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:

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     SECTION 1. PREAMBLE

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

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and rural communities;

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

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

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lead to improved school learning;

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

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

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national whole child initiatives and federal education laws; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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learning.

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

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

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

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

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

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address the particular needs of each school community.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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in this chapter.

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

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

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adding thereto the following sections:

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

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

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

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

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community's needs.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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education and family literacy programs based upon community needs.

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

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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

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

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     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

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

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general assembly on each zone.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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