2019 -- H 5853

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND EARLY CHILDHOOD

INNOVATION ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Diaz, Kislak, Jackson, and Slater

     Date Introduced: March 14, 2019

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. The general assembly finds and declares as follows:

     (1) The first three (3) years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a

baby's development.

     A child's early relationships with parents and caregivers can promote healthy brain

development, build social and emotional skills, and support language and literacy development

starting from birth.

     (2) Children who come from families who are identified as at-risk based on

socioeconomic status, parent education level, and limited parent knowledge or experience are

significantly less likely to be proficient in reading and math than other students when they enter

school, experiencing an education achievement gap (hereinafter referred to in chapter 87.1 as the

"achievement gap") which begins at birth and is often further exacerbated as children progress in

their education.

     (3) There is overwhelming evidence that the state of Rhode Island could expect a very

high return to the public by investing in high quality early childhood programming for all of our

children.

     (4) Early childhood investments targeted towards program development for

disadvantaged children will help to promote both efficiency and educational equality for the

children of our state.

     (5) While recognizing the efforts that have been made through the "Rhode Island

prekindergarten education act", chapter 87 of title 16, more effort can and should be expended to

reach children at an even younger age.

     (6) The general assembly seeks to develop a research-based model for children ages three

(3) years of age and under and that focuses on low income and at-risk families to eliminate the

achievement gap.

     (7) The expansion of funding for programs that advance outcomes for children during the

early years of life is critical to achieving the state's goal for grade-level reading by the third grade.

     SECTION 2. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 87.1

RHODE ISLAND EARLY CHILDHOOD INNOVATION ACT

     16-87.1-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Early Childhood

Innovation Act."

     16-87.1-2. Definitions.

     As used in this section:

     (1) "Achievement gap" means the difference in educational success and proficiency in

reading and math experienced by children who come from families who are identified as at-risk

based on socioeconomic status, parent education level, and limited parental knowledge or

experience. These children are significantly less likely to be proficient in reading and math than

other students when they enter school, especially in kindergarten, and they experience an

education achievement gap which begins at birth and is often further exacerbated as these

children progress in their education.

     (2) "At-risk families" means those who are identified as having one risk factor on the RI

newborn health assessment.

     16-87.1-3. Innovative fund authorized.

     (a) The department of human services shall establish an early childhood innovation fund.

The purpose of this fund shall be to support programs that seek to close the achievement gap that

currently exists for at-risk children as they enter kindergarten. The general assembly shall allocate

one million dollars ($1,000,000) each year to invest in high quality, evidence informed,

voluntary, early childhood models that expand upon the current landscape of programs directed at

children from birth to three (3) years of age, and to allow successful existing programs to serve

more at-risk families. Recipients of funding may include nonprofit organizations, local

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governments, universities, and local education authorities.

     (b) The department of human services, working together with the department of

education, shall create a competitive request for proposals process to allocate funding for the

fiscal year no later than October 1 prior to the start of the fiscal year for which funding shall be

distributed. The request for proposals should fund only programs with evidence of model

effectiveness, clear procedures for ensuring program quality and an ongoing commitment to, and

plans for, advanced evaluation of results. Priority should be given to those programs that seek to

engage and support parents and caregivers as leaders in their child's education.

     (c) The department of human services shall communicate its efforts through this fund

with the home visiting program in the department of health to best ensure coordination of efforts

across early childhood. Programs funded through this fund will implement procedures for

ensuring that families are referred to other state funded early childhood programs such as, but not

limited to, department of health evidence-based home visiting programs from which they would

benefit. Programs with demonstrated experience linking families to additional resources should

be given priority in the funding competition.

     16-87.1-4. Reporting.

     On or before October 31, 2020, and annually thereafter by October 31, the department of

human services shall report back to the general assembly and the governor on the status and

progress of the pilot program authorized by this chapter.

     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 RHODE ISLAND EARLY CHILDHOOD

INNOVATION ACT

***

     This act would establish the Rhode Island Early Childhood Innovation Act. The act

would authorize the department of human services to establish an early childhood innovation

fund for the purpose of supporting programs designed to narrow the education achievement gap

for at-risk children as they enter kindergarten. The act provides the general assembly would

allocate $1,000,000 annually to this fund.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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