2022 -- H 7480

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LC004466

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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 - ARIANNA'S SPEECH FLUENCY ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Amore, Fenton-Fung, and Quattrocchi

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2022

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by

adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 67.3

ARIANNA'S SPEECH FLUENCY ACT

     16-67.3-1. Legislative findings and declarations.

     The general assembly finds and declares:

     (1) This chapter shall be known as the "Arianna's Speech Fluency Act" in recognition of

Arianna Maggiacomo, a child from the state of Rhode Island with speech fluency issues.

     (2) The Rhode Island economy will benefit from a workforce which can read at grade level.

     (3) All students will benefit from teachers who are trained in a language-based,

multisensory, structured, sequential, cumulative, cognitive and flexible reading program, such as

the Orton-Gillingham classroom education program.

     (4) There are many teachers throughout the state who have expressed interest in learning a

language-based, multisensory, structured, sequential, cumulative, cognitive and flexible reading

program, such as Orton-Gillingham, but they, and the school districts, lack the funds to take the

course.

     16-67.3-2. Pilot program created - Orton-Gillingham classroom educator program.

     There is hereby created a three (3) year pilot program that will provide teachers with an

opportunity to learn a language-based, multisensory, structured, sequential, cumulative, cognitive

and flexible reading program, such as Orton-Gillingham up to and until June 30, 2025.

     16-67.3-3. Department of elementary and secondary education responsibilities.

     (a) The department of elementary and secondary education (the "department") shall

disseminate, using web-based technology, research-based best-practice methods by which the state

and district school boards and committees shall evaluate and improve the professional development

system of teachers in regard to student speech fluency.

     (b) The department shall also disseminate, using web-based technology, professional

development in the use of integrated digital instruction at schools that include middle grades.

     16-67.3-4. Teacher professional development and training.

     No later than September 1, 2022, the department shall develop and make available on its

website resources to assist school districts in developing a program to ensure all teachers and school

administrators have access to materials to support professional awareness of best practices on:

     (1) Recognition of the characteristics of student speech fluency pathology; and

     (2) Evidence-based interventions and accommodations for student speech fluency

pathology.

     16-67.3-5. Appropriation for teacher training.

     The general assembly for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022 and for each year thereafter

until July 1, 2025, shall appropriate a minimum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for teacher

training in the Orton-Gillingham classroom educator program or similar program as designated by

the department of education.

     16-67.3-6. Rules and regulations.

     The department shall promulgate rules, regulations, and procedures for teachers and/or

school districts to seek funding and/or reimbursement for funds expended for training in the Orton-

Gillingham classroom educator program. Funding and/or reimbursement shall be provided in

compliance with the rules, regulations and procedures promulgated by the department for courses

consisting of at least five (5) days of training up to a maximum of ten (10) days of training in the

Orton-Gillingham classroom educator program.

     16-67.3-7. Reporting required - Sunset provision.

     (a) On or before January 31, 2025, the department shall submit to the general assembly, a

report on the program that shall include the number of teachers who participated in the training

program and the districts in which they taught.

     (b) Unless extended by the general assembly, the Orton-Gillingham classroom educator

pilot program and the provisions of this chapter shall sunset on July 1, 2025.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2022 and shall sunset on July 1, 2025.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - ARIANNA'S SPEECH FLUENCY ACT

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     This act would provide that the general assembly would appropriate $50,000 annually for

a three (3) year pilot program on teacher training in the Orton-Gillingham classroom educator

program.

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2022 and would sunset on July 1, 2025.

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