2022 -- H 7340

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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 -- THE RHODE ISLAND EARLY CHILDHOOD

INNOVATION ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, and Giraldo

     Date Introduced: February 04, 2022

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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

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

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starting from birth.

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

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status, parent education level, and limited parent knowledge or experience are significantly less

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likely to be proficient in reading and math than other students when they enter school, experiencing

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an education achievement gap (hereinafter referred to in chapter 87.1 as the "achievement gap")

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which begins at birth and is often further exacerbated as children progress in their education.

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

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

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     (4) Early childhood investments targeted towards program development for disadvantaged

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children will help to promote both efficiency and educational equality for the children of our state.

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

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

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reach children at an even younger age.

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

 

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

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achievement gap.

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

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

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

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adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 87.1

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RHODE ISLAND EARLY CHILDHOOD INNOVATION ACT

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     16-87.1-1. Short title.

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

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Innovation Act."

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     16-87.1-2. Definitions.

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     As used in this section:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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in their education.

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

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newborn health assessment.

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     16-87.1-3. Innovative fund authorized.

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

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

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

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

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

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from birth to three (3) years of age, and to allow successful existing programs to serve more at-risk

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families. Recipients of funding may include nonprofit organizations, local governments,

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universities, and local education authorities.

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

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shall create a competitive request for proposals process to allocate funding for the fiscal year no

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later than October 1 prior to the start of the fiscal year for which funding shall be distributed. The

 

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request for proposals should fund only programs with evidence of model effectiveness, clear

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procedures for ensuring program quality and an ongoing commitment to, and plans for, advanced

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evaluation of results. Priority should be given to those programs that seek to engage and support

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

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

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

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

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

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department of health evidence-based home visiting programs from which they would benefit.

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Programs with demonstrated experience linking families to additional resources should be given

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priority in the funding competition.

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     16-87.1-4. Reporting.

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     On or before October 31, 2023, and annually thereafter by October 31, the department of

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

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progress of the pilot program authorized by this chapter.

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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 -- THE RHODE ISLAND EARLY CHILDHOOD

INNOVATION ACT

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

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

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purpose of supporting programs designed to narrow the education achievement gap for at-risk

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children as they enter kindergarten. The act would provide that the general assembly would allocate

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$1,000,000 annually to this fund.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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