2019 -- S 0943

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LC002758

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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 -- PROMOTION

     Introduced By: Senators Satchell, and Pearson

     Date Introduced: May 30, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-97 of the General Laws entitled "The Rhode Island Board of

Education Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-97-11. Standards for grade level program.

     (a) On or before October 1, 2020, the department of elementary and secondary education

(the “department”) shall convene a group of stakeholders to review the standards for grade level

promotion established by local education agencies (“LEAs”).

     (b) The group of stakeholders shall include, but need not be limited to, a culturally and

racially diverse group of classroom teachers, administrators, and parents.

     (c) The review shall include, but need not be limited to:

     (1) Evaluating the proficiencies a student must demonstrate to be promoted to the next

grade level;

     (2) Assessing the process used to determine whether students are promoted or retained;

and

     (3) Considering the social and academic impact that the promotion and retention policies

have on students at various grade levels.

     (d) The stakeholder group shall complete its review by no later than March 1, 2021.

     (e) Upon completion of the review, and in consultation with the department, the

stakeholder group shall recommend regulations related to grade level promotion and retention in

the state. The regulations shall include, but need not be limited to:

     (1) Guidance to LEAs concerning the proficiencies to be demonstrated by students and

the processes to be utilized by LEAs when promoting and retaining students; and

     (2) Reporting mechanisms to track instances of retention, and the social and academic

impact that follows.

     (f) By no later than May 1, 2021, the recommended regulations shall be submitted to the

council on elementary and secondary education (the “council”) for review and approval.

     (g) The council shall vote whether to approve the regulations no later than sixty (60) days

after submission.

     (h) Before the following school year begins, LEAs shall ensure that their policies related

to promotion and retention align with the regulations approved by the council.

     (i) The department shall convene a stakeholder group to review each LEA’s promotion

and retention policies on a regular basis, but no less frequently than every five (5) years. The

review cycle shall begin in 2026, with subsequent reviews taking place in 2032, 2038, and so on.

     (j) 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 -- PROMOTION

***

     This act would direct the department of elementary and secondary education to convene a

group of stakeholders to review the standards for grade level promotion established by local

education agencies (“LEAs”).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC002758

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