2022 -- S 2279

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LC004544

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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: Senators Lawson, Cano, DiMario, Murray, Ciccone, Picard, Lombardo,
Seveney, Quezada, and Euer

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-98-4 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]" is 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, 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, 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;

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

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

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

     (4)(5) 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 taking advanced placement courses at school entities in each

of the four (4) core academic areas.

     (iii) 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.

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

advanced placement courses.

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

advanced placement examination.

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

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

and do not take the advanced placement examination; and

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

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

Rhode Island.

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

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

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

herein; and

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

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

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

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.

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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

***

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

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

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

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

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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