2015 -- H 5496

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LC001084

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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 PAUL W. CROWLEY RHODE ISLAND STUDENT

INVESTMENT INITIATIVE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, Amore, Fogarty, Palangio, and Maldonado

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2015

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Declaration of intent and purpose. (a) The general assembly recognizes that

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there are great variations in so-called "standardized tests" or standardized assessments of student

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performance employed in our schools, as well as great variations in the manner in which

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individual students respond to such testing and assessments.

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     (b) The general assembly also recognizes and acknowledges there is a strong debate

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among many persons as to the merit and necessity of such testing, as to the nature of what such

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testing demonstrates, and as to the benefit achieved through increased use and reliance of such

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testing in public school education, and whether, at some point, it becomes the driver, as opposed

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to the measure, of a student's education.

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     (c) The general assembly finds and declares that there is a need for a concrete

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understanding by all stakeholders of, the type of evaluation, whether to access the individual, the

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school, the teacher or the program, the cost in both dollars and lost classroom learning time and

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the extent of such assessments being employed as well as an understanding of what the tool is

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measuring in our schools so that the various parties may work together to promote not only

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success for all students, but to promote the best use of limited time in a student's day. Therefore,

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it is the intent and purpose of this legislation to promote such understanding among all

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stakeholders in this matter, with a special emphasis placed on students, parents, teachers,

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administrators, and members of the general assembly in regard to standardized tests and

 

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assessments utilized in public schools.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 16-7.1 of the General Laws entitled "The Paul W. Crowley Rhode

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Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of

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Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     16-7.1-13.1. State leadership in conducting annual assessments of student

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performance. -- (a) State assessment program. Setting high standards for student performance

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must be paired with related assessments that will determine what progress the state is making

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toward bringing all children to high levels of achievement. A state assessment program shall be

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continued and expanded in core areas including mathematics, reading, writing, and health. The

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program shall include performance standards and an annual report that disaggregates performance

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by race, poverty, native language and gender. The general assembly shall annually appropriate

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funds to support the programs, and the amount shall be recalculated annually. The commissioner

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of education shall implement the state assessment program.

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     (b) Mandatory reporting requirements. There is also established a mandatory reporting

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requirement for all public schools, school districts, mayoral academies, and charter schools as to

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testing for students in each grade from K-12, for any federally, state or locally mandated or

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voluntary assessments administered. Such reporting requirements shall apply regardless of

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whether the assessment is deemed to be a voluntary, mandatory, preparatory, or interim

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assessment. The report for each school shall include:

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     (1) The dates and grades of each assessment administered;

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     (2) The number of students taking such assessment, and the number in each grade

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excluded;

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     (3) The manner in which the test is administered and taken, such as by paper, computer,

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verbally, combination thereof, or other method;

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     (4) Whether such test is federally, state, or locally mandated, or voluntary;

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     (5) An indication of whether the test is primarily a tool to measure student, teacher,

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school district, or state performance;

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     (6) Whether an alternative form of the test or alternative method of offering the test is

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offered; and

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     (7) Whether a student can opt out of a test.

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     (c) Annual reports from schools. Commencing on or before July 1, 2016, and annually

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thereafter on or before July 1, each public school, school district, mayoral academy, and charter

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school shall submit a report pursuant to subsection (b) of this section to the Rhode Island

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department of elementary and secondary education as to all such assessments administered during

 

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the preceding school year.

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     (d) Annual report from department of education. Commencing on or before September 1,

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2016, and annually thereafter on or before September 1, the department of elementary and

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secondary education shall collect the data contained in said reports and present a comprehensive

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aggregate report summarizing the data provided. Aggregate data shall be reported on a statewide

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basis and shall also be listed by school district, school, and grade. The report shall be submitted to

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the council on elementary and secondary education, the speaker of the house, the president of the

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senate, the governor, and to each school committee in the state, and shall also be posted on the

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department of elementary and secondary education's website, in a format searchable by grade,

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school, and district.

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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 PAUL W. CROWLEY RHODE ISLAND STUDENT

INVESTMENT INITIATIVE

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     This act would establish a mandatory reporting requirement for all students in grades K-

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12 for any assessments administered along with specifics which must be included in the report. It

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also requires annual reports from schools commencing on July 1, 2016 as to all assessments

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administered by September 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, a collection of the data in the reports

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by the department of education, in a searchable format on the department of education website.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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