2021 -- H 5825

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LC002007

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE STATEWIDE VIRTUAL EDUCATION ACT [SEE

TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 -- THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT]

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Noret, Azzinaro, and Filippi

     Date Introduced: February 24, 2021

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-22.1-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22.1 entitled "The

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Statewide Virtual Education Act [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education

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Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-22.1-5. Regulations for virtual learning.

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     (a) With the direction and approval of the board of regents for elementary and secondary

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education, the commissioner for elementary and secondary education shall develop and promulgate

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regulations for Rhode Island school districts and other educational organizations that are using or

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intend to use virtual courses and other online learning opportunities with K-12 students and adult

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learners. The regulations shall include:

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     (1) Objective, standard criteria that ensures virtual courses and content for K-12 students

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are aligned with state content standards, meet or exceed the requirements of the state's basic

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education program, fulfill high school graduation requirements, and promote articulation with

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public higher education institutions in the state;

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     (2) Objective, standard criteria for school districts to use to select quality providers of

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virtual courses and online content, which may include local school districts, not-for-profit and for-

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profit postsecondary institutions, and other organizations;

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     (3) Objective, standard criteria that ensures teachers of virtual courses and other online

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learning activities are appropriately trained and qualified and meet certification requirements set

 

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forth by the commissioner of education;

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     (4) Objective, standard criteria that ensures that local policies shall not limit student access

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to quality online learning opportunities;

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     (5) Objective, standard criteria that school districts can use to ensure that all learners in

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Rhode Island have access to high quality, rigorous, and relevant virtual courses and other online

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learning activities;

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     (6) Objective, standard procedures that school districts shall use to report and verify the

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attendance and participation of a student enrolled in a virtual course;

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     (7) Standard accountability provisions that ensure school districts monitor students

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enrolled in virtual courses and other online learning activities and when appropriate, report on

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student progress and performance using grade-appropriate and content-appropriate assessments;

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     (8) Objective, standard criteria that ensures that RIDE participates in statewide efforts to

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support virtual learning education with a focus on student access to quality online learning

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opportunities and ensuring efficiencies gained by coordinating resources;

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     (9) Any other requirements or limitations for virtual courses in Rhode Island.

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     (b) When making determinations regarding eligibility for virtual learning education, the

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commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall deem a student whose parent or

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guardian is being relocated to the state under military orders and is transferred to or is pending

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transfer to a military installation within the state, a resident of this state and of the applicable local

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school system, for the entirety of the school year.

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     (c) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a child of a member of the active military

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service of the United States who has been assigned to duty elsewhere immediately following

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assignment to duty in Rhode Island shall be deemed an in-state resident, at the election of the

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service member, for purposes of virtual learning and attendance at school until the end of the

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pending school year.

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     (d) The commissioner for elementary and secondary education shall promulgate rules and

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regulation to effect the purpose of this section.

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     SECTION 2. 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 STATEWIDE VIRTUAL EDUCATION ACT [SEE

TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 -- THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT]

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     This act would provide that the commissioner of elementary and secondary education is to

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promulgate rules and regulations to implement that the students of military personnel transferred

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to Rhode Island shall be deemed a resident of this state for virtual learning. Additionally, this act

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provides that a child of a military service member transferred from Rhode Island, may finish the

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school year by virtual learning.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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