2016 -- H 7426

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LC004164

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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 RHODE ISLAND EDUCATION EQUITY ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Amore, Naughton, Malik, and Azzinaro

     Date Introduced: January 29, 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 87.1

RHODE ISLAND EDUCATION EQUITY ACT

     16-87.1-1. Short title. -- This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode

Island Education Equity Act."

     16-87.1-2. Legislative findings. -- The general assembly finds as follows:

     (1) Children who come from low income families or otherwise from impoverished

backgrounds are significantly less likely to be proficient in reading and math than other students,

experiencing an education achievement gap (hereinafter referred to in this chapter as the

"achievement gap") that is difficult to close as the child moves into adolescence and adulthood.

     (2) For students who come from low income families or otherwise from impoverished

backgrounds and who are also English language learners, this achievement gap in proficiency in

reading and math is widened even further.

     (3) There is overwhelming evidence that the state of Rhode Island could expect a very

high return to the public by investing in high quality early childhood education for all of our

children.

     (4) Early childhood investments targeted towards program development for

disadvantaged children will help to promote both efficiency and educational equality for the

children of our state.

     (5) While recognizing the efforts that have been made through the "prekindergarten

education act", chapter 87 of this title, more effort can and should be expended to reach children

at an even younger age.

     (6) By enacting this law, the general assembly seeks to develop a research-based model

for children ages three (3) years of age and under and that focuses on low income families and for

children that are English language learners to eliminate the achievement gap.

     16-87.1-3. Pilot program authorized. -- (a) The Rhode Island department of elementary

and secondary education shall develop a research-based model full-time preschool pilot program

for children age three (3) years of age and under that will focus on low income families and

children that are English language learners. The purpose of this program shall be to eliminate the

achievement gap that currently exists for this population upon entering kindergarten. The

program shall include available data about the number of children birth through age eight (8)

years of age in families with limited English skills and the community-based and public preschool

programs and schools that serve them, strategies to increase the number of bilingual preschool

and early elementary educators, and steps to increase dual language instruction opportunities for

children from preschool through grade 3.

     (b) The program shall incorporate data and information gathered pursuant to the pilot

prekindergarten program established pursuant to chapter 87 of this title.

     (c) As used herein, the term "low income families" means those earning less than twice

the federal poverty line, also known as the federal poverty threshold.

     16-87.1-4. Reporting. -- On or before October 31, 2017, and annually thereafter by

October 31, the Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education shall report

back to the general assembly and the governor on the status and progress of the pilot program

authorized by this chapter.

     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 RHODE ISLAND EDUCATION EQUITY ACT

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     The act would establish the Rhode Island Education Equity Act. The act would authorize

the Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education to develop a research-based

model full-time preschool pilot program for children age three (3) years of age and under that

would focus on low income families and children that are English language learners. The

purpose of this program would be to eliminate the education achievement gap that currently exists

for this population upon entering kindergarten.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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