2022 -- H 7974

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LC005430

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS FOR ALL

STUDENTS ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Biah, Henries, Amore, Batista, Ruggiero, Morales,
Williams, Vella-Wilkinson, Giraldo, and Potter

     Date Introduced: March 11, 2022

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-96-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-96 entitled "The College

and Career Success for All Students Act [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of

Education Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-96-3. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter:

     (1) "Advanced Placement course" means a course sponsored by the college board and

offered for college credit at the high school level.

     (2) "Advanced Placement teacher" means a teacher of an advanced placement course.

     (3) "Pre-Advanced Placement" means set professional development resources and services

that equip all middle and high school teachers with the strategies and tools they need to engage

their students in active, high-level learning, thereby ensuring that every middle and high school

student develops the skills, habits of mind, and concepts they need to succeed in advanced

placement courses.

     (4) "Board of regents" means the board of regents for elementary and secondary education.

     (5) "FAFSA" means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid that allows eligible

students the opportunity to obtain federal financial aid through the U.S. Department of Education

to assist with the cost of postsecondary education.

     (6) "Rhode Island alternative financial aid application" means the form that allows eligible

students who are not permitted to fill out the FAFSA an opportunity to apply for state financial aid,

regardless of their immigration status, to assist with the cost of postsecondary education.

     (5)(7) "Vertical team" means a group of teachers and educators from different grade levels

in a given discipline who work cooperatively to develop and implement a vertically aligned

program aimed at helping students from diverse backgrounds acquire the academic skills necessary

for success in advanced placement courses and other challenging courses.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 16-96 of the General Laws entitled "The College and Career Success

for All Students Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-96-6. College and Career-Ready Requirements.

     (a) Beginning with the class of 2023, and except as provided in subsection (b) of this

section, high school seniors in the State of Rhode Island shall do at least one of the following in

order to graduate:

     (1) Complete a FAFSA and submit it to the U.S. Department of Education; or

     (2) Complete a Rhode Island alternative financial aid application, offered through the

community college of Rhode Island, and submit it to the office of the postsecondary commissioner.

     (b) A student may graduate high school without fulfilling the requirements of subsection

(a) of this section only if at least one of the following conditions is met:

     (1) A written waiver is provided to the student’s local education agency certifying that the

student or their parent or legal guardian refuses to complete either of the applications identified in

subsection (a) of this section. The waiver shall be submitted in a manner and form prescribed by

the local education agency and shall be executed by:

     (i) A parent or legal guardian; or

     (ii) A student who is legally emancipated; or

     (iii) A student who has obtained the legal age of majority.

     (2) A student’s local education agency requests and receives a waiver that would exempt

the student from fulfilling the requirements in subsection (a) or (b)(1) of this section. The waiver

shall:

     (i) Be submitted in a manner and form prescribed by the Rhode Island commissioner of

elementary and secondary education; and

     (ii) Include an attestation by the local education agency that the student is not able to fulfill

the requirements in subsection (a) or (b)(1) of this section due to extenuating circumstances.

     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 COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS FOR ALL

STUDENTS ACT

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     This act would require all high school seniors in the state to complete a federal financial

aid application (FAFSA) or a Rhode Island alternative financial aid application, offered through

the community college of Rhode Island in order to graduate high school. Waivers would be

available under certain conditions.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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