2015 -- H 5077 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - THE COMPLETE COLLEGE RHODE ISLAND ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Azzinaro, Diaz, Bennett, and Malik

     Date Introduced: January 14, 2015

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

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by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 105

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THE COMPLETE COLLEGE RHODE ISLAND ACT

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     16-105-1. Purpose. -- The purpose of this chapter is to increase the number of students

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who complete college or other forms of higher education to achieve degrees and credentials that

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have value in the labor market, and to close the achievement gaps for groups who are traditionally

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under-represented in higher education.

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     16-105-2. Council on post-secondary education to set goals. -- The Rhode Island

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council on post-secondary education shall establish state-wide goals that are school specific for

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increasing the number of graduates who earn certificates and degrees at both two (2) and four (4)

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year post-secondary public institutions of higher education through the year 2020. The council on

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post-secondary education shall also develop recommendations for financial incentives tied to

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meeting these goals, which recommendations shall be presented for consideration to the general

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assembly on before January 1, 2016.

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     16-105-3. State-wide college access and completion data system. -- (a) The council on

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post-secondary education shall develop and make available to the governor and the general

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assembly state-wide college access and completion data and related analyses that includes data on

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students’ educational experiences and outcomes from early childhood through higher education in

 

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Rhode Island public institutions of higher education and into the workforce. Data collected shall

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include:

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     (1) The number of students taking developmental remediation courses and the

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pass/failure rate for such courses;

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     (2) Graduation rates for students who have been enrolled in developmental education

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courses at each institution;

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     (3) The number of post-secondary school students at each institution who are enrolled in

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twelve (12) to fourteen (14) credit hours per semester; and

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     (4) The number of post-secondary school students at each institution who are enrolled in

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fifteen (15) or more credit hours per semester.

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     (b) Graduation data shall include the average excess credits that students have

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accumulated and the approximate cost of these credits to both the students and the state. As used

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herein, the term "excess credits" refers to credits which the student earned and which were not

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required for the degree or certificate. Each institution shall also list the average time needed to

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earn a degree or certificate.

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     (c) To the extent such information is available, the data and analyses required by this

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section shall show specific results based upon race, and the results for English language learners.

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     (d) Such data and analyses shall be utilized to develop and implement strategies for

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improving preparation for college as well as enrollment and completion rates, especially for

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nontraditional students.

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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 - THE COMPLETE COLLEGE RHODE ISLAND ACT

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     This act would establish the Complete College Rhode Island Act, for purposes of creating

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a comprehensive compilation of data showing academic progress among students, and to develop

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strategies to increase the number of students graduating from state institutions of higher

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education.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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