Chapter 247 |
2019 -- S 0755 Enacted 07/15/2019 |
A N A C T |
RELATING TO EDUCATION - CURRICULUM [SEE TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 - THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT] |
Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Picard, Metts, and Pearson |
Date Introduced: April 04, 2019 |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
SECTION 1. Section 16-22-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22 entitled "Curriculum |
[See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read |
as follows: |
16-22-4. Instruction in health and physical education. |
(a) All children in grades one through twelve (12) attending public schools, or any other |
schools managed and controlled by the state, except as provided in § 16-100-3(d), shall receive in |
those schools instruction in health and physical education under rules and regulations the |
department of elementary and secondary education may prescribe or approve during periods that |
shall average at least twenty (20) minutes in each school day. No private school or private |
instruction shall be approved by any school committee for the purposes of chapter 19 of this title |
as substantially equivalent to that required by law of a child attending a public school in the same |
city or town unless instruction in health and physical education similar to that required in public |
schools shall be given. Commencing September 1, 2012, the required health education curriculum |
shall be based on the health education standards of the Rhode Island health education framework: |
health literacy for all students as promulgated by the Rhode Island department of education and |
consistent with the mandated health instructional outcomes therein. Commencing September 1, |
2012, the required physical education curriculum shall be based on the physical education |
standards of the Rhode Island physical education framework: supporting physically active |
lifestyles through quality physical education as promulgated by the Rhode Island department of |
education and consistent with the instructional outcomes therein. |
(b) The department of elementary and secondary education shall incorporate, in |
consultation with the state department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and |
hospitals, substance-abuse prevention and suicide prevention into the health education |
curriculum. For the purpose of this section, "substance-abuse prevention" means the |
implementation of evidence-based, age-appropriate programs, practices, or curricula related to the |
use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; "suicide prevention" means the |
implementation of evidence-based, appropriate programs, practices, or curricula related to mental |
health awareness and suicide prevention. |
SECTION 2. Section 16-100-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-100 entitled "Dual |
Enrollment Equal Opportunity Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
16-100-3. Policy implemented. |
(a) The Board board of Education education shall prescribe by regulation a statewide |
dual enrollment policy that shall allow students to enroll in courses at postsecondary institutions |
to satisfy academic credit requirements in both high school and the aforementioned postsecondary |
institutions. The regulations shall address the postsecondary institution's graduation requirements, |
if any; the institution's ability to award degrees/certificates in Rhode Island; the minimum course |
grade to receive credit at the student's secondary school; and any other criteria that the Board |
board deems appropriate. |
(b) The board shall convene a workgroup, including, but not limited to, representatives |
from the department of elementary and secondary education, the office of the postsecondary |
commissioner, superintendents, school committees, public higher education institutions, guidance |
counselors, and teachers. The purpose of the workgroup is to consider and advise the board as to |
a dual enrollment policy and its possible effect on school funding pursuant to chapter 7.2 of title |
16 this title; academic supports; transportation; possible shared costs of the education; possible |
fee schedules; manners in which low-income students could access the program; and possible |
contracted tuition costs with our public higher education institutions. |
(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, payments to public institutions of higher |
education for dual and concurrent enrollment shall be limited to no greater than the appropriation |
contained in the appropriations act. On or before September 30, 2017, the council on |
postsecondary education shall promulgate rules and regulations enforcing this limitation. |
(d) Students in grade twelve (12) enrolled full-time, as defined by the institution, in a |
dual enrollment program where the courses are taken on a higher education institution campus |
shall be exempt from the requirements set forth in § 16-22-4(a). |
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
======== |
LC000744 |
======== |