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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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grade level;

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

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and

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

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have on students at various grade levels.

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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impact that follows.

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

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

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

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after submission.

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

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

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

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

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

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     (j) For the purposes of this section, “local education agencies” shall include all of the

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following within the state of Rhode Island:

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     (1) Public school districts;

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     (2) Regional school districts;

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     (3) State-operated schools;

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     (4) Regional collaborative schools; and

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     (5) Charter schools.

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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 -- PROMOTION

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

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

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education agencies (“LEAs”).

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC002758

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