2016 -- S 2495

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LC004890

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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 - SOCIAL SERVICES

     Introduced By: Senators Picard, Crowley, Gallo, Conley, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. PREAMBLE

     WHEREAS, Child Opportunity Zones benefit students and operate in urban, suburban

and rural communities;

     WHEREAS, Using a school as a hub for a community, child opportunity zones (COZs)

integrate academic, health, and social services to offer a range of support and opportunities that

lead to improved school learning;

     WHEREAS, The COZs address the needs of the whole child, ensuring that they are

healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged, and are aligned with the Rhode Island and

national whole child initiatives and federal education laws; and

     WHEREAS, By providing learning opportunities outside of normal school hours,

including, but not limited to, before and after school programs and summer programs and evening

programs, students and their families can be more engaged in their communities.

     SECTION 2. Sections 16-73-1 and 16-73-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-73

entitled "Education - Social Services [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of

Education Act]" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-73-1. Legislative findings. -- It is found and declared that:

      (1) All children are capable of success and schools are the centers of vibrant

communities. The growing social needs of children directly affect their ability to perform

successfully in school because health, emotional, social, and family problems can impede

learning.

      (2) Schools are most effective when families take active roles in the education of

children. Community schools are in a unique position to provide the vital links between

education, social services, and health care to children and their families.

      (3) It is important that schools be assisted in fulfilling the critical function of

coordinating the delivery of comprehensive social services at or near the site of public schools to

address the particular needs of each school community.

     16-73-2. Creation of plan. -- The commissioner of elementary and secondary education,

under the direction of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education, and in

cooperation with directors of the departments of health, administration, children, youth, and

families, mental health, retardation, and hospitals, and the office of higher education (after this

referred to as the The children's cabinet) shall develop a incorporate into its strategic plan for

creating "child opportunity zones" as a means to deliver comprehensive and coordinated social

services at or near public school sites. , and pursuant to this, The commissioner of elementary and

secondary education shall undertake activities including but not limited to the award of

demonstration, planning, and training and administration of grants to further the purpose set forth

in this chapter.

     SECTION 3. Chapter 16-73 of the General Laws entitled "Education - Social Services

[See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by

adding thereto the following sections:

     16-73-1.1. Definition. -- "Child Opportunity Zone" is a site at or near a school that

provides: early childhood initiatives; before-school, after-school, and summer enrichment

programs; health and mental health services; parent engagement, adult education, workforce

development training; or any combination of these programs based upon the students and the

community's needs.

     16-73-5. Purpose. -- The purpose of child opportunity zones is to implement programs

related to the specific community needs that ultimately increase student performance in school.

The child opportunity zone shall provide a means to integrate education, health, and social

services into schools and link families to the school and community resources. The child

opportunity zone may operate programs, including, but not limited to: early childhood initiatives;

before-school, after-school and summer enrichment; family engagement initiatives; adult

education and family literacy programs based upon community needs.

     16-73-6. Reporting. -- The department of elementary and secondary education shall

provide an annual report by August 1 of each year to the president of the senate and speaker of

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the house of representatives regarding the number of children and families served, and

appropriate outcome data for each program operated by a child opportunity zone.

     SECTION 4. 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 - SOCIAL SERVICES

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     This act would define and declare the purpose of child opportunity zones and would

provide for annual reporting from the commissioner of elementary and secondary education to the

general assembly on each zone.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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