2017 -- S 0201

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LC001154

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- DUAL ENROLLMENT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACT

     Introduced By: Senators Cote, Lombardi, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: February 02, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 16-100-2, 16-100-3, and 16-100-4 of the General Laws in Chapter

16-100 entitled "Dual Enrollment Equal Opportunity Act" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-100-2. Definition.

     "Dual Enrollment" means that a student is enrolled in a secondary school or is home

schooled at the secondary level, while simultaneously enrolled part-time or full-time at a local

institution of higher learning, such as a community college or university.

     16-100-3. Policy implemented.

     (a) The Board of Education shall prescribe by regulation a statewide dual enrollment

policy that shall allow students to enroll in courses at postsecondary institutions to satisfy

academic credit requirements in both high school, including home schooling at the secondary

level, and the aforementioned postsecondary institutions. The regulations shall address the

postsecondary institution's graduation requirements, if any; the institution's ability to award

degrees/certificates in Rhode Island; the minimum course grade to receive credit at the student's

secondary school or home schooling; and any other criteria that the Board deems appropriate. The

board may limit the courses offered to home-schooled students to those courses being offered by

the school district in which the home-schooled student resides.

      (b) The board shall convene a workgroup, including, but not limited to, representatives

from the department of elementary and secondary education, the office of higher education,

superintendents, school committees, public higher education institutions, guidance counselors,

and teachers. The purpose of the workgroup is to consider and advise the board as to a dual

enrollment policy and its possible effect on school funding pursuant to section 16-7.2, academic

supports, transportation, possible shared costs of the education, possible fee schedules, manners

in which low-income students could access the program and, possible contracted tuition costs

with our public higher education institutions.

     16-100-4. Dual enrollment adoption.

     School districts and schools must adopt the statewide dual enrollment policy promulgated

pursuant to this section by June 30, 2015. All school districts, charter schools, career and

technical schools, approved private day or residential schools, home schoolers, and collaborative

schools shall be subject to the requirements of this section.

     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 -- DUAL ENROLLMENT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACT

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     This act would extend the benefits of the dual enrollment equal opportunity act to cover

home-schooled students.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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