2020 -- S 2105

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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 -- CURRICULUM

     

     Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Pearson, Gallo, Conley, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: January 22, 2020

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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the following section:

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     16-22-34. Instruction support.

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     (a) For the purpose of this section, "local education agencies" ("LEAs") shall include all

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of the 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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     (b) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education (the "commissioner") shall

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direct the department of elementary and secondary education (the "department") to provide

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professional support and assistance in partnership with LEAs regarding effective ways to

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evaluate, on an ongoing basis, student improvement and proficiency. The goal of such support

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shall be to increase student achievement consistent with state standards. In general, such support

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shall include, but need not be limited to:

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     (1) The department understanding the LEA's size, budget, and demographics to support

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and tailor the development of effective systems;

 

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     (2) The department assisting the LEA in a budget review to identify, maximize,

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restructure, and/or add a curriculum leadership infrastructure. At the district level, personnel to

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involve may include: assistant superintendents, district curriculum directors or coordinators; at

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the school level, personnel may include: teaching and learning coaches, mentor/induction

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coaches, content leaders, and teacher leaders; and

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     (3) The department providing the LEA with ongoing opportunities to understand the

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design, use, and impact of assessments, as well as how they may guide shifts in curriculum

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instruction.

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     (b) Specifically, such support shall include, but is not limited to:

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     (1) Engaging in a root-cause analysis;

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     (2) Designing student assessments to provide data that captures student improvement and

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proficiency accurately;

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     (3) Using and analyzing the data collected to inform LEA actions including, but not

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limited to, modification of instructional techniques;

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     (4) Identifying assets and challenges;

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     (5) Discussing the role that leadership, culture, and social climate play in the individual

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schools within the LEA;

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     (6) Collaborating with teachers, students, administrators, parents, and any other

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stakeholders regarding barriers to learning and improving school culture.

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     (c) The commissioner shall provide quarterly reports to the board of education regarding

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the reallocation and use of department resources to support LEAs pursuant to this section.

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     (d) On or before June 30, 2021, and every year thereafter on or before June 30, the

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commissioner shall report to the committees having jurisdiction over education issues in the

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senate and the house of representatives, the results of the support efforts provided in this section.

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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 -- CURRICULUM

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

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professional support and assistance to local education agencies ("LEAs") regarding effective

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ways to use data such as the LEA's budget and demographics, school culture, and assessments to

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improve student performance.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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