2019 -- H 5553 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENCOURAGING MORE PERSONS OF COLOR TO ENTER

THE FIELD OF EDUCATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Alzate, McNamara, Casimiro, Kazarian, and Maldonado

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     WHEREAS, A report by the Learning Policy Institute showed that a diverse teacher

workforce is a very important strategy for improving learning and closing achievement gaps for

students of color; and

     WHEREAS, Increasing the number of teachers of color in Rhode Island's schools is not

only important and beneficial for students of color; a diverse teacher workforce that represents the

state's overall demographics will also benefit students of all racial backgrounds; now, therefore be

it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of thirteen (13) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of

Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary

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; three (3) of whom shall be

members of student focused organizations, such as, but not limited to, Providence Student Union,

Young Voices, Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education, and Youth in Action, to

be appointed by the Speaker of the House; three (3) of whom shall be members of community

based organizations with vested interest in the issue of teachers of color, such as, but not limited

to, EduLeaders of Color, Rhode Island Coalition for Educators of Color, Breakthrough

Providence, and Teach for America, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of

whom shall be a member of the Educational Studies faculty at Rhode Island College, to be

appointed by the Speaker of the House.

     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 and make recommendations for

encouraging students and persons of color to enter and continue to be involved in the field of

education. The work and recommendations should include, but not be limited to:

     ( Develop an approach to inform students of color in the state on the importance and

benefits of entering the field of education;

     ( Identify relevant research and successful practices to enhance minority teacher

recruitment and retention throughout the state;

     ( Identify and establish public, private, and philanthropic partnerships to increase

minority (meaning individuals whose race is other than white, or whose ethnicity is Hispanic or

Latino as that term is used by the U.S. Census Bureau) teacher recruitment, including, but not

limited to teacher preparation programs;

     ( Advise and support local and regional boards of education to prioritize minority

teacher recruitment and develop innovative strategies to attract and retain minority teachers

within their districts;

     ( Review the requirements that prevent persons of color from choosing this profession

and remaining in it, including, but not limited to, teacher preparation programs, certification

requirements, and lack of diversity in union leadership; and

     ( Identify a process or method to prepare, support, and encourage school leadership to

increase retention of teachers of color.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, 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

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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 April 17, 2020, and said commission shall expire on June

17, 2020.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENCOURAGING MORE PERSONS OF COLOR TO ENTER

THE FIELD OF EDUCATION

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     This resolution would create a thirteen (13) member special legislative commission

whose purpose it would be to study and make recommendations for encouraging more persons of

color to enter the field of education, and who would report back to the House of Representatives

on or before April 17, 2020, and whose life would expire on June 17, 2020.

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