2019 -- H 5553

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LC001929

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENCOURAGING MORE PERSONS OF COLOR TO ENTER

THE FIELD OF EDUCATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Alzate, McNamara, Casimiro, Kazarian, and Maldonado

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     WHEREAS, A report by the Learning Policy Institute showed that a diverse teacher

workforce is a very important strategy for improving learning and closing achievement gaps for

students of color; and

     WHEREAS, Increasing the percentage of teachers of color in Rhode Island's schools is

not only important and beneficial for students of color. A diverse teacher workforce that

represents the state's overall demographics will benefit students of all racial backgrounds; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of nine (9) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of

Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Association of

School Committees, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island

Association of Administrators, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode

Island Chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, or designee; one of whom shall be the

President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Education Association, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, or designee; and one

of whom shall be the Department Chairperson of the Rhode Island College School of Education

(Youth Development Program), or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which

is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to study and make recommendations for

encouraging students of color to enter the field of education. The recommendations should

include, but not be limited to:

     • An intentional and sustained approach to informing students of color in the state's

public high schools on the importance and benefits of entering the field of education;

     • A process or method to prepare, support, encourage, and retain newly hired teachers of

color; and

     • Recommendations and methods to increase teacher workforce diversity in the state's

urban school districts.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select, from among the legislators, a

chairperson.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

House of Representatives no later than January 28, 2020, and said commission shall expire on

March 28, 2020.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENCOURAGING MORE PERSONS OF COLOR TO ENTER

THE FIELD OF EDUCATION

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     This resolution would create a nine (9) member special legislative commission whose

purpose it would be to study and make recommendations for encouraging more persons of color

to enter the field of education, and who would report back to the House of Representatives on or

before January 28, 2020, and whose life would expire on March 28, 2020.

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