2021 -- S 0209 SUBSTITUTE A

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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 -- ACCESS TO ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES FOR

ALL STUDENTS ACT

     Introduced By: Senators Lawson, Gallo, Euer, Cano, Pearson, Picard, Sosnowski,
DiPalma, Goldin, and Quezada

     Date Introduced: February 10, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 16-98-4 and 16-98-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-98 entitled

"Access to Advanced Placement Courses for All Students Act [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode

Island Board of Education Act]" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-98-4. Powers and duties of department.

     (a) Guidelines. The department shall promulgate rules, regulations and procedures

necessary for the implementation of this chapter including, but not limited to, the following:

     (1) In consultation with the college board College Board, certify those teacher-training

entities that are qualified to provide training of teachers to teach advanced placement courses in the

four (4) core academic areas;

     (2) In certifying teacher-training entities for this program, the department shall ensure that

the training times and locations will be geographically accessible for teachers from eligible school

entities to attend;

     (3) The department, in consultation with the college board College Board, shall ensure that

training provided by those teacher-training entities must provide teachers of advanced placement

courses with the necessary content knowledge and instructional skills to prepare students for

success in advanced placement courses and examinations; and

     (4) Starting at the end of the first year of the program, and every year thereafter, the

department shall issue a report to the general assembly on the advanced placement teacher-training

program that shall include, but not be limited to:

     (i) The number of teachers receiving training in advanced placement instructions in school

entities, school districts and high schools in each of the four (4) core academic areas.

     (ii) The number of students in each school who:

     (A) Take taking advanced placement courses at school entities in each of the four (4) core

academic areas.

     (iii)(B) Score The number of students scoring a three (3) or more on an advanced placement

examination at school entities in each of the four (4) core academic areas.

     (C) Take advanced placement courses and do not take the advanced placement

examination.

     (iv)(iii) The remaining unmet need for trained teachers in school entities that do not offer

advanced placement courses.

     (iv) The number of students below the poverty level in each school who:

     (A) Take advanced placement courses in each of the four (4) core academic areas.

     (B) Score a three (3) or more on an advanced placement examination in each of the four

(4) core academic areas.

     (C) Take advanced placement courses and do not take the advanced placement

examination;

     (v) The number of differently-abled students in each school who:

     (A) Take advanced placement courses in each of the four (4) core academic areas.

     (B) Score a three (3) or more on an advanced placement examination in each of the four

(4) core academic areas.

     (C) Take advanced placement courses and do not take the advanced placement

examination.

     (vi) The number of English language learner students in each school who:

     (A) Take advanced placement courses in each of the four (4) core academic areas.

     (B) Score a three (3) or more on an advanced placement examination in each of the four

(4) core academic areas.

     (C) Take advanced placement courses and do not take the advanced placement

examination.

     (5) In consultation with local education authorities, ensure that the opportunity to

participate in the advanced placement program and gain college credit is available to the greatest

amount of students as practicable.

     (b) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the board of education, through the department,

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from expanding the program to include other nationally accepted courses of study that provide

students an opportunity to gain college credits from classes taken in high school.

     16-98-6. Program funding.

     (a) Funding for this program is subject to appropriation by the general assembly to the

department for that purpose.

     (b) In the event that insufficient moneys are appropriated in any fiscal year to provide

funding for all eligible school entities applying to the program, the department shall prioritize

funding of eligible school entities based on the poverty level of the school districts that high school

students who will be taking the advanced placement courses reside in.

     (c) Notwithstanding any general law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the department shall

include as part of its annual budget the amount necessary to pay the exam costs for all students

below the poverty level who take advanced courses.

     (d) Funds allocated for the purpose of paying the cost of the examinations may be used

only to pay those costs and may be carried over into the next fiscal year for the same purpose.

     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 -- ACCESS TO ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES FOR

ALL STUDENTS ACT

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     This act also expands the reach of access to advanced placement courses to ensure that the

opportunity to participate in the advanced placement program and gain college credit is available

to the greatest amount of students as practicable.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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