2019 -- S 0756

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LC002139

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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 BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT

     

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Gallo, Metts, Seveney, and Quezada

     Date Introduced: April 04, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-97-1.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-97 entitled "The

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Rhode Island Board of Education Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-97-1.2. Powers and duties of the board of education.

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     The board of education shall have the following powers and duties:

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     (a) To develop and adopt a strategic plan defining broad goals and objectives for

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education in the state. These goals and objectives shall be expressed in terms of the future

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educational attainment of the population, quality of life and economy of Rhode Island, including

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but not limited to what children, men and women should know and be able to do as a result of

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their educational experience and the contributions of education to meeting the workforce and

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economic development needs of Rhode Island. The board shall approve the strategic plans for

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elementary and secondary education and postsecondary education in terms of the alignment of

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these strategic plans with the overall strategic plan of the board of education. The board shall

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continuously evaluate the efforts of the council on elementary and secondary education and the

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council on postsecondary education to implement the strategic plans and shall review the results

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of education in the light of these objectives;

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     (b) To prepare and maintain a five (5) year strategic funding plan for all levels of

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education in Rhode Island. The board shall determine priorities of expenditures for public

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education purposes of state revenues and other public resources made available for the support of

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public education and direct the council on elementary and secondary education and the council on

 

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postsecondary education to implement those priorities when developing the annual budget for

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elementary and secondary education and higher education. The councils shall present their annual

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budgets to the board for its review and approval. Nothing contained in this subdivision shall

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authorize the board to alter the allocation of grants or aid otherwise provided by law;

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     (c) To develop and submit to the general assembly for approval a performance funding

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formula for public higher education that furthers the purposes of the board and ensures that all

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students may achieve educational excellence;

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     (d) To develop policies that maximize the potential of collaboration from elementary and

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secondary education through higher education systems and that improve efficiencies at all levels

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of the education system through improved coordination of activities;

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     (e) To embrace the legislative findings regarding virtual education established by ยง 16-

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22.1-2 of the general laws and adopt goals and policies that address these findings and to

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encourage the council on elementary and secondary education and the council for postsecondary

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education to develop and or improve virtual learning experiences for Rhode Island students;

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     (f) To approve the appointment of a commissioner of elementary and secondary

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education.

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     (g) To approve the appointment of a commissioner of postsecondary education.

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     (h) To conduct a training course for newly appointed and qualified board members within

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six (6) months of their qualification. The course shall be developed by the chairperson of the

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board, approved by the board, and conducted by the chairperson of the board. The board may

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approve the use of any board or staff members or other individuals to assist with training. The

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training course shall include instruction in the following areas: the provisions of chapters 42-46,

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36-14, and 38-2; and the board's own rules.

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     (i) To develop and implement a five (5) year STEAM strategic plan defining goals and

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objectives for improving student performance in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math

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(STEAM) and for increasing the number of postsecondary degrees awarded in STEAM fields on

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or before February 1, 2020. The plan shall:

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     (1) Be developed, in consultation with employers, advocates, stakeholders,

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

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postsecondary commissioner, University of Rhode Island (URI), Rhode Island College (RIC), the

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Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), and private institutions of higher education;

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     (2) Define goals for overall student performance on state assessments in grades three (3)

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through twelve (12) and for student performance by subcategories, including, but not limited to,

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socioeconomic status, gender, students with disabilities, race, and ethnicity;

 

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     (3) Define goals for the increase of students receiving postsecondary degrees in STEAM,

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including those underrepresented students by socioeconomic status, gender, students with

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disabilities, race, and ethnicity; and

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     (4) Address teacher shortages and implement a timeline for strategies to increase STEAM

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teachers in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education system.

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     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 BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT

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     This act would require the board of education to develop and implement a five (5) year

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strategic plan to improve student performance in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math

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(STEAM) and increase the number of postsecondary degrees awarded in STEAM fields on or

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before February 1, 2020.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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