-secondary education shall establish state-wide goals that are school specific for

increasing the number of graduates who earn certificates and degrees at both two (2) and four (4)

year post-secondary public institutions of higher education through the year 2021. The council on

post-secondary education shall also develop recommendations for financial incentives tied to

meeting these goals, which recommendations shall be presented for consideration to the general

assembly on before January 1, 2017.

     16-106-3. State-wide college access and completion data system. -- (a) The council on

post-secondary education shall develop and make available to the governor and the general

assembly state-wide college access and completion data and related analyses that includes data on

students’ educational experiences and outcomes from early childhood through higher education in

Rhode Island public institutions of higher education and into the workforce. Data collected shall

include:

     (1) The number of students taking developmental remediation courses and the

pass/failure rate for such courses;

     (2) Graduation rates for students who have been enrolled in developmental education

courses at each institution;

     (3) The number of post-secondary school students at each institution who are enrolled in

twelve (12) to fourteen (14) credit hours per semester; and

     (4) The number of post-secondary school students at each institution who are enrolled in

fifteen (15) or more credit hours per semester.

     (b) Graduation data shall include the average excess credits that students have

accumulated and the approximate cost of these credits to both the students and the state. As used

herein, the term "excess credits" refers to credits which the student earned and which were not

required for the degree or certificate. Each institution shall also list the average time needed to

earn a degree or certificate.

     (c) To the extent such information is available, the data and analyses required by this

section shall show specific results based upon race, and the results for English language learners.

     (d) Such data and analyses shall be utilized to develop and implement strategies for

improving preparation for college as well as enrollment and completion rates, especially for

nontraditional students.

     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 COMPLETE COLLEGE RHODE ISLAND ACT

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     This act would establish the Complete College Rhode Island Act, for purposes of creating

a comprehensive compilation of data showing academic progress among students, and to develop

strategies to increase the number of students graduating from state institutions of higher

education.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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