2022 -- H 6603

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LC003611

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- ACCESS TO ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES FOR

ALL STUDENTS ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Amore, J Lombardi, Potter, Alzate, Giraldo, and Morales

     Date Introduced: January 06, 2022

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-98-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-98 entitled "Access to

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

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

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

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

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

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     (1) In consultation with the College Board, certify those teacher-training entities that are

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qualified to provide training of teachers to teach advanced placement courses in the four (4) core

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academic areas;

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

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

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entities to attend;

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

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

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

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advanced placement courses and examinations;

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     (4) Establish a process for the Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College

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and the University of Rhode Island to accept for college credit an advanced placement subject test

 

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score of three (3) ("qualified") or better in an advanced placement course provided herein;

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

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

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program that shall include, but not be limited to:

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

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

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     (ii) The number of students taking advanced placement courses at school entities in each

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of the four (4) core academic areas.

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

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

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

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advanced placement courses.

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     (v) The number of students taking advanced placement courses who do not take the

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advanced placement examination.

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     (vi) The number of students below the poverty level who take advanced placement courses.

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     (vii) The number of students below the poverty level who take advanced placement courses

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and do not take the advanced placement examination; and

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     (viii) The number of individuals applying advanced placement test scores towards college

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credit at the Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and the University of

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Rhode Island.

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     (ix) The number of college credits issued by the Community College of Rhode Island,

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Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island due to students' advanced placement

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subject test score of three (3) ("qualified") or better in an advanced placement course provided

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herein; and

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

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

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amount of students as practicable.

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     (b) Exemptions. The University of Rhode Island's College of Engineering shall be exempt

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from the provisions of subsections (a)(4) and (a)(5)(vi) of this section.

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     (b)(c) 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

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

 

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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 -- ACCESS TO ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES FOR

ALL STUDENTS ACT

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     This act would establish a process for the Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode

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Island College and the University of Rhode Island to accept for college credit an advanced

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placement subject test score of three (3) ("qualified") or better in an advanced placement course.

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The University of Rhode Island's College of Engineering would be exempt from this process.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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