2020 -- S 2033

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Gallo, Pearson, Cano, and Quezada

     Date Introduced: January 21, 2020

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

of education in the light of these objectives;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

students may achieve educational excellence;

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

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

of the education system through improved coordination of activities;

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

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

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

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

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

education.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

before February 1, 2021. The plan shall:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 STEM,

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

disabilities, race, and ethnicity; and

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

teachers in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education system.

     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

***

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

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

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

February 1, 2021.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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