2019 -- H 5266

========

LC001105

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS [SEE TITLE 16

CHAPTER 97 -- THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, McNamara, Vella-Wilkinson, Solomon, and
Kennedy

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2019

     Referred To: Committee on Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-45-6.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-45 entitled "Regional

Vocational Schools [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is

hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-45-6.1. Career and technical education.

     (a) The general assembly finds that career and technical education programs that meet

rigorous industry standards and prepare Rhode Island's students to succeed in a wide variety of

employment settings are a critical component of the state's public education system and a

necessary element of the state's economic development. The regional career and technical centers,

which are hosted in the Chariho regional school district, Coventry public schools, Cranston public

schools, East Providence school district, Newport public schools, Warwick public schools and

Woonsocket education department, serve this vital need. These programs are to be offered in a

system focused on program quality and delivery efficiency.

     (b) The general assembly further finds that the proportion of students now enrolled in

such programs is inadequate. Therefore, all Rhode Island school districts shall file a plan with the

Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education no later than January 1, 2006 setting forth

the means through which no fewer than forty (40) percent of their students enrolled in grades nine

(9) through twelve (12) shall be provided the opportunity to enroll in career and technical

programming that is certified by the Rhode Island Department of Education as meeting industry

standards by September 2007. The general assembly finds that regional career and technical

centers are best equipped to provide career and technical education to the students of Rhode

Island. Career and technical education programs, which shall:

     (1) Be four (4) years in length consisting of at least five (5) full-year courses, except for

ROTC;

     (2) Include an industry credential or equivalent and/or an opportunity to earn college

credits;

     (3) Include an internship opportunity; and

     (4) Be taught by a career and technical certified instructor. Career and technical education

programs may be housed in other than a career and technical center, only when documented

demand exists within the transportation region or when a substantially similar program is not

offered at the regional career and technical center and the center is unable to establish said

program. Programs housed in other than career and technical centers must be approved by the

regional advisory board.

     (c) To facilitate the development of additional career and technical program offerings for

Rhode Island students that meet industry standards the department of elementary and secondary

education shall, in furtherance of the reports and studies that have been developed since 2000

setting forth recommendations for an updated system of career and technical education for the

State of Rhode Island, develop a system design that includes site assessments of all current career

and technical programs and sets forth standards and procedures for the department of elementary

and secondary education to approve programs that are developed in cooperation with business,

industry and postsecondary institutions. The department shall also develop a system design for

three additional state operated career and technical schools, in addition to the William H. Davies

School and the Metropolitan Career and Technical Center, including recommendations for a

model for the siting, building costs, operational costs and program design for each such school.

The general assembly shall appropriate funds to the department for purposes of their completion

of the system design for the statewide program approval process to industry standards and the

development of the models, siting and program design of the three additional state operated

career and technical schools. Students interested in career and technical education programs will

enroll in their regional career and technical center, unless the program is offered in their district

of residence within the transportation region. When a program of interest is not offered in the

transportation region, students may attend the program closest to the resident district, at the

expense of the resident district, except that transportation may not be provided by the resident

district.

LC001105 - Page 2 of 4

     (d) The department of education shall establish a uniform per student tuition formula

which will be assessed on districts sending students to career and technical centers or other

locations. For each student who completes an approved career and technical education program

over a four (4) year period (or less because they are able to demonstrate proficiency sooner) and

for whom tuition has been fully paid, the state shall reimburse the sending district for fifty percent

(50%) of the total cost of tuition. No district shall discourage the participation of students in

career and technical education programs.

     (e) The department of education shall establish approval and rating systems based upon

program quality for career and technical education programs. No district shall be required to pay

tuition or provide transportation for a program with a less than satisfactory rating. A moratorium

shall be placed on the establishment of new career and technical education programs until:

     (1) A rating is assigned to all existing programs; and

     (2) An assessment of the need for existing duplicate programs is made. Duplicate

programs, not housed at a career and technical center, within a transportation region shall be

discontinued unless there is documented demand within the transportation region.

     (f) A career pathway may be established within any high school in Rhode Island. The

department of education shall establish a pathway approval system. Career pathways must consist

of at least three (3) consecutive related full-year courses and include an internship experience. No

district shall be required to fund tuition and transportation expenses for student enrollment in a

pathway.

     (g) Career and technical funds allocated under § 16-7.2-6 shall be used solely for the

purpose of funding improvements to approved career and technical programs and facilities or for

funding related to the establishment of new career and technical programs in subsection (b) of

this section.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC001105

========

LC001105 - Page 3 of 4

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS [SEE TITLE 16

CHAPTER 97 -- THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT

***

     This act would amend the career and technical education program to provide standards in

curriculum, additional opportunities for students, and would provide certain tuition formulas and

reimbursement rates.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC001105

========

LC001105 - Page 4 of 4