2019 -- S 0657

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LC000924

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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

     

     Introduced By: Senators Quezada, Metts, Cano, Nesselbush, and Pearson

     Date Introduced: March 21, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-22.2-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22.2 entitled

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"Biliteracy Seal" is hereby repealed.

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     16-22.2-1. Legislative intent.

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     (a) It is the intent of the legislature to encourage excellence for all pupils, and the

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legislature wishes to publicly recognize pupils for exemplary achievements in academic studies.

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     (b) The study of languages other than English in elementary and secondary schools

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should be encouraged because it contributes to a pupil's cognitive development and to our

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national economy and security.

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     (c) Proficiency in multiple languages is critical in enabling Rhode Island to participate

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effectively in a global political, social, and economic context, and in expanding trade with other

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countries.

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     (d) The demand for employees to be fluent in more than one language is increasing both

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in Rhode Island and throughout the world.

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     (e) The benefits to employers in having staff fluent in more than one language are clear

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and include access to an expanded market; allowing business owners to better serve their

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customers' needs; and the sparking of new marketing ideas that better target a particular audience

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and open a channel of communication with customers.

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     (f) It is the intent of the legislature to promote linguistic proficiency and cultural literacy

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in one or more languages, in addition to English, and to provide recognition of the attainment of

 

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those needed and important skills through the establishment of the state seal of biliteracy. A state

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seal of biliteracy would be affixed on the high school diplomas and transcripts of graduating

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pupils attaining proficiency in one or more languages, in addition to English.

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     SECTION 2. Section 16-22.2-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22.2 entitled

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"Biliteracy Seal" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-22.2-2. State seal of biliteracy.

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     (a) A state seal of biliteracy is established to recognize high school graduates who have

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attained a high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more

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languages, in addition to English. The state seal of biliteracy shall be awarded by the

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commissioner beginning with the class of 2020. School district participation in this program shall

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be voluntary.

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     (b) The purposes of the state seal of biliteracy are as follows:

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     (1) To encourage pupils to study languages;

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     (2) To certify attainment of biliteracy;

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     (3) To provide employers with a method of identifying people with language and

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biliteracy skills;

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     (4) To provide universities with an additional method to recognize applicants seeking

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admission;

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     (5) To prepare pupils with twenty-first century skills;

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     (6) To recognize the value of foreign language and native language instruction in public

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schools. For the purpose of this section "foreign language" means any language other than

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English, including all modern languages, Latin, American sign language, native American

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languages, and native languages; and

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     (7) To strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the value of diversity, and honor the

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multiple cultures and languages of a community.

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     (c) The state seal of biliteracy certifies attainment of a high level of proficiency by a

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graduating high school pupil in one or more languages, in addition to English.

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     (d) The council on elementary and secondary education shall promulgate such regulations

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of the commissioner as may be necessary to establish the criteria that students must achieve to

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earn a state seal of biliteracy, which may include, but shall not be limited to, attainment of units

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of credit in English language arts and languages other than English; passage of state assessments

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in English language arts and languages other than English; and passage of such additional

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assessments of foreign language proficiency as may be approved by the commissioner for this

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purpose.

 

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     (e) The commissioner shall do both of the following:

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     (1) Prepare and deliver, to participating school districts, an appropriate insignia to be

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affixed to the diploma and transcript of the pupil indicating that the pupil has been awarded a

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state seal of biliteracy by the commissioner.

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     (2) Provide other information they deem necessary for school districts to successfully

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participate in the program.

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     (f) A school district that participates in the program under this section shall do both of the

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following:

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     (1) Maintain appropriate records in order to identify pupils who have earned a state seal

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of biliteracy.

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     (2) Affix the appropriate insignia to the diploma and transcript of each pupil who earns a

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state seal of biliteracy.

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     (g) No fee shall be charged to a pupil pursuant to this section.

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     (h) The commissioner shall report to the general assembly not later than August 1, 2020

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and each year thereafter a detailed report on the number of pupils who have earned and been

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awarded a state seal of biliteracy and the language in which it was earned for that academic year

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and previous five (5) years if applicable.

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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

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     This act would mandate that the state seal of biliteracy be awarded by the commissioner

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beginning with the class of 2020. There would be a report to the general assembly by the

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commissioner not later than August 1, 2020 and each year thereafter on the number of students

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who have earned and been awarded a state seal of biliteracy.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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