2022 -- H 7974 SUBSTITUTE A

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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 form 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. Notice to be given regarding applications for student financial assistance.

     (a) On and after July 1, 2023, the guidance department of every public or private high

school in the state shall ensure that notices (the "notice") are provided to students and their parent,

guardian, or responsible adult, regarding the merit and benefits of completing and filing the FAFSA

form (the "FAFSA") and the Rhode Island alternative financial aid application form (the

"alternative application"). This notice shall be provided in either the student’s junior year or no

later than November 1 of the student’s senior year. The guidance department shall determine the

form for providing the notice which shall best ensure the information is communicated both to the

student and to the student’s parent, guardian, or responsible adult.

     (b) The form of the notice may include, but shall not limited to, a written paper or hard

copy writing or an electronic copy. The notice may be provided in multiple formats. A hard copy

of the notice shall be kept in the student's file.

     (c) The notice shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

     (1) A general explanation of what the FAFSA and the alternative application are;

     (2) The potential merit to and benefits of completing and submitting a FAFSA or

alternative application, including, but not limited to, the awarding of financial aid, income or need-

based aid, merit and other scholarship money, the Promise Scholarship, and Pell Grants, to pursue

post-secondary education;

     (3) A general discussion on what financial aid is and the many forms it can take;

     (4) General instructions on how to complete each form; and

     (5) Links to the applicable websites shall also be included.

     (d) The notice may include referrals to organizations, websites, and other resources to

provide more detailed instructions on the completion of the forms.

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     SECTION 3. 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 that the guidance department of every public or private high school

in the state ensure that notices are provided to students and their parent, guardian, or responsible

adult, regarding the FAFSA form and the Rhode Island alternative financial aid application form.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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