2022 -- S 2574

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LC004249

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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 - CURRICULUM (SEE TITLE 19 CHAPTER 97 - THE

RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT)

     Introduced By: Senators Cano, Murray, DiPalma, Quezada, DiMario, Gallo, and Pearson

     Date Introduced: March 10, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-22-34 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22 entitled "Curriculum

[See Title 16 Chapter 97 - the Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read

as follows:

     16-22-34. The basic education program.

     (a) For the purposes of this chapter, the "basic education program" means a set of

regulations promulgated by the council on elementary and secondary education pursuant to its

delegated statutory authority to determine standards for the Rhode Island public education system

and the maintenance of local appropriation to support its implementation under Rhode Island

general laws.

     (b) The basic education program (BEP) shall include, but shall not be limited to, the

following basic elements:

     (1) A standard for students who are English language learners; and

     (2) Any other requirements set forth elsewhere in Rhode Island general laws or

departmental regulations.

     (c) By August 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the department of elementary and

secondary education (the "department") shall review BEP compliance of each local education

agency (LEA) within the state. The department shall:

     (1) Assess programmatic compliance with the BEP to ensure high-quality education is

available to all public school students, regardless of where they reside or which school they attend;

     (2) Determine the incremental cost to meet the BEP utilizing uniform chart of account

(UCOA) data from the LEA and all LEAs statewide;

     (3) Determine the sufficiency of both the state and the local education aid to the LEA to

meet the BEP; and

     (4) If a deficiency exists in the local education aid to the LEA to meet the BEP, the

department shall consult with the department of revenue to issue a joint report to the general

assembly on the feasibility of the municipality to raise sufficient funds to meet the BEP standard

set in law.

     (a) Definitions.

     (1) For the purposes of this chapter, the "basic education program" means a set of

regulations promulgated by the council on elementary and secondary education that establishes

minimum standard for the Rhode Island public education system.

     (b) The basic education program (BEP) shall include, but shall not be limited to, the

following basic elements:

     (1) A standard for students who are English language learners;

     (2) The requirements set forth in §§ 16-22-17 and 16-22-24; and

     (3) Any other requirements set forth elsewhere in Rhode Island general laws.

     (c) By October 1, 2022, and by October 1 in every even-numbered year thereafter, the

department of elementary and secondary education (the "department") shall review the BEP and

identify areas to update, if appropriate. Updates to the BEP shall be proposed to the council on

elementary and secondary education (the "council") by no later than November 1 of a review year,

and the council shall vote on the adoption of the updates by December 1, of a review year.

     (d) By October 1, 2022, and by October 1, in every even-numbered year thereafter, the

department shall complete a fiscal analysis that identifies the expected costs associated with the

requirements of the BEP. The department shall provide the fiscal analysis to the council no later

than November 1 of a review year.

     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 - CURRICULUM (SEE TITLE 19 CHAPTER 97 - THE

RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT)

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     This act would amend and revise the minimum standard for the public education system's

basic education program.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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