2019 -- S 0941

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LC002556

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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 -- MODEL FOR DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION

PROGRAMS

     Introduced By: Senators Quezada, Cano, Ciccone, Crowley, and Lawson

     Date Introduced: May 30, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-22 of the General Laws entitled "Curriculum [See Title 16

Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding thereto

the following section:

     16-22-30. Dual language immersion model policy and timeline.

     (a) The Rhode Island department of education ("department"), in consultation with local

education agencies ("LEAs") that have a dual language immersion program, shall create a model

policy and timeline to assist LEAs in developing and implementing a dual language immersion

program.

     (b) The LEAs approached by the department to consult on the model policy and timeline

pursuant to section (a) of this section shall cooperate with the department's requests or inquires

related to any dual language immersion program in a timely manner.

     (c) The model policy and timeline shall:

     (1) Be accessed easily by LEAs through electronic publication or other public

distribution;

     (2) Include, but need not be limited to:

     (i) A detailed description of best practices;

     (ii) A step-by-step timeline; and

     (iii) A list of sources consulted and additional resources to which LEAs may refer if any

questions arise concerning the development and implementation of a dual language immersion

program.

     (d) The model policy and timeline shall be sent to the president of the senate and the

speaker of the house of representatives by January 1, 2020. The department shall also report to

the general assembly, beginning on July 31, 2020 and annually thereafter, the number of LEAs

with dual language immersion programs, the number of students served in a dual language

immersion program by grade level, and the number of teachers for each grade with a dual

language immersion program for the most recent school year.

     (e) The Rhode Island department of education shall:

     (1) Research the educational impact of dual language immersion programs across New

England and report the findings to the general assembly no later than July 31, 2020; and

     (2) Encourage LEAs to expand or develop courses in world languages so that students in

elementary and middle schools have access to such courses.

     (f) For the purposes of this section, "local education agencies" shall include all of the

following within the state of Rhode Island:

     (1) Public school districts;

     (2) Regional school districts;

     (3) State-operated schools;

     (4) Regional collaborative schools; and

     (5) Charter schools.

     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 -- MODEL FOR DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION

PROGRAMS

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     This act would require the department of education to create a model policy and timeline

to assist local education agencies in implementing a dual language immersion program. This

model policy and timeline would be sent to the president of the senate and the speaker of the

house.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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