R 340
2022 -- H 7118 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 06/01/2022

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE EFFECTS AND IMPACT THAT HYBRID AND VIRTUAL LEARNING EMPLOYED DURING THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD ON THE ACHIEVEMENT RATES OF CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE

Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, Noret, Shallcross Smith, Donovan, Solomon, C Lima, McNamara, Cortvriend, Potter, and O'Brien

Date Introduced: January 20, 2022

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created
consisting of fifteen (15) members: five (5) of whom shall be members of the House of
Representatives, one of whom shall be the Chair of the House Committee on Education, or
designee, and three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House, and one of
whom shall be appointed by the Majority Leader; one of whom shall be the President of the
Rhode Island Association of School Committees, or designee; one of whom shall be the President
of the Rhode Island Association of Administrators, or designee; one of whom shall be the
President of the Rhode Island Association of Administrators of Special Education, or designee;
one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Federation of
Teachers, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the
National Education Association, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode
Island Independent School Association, or designee; three (3) of whom shall be members of the
general public, one of whom shall be the parent of a child in a Rhode Island elementary school,
one of whom shall be a parent of a child attending a Rhode Island Junior High School, and one of
whom shall be a parent of a child in a Rhode Island High School, to be appointed by the Speaker
of the House; and one of whom shall be the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary
Education, or designee.
     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory
commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly
resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu
of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which
is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.
     The purpose of said commission shall be to study the impact and effects that virtual and
hybrid learning has had on the achievement rates of children in kindergarten through 12th grade
due to the pandemic, and to outline steps and make recommendations to identify gaps and
establish plans to address such issues with respect thereto.
     Forthwith on or after January 1, 2023, the members of the commission shall meet at the
call of the Speaker of the House and organize, and shall select from among the legislators, a
chairperson. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original
appointment.
     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.
     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,
documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or
desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.
     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters
for said commission; and be it further
     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the
House of Representatives no later than July 31, 2023, and said commission shall expire on
September 30, 2023.
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LC003200/SUB A
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