2019 -- H 5853

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND EARLY CHILDHOOD

INNOVATION ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Diaz, Kislak, Jackson, and Slater

     Date Introduced: March 14, 2019

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. The general assembly finds and declares as follows:

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     (1) The first three (3) years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a

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baby's development.

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     A child's early relationships with parents and caregivers can promote healthy brain

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development, build social and emotional skills, and support language and literacy development

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starting from birth.

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     (2) Children who come from families who are identified as at-risk based on

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socioeconomic status, parent education level, and limited parent knowledge or experience are

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significantly less likely to be proficient in reading and math than other students when they enter

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school, experiencing an education achievement gap (hereinafter referred to in chapter 87.1 as the

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"achievement gap") which begins at birth and is often further exacerbated as children progress in

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their education.

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

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

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children.

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     (4) Early childhood investments targeted towards program development for

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

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children of our state.

 

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

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prekindergarten education act", chapter 87 of title 16, more effort can and should be expended to

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reach children at an even younger age.

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     (6) The general assembly seeks to develop a research-based model for children ages three

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(3) years of age and under and that focuses on low income and at-risk families to eliminate the

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achievement gap.

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     (7) The expansion of funding for programs that advance outcomes for children during the

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early years of life is critical to achieving the state's goal for grade-level reading by the third grade.

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     SECTION 2. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

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by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 87.1

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RHODE ISLAND EARLY CHILDHOOD INNOVATION ACT

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     16-87.1-1. Short title.

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     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Early Childhood

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Innovation Act."

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     16-87.1-2. Definitions.

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     As used in this section:

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     (1) "Achievement gap" means the difference in educational success and proficiency in

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reading and math experienced by children who come from families who are identified as at-risk

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based on socioeconomic status, parent education level, and limited parental knowledge or

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experience. These children are significantly less likely to be proficient in reading and math than

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other students when they enter school, especially in kindergarten, and they experience an

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education achievement gap which begins at birth and is often further exacerbated as these

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children progress in their education.

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     (2) "At-risk families" means those who are identified as having one risk factor on the RI

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newborn health assessment.

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     16-87.1-3. Innovative fund authorized.

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     (a) The department of human services shall establish an early childhood innovation fund.

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The purpose of this fund shall be to support programs that seek to close the achievement gap that

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currently exists for at-risk children as they enter kindergarten. The general assembly shall allocate

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one million dollars ($1,000,000) each year to invest in high quality, evidence informed,

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voluntary, early childhood models that expand upon the current landscape of programs directed at

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children from birth to three (3) years of age, and to allow successful existing programs to serve

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more at-risk families. Recipients of funding may include nonprofit organizations, local

 

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governments, universities, and local education authorities.

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     (b) The department of human services, working together with the department of

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education, shall create a competitive request for proposals process to allocate funding for the

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fiscal year no later than October 1 prior to the start of the fiscal year for which funding shall be

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distributed. The request for proposals should fund only programs with evidence of model

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effectiveness, clear procedures for ensuring program quality and an ongoing commitment to, and

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plans for, advanced evaluation of results. Priority should be given to those programs that seek to

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engage and support parents and caregivers as leaders in their child's education.

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     (c) The department of human services shall communicate its efforts through this fund

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with the home visiting program in the department of health to best ensure coordination of efforts

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across early childhood. Programs funded through this fund will implement procedures for

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ensuring that families are referred to other state funded early childhood programs such as, but not

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limited to, department of health evidence-based home visiting programs from which they would

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benefit. Programs with demonstrated experience linking families to additional resources should

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be given priority in the funding competition.

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     16-87.1-4. Reporting.

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     On or before October 31, 2020, and annually thereafter by October 31, the department of

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human services shall report back to the general assembly and the governor on the status and

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progress of the pilot program authorized by this chapter.

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     SECTION 3. 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 EARLY CHILDHOOD

INNOVATION ACT

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     This act would establish the Rhode Island Early Childhood Innovation Act. The act

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would authorize the department of human services to establish an early childhood innovation

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fund for the purpose of supporting programs designed to narrow the education achievement gap

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for at-risk children as they enter kindergarten. The act provides the general assembly would

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allocate $1,000,000 annually to this fund.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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