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) | |
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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: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Section 16-22-34 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22 entitled "Curriculum |
2 | [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - the Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read |
3 | as follows: |
4 | 16-22-34. The basic education program. |
5 | (a) For the purposes of this chapter, the "basic education program" means a set of |
6 | regulations promulgated by the council on elementary and secondary education pursuant to its |
7 | delegated statutory authority to determine standards for the Rhode Island public education system |
8 | and the maintenance of local appropriation to support its implementation under Rhode Island |
9 | general laws. |
10 | (b) The basic education program (BEP) shall include, but shall not be limited to, the |
11 | following basic elements: |
12 | (1) A standard for students who are English language learners; and |
13 | (2) Any other requirements set forth elsewhere in Rhode Island general laws or |
14 | departmental regulations. |
15 | (c) By August 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the department of elementary and |
16 | secondary education (the "department") shall review BEP compliance of each local education |
17 | agency (LEA) within the state. The department shall: |
18 | (1) Assess programmatic compliance with the BEP to ensure high-quality education is |
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1 | available to all public school students, regardless of where they reside or which school they attend; |
2 | (2) Determine the incremental cost to meet the BEP utilizing uniform chart of account |
3 | (UCOA) data from the LEA and all LEAs statewide; |
4 | (3) Determine the sufficiency of both the state and the local education aid to the LEA to |
5 | meet the BEP; and |
6 | (4) If a deficiency exists in the local education aid to the LEA to meet the BEP, the |
7 | department shall consult with the department of revenue to issue a joint report to the general |
8 | assembly on the feasibility of the municipality to raise sufficient funds to meet the BEP standard |
9 | set in law. |
10 | (a) Definitions. |
11 | (1) For the purposes of this chapter, the "basic education program" means a set of |
12 | regulations promulgated by the council on elementary and secondary education that establishes |
13 | minimum standard for the Rhode Island public education system. |
14 | (b) The basic education program (BEP) shall include, but shall not be limited to, the |
15 | following basic elements: |
16 | (1) A standard for students who are English language learners; |
17 | (2) The requirements set forth in ยงยง 16-22-17 and 16-22-24; and |
18 | (3) Any other requirements set forth elsewhere in Rhode Island general laws. |
19 | (c) By October 1, 2022, and by October 1 in every even-numbered year thereafter, the |
20 | department of elementary and secondary education (the "department") shall review the BEP and |
21 | identify areas to update, if appropriate. Updates to the BEP shall be proposed to the council on |
22 | elementary and secondary education (the "council") by no later than November 1 of a review year, |
23 | and the council shall vote on the adoption of the updates by December 1, of a review year. |
24 | (d) By October 1, 2022, and by October 1, in every even-numbered year thereafter, the |
25 | department shall complete a fiscal analysis that identifies the expected costs associated with the |
26 | requirements of the BEP. The department shall provide the fiscal analysis to the council no later |
27 | than November 1 of a review year. |
28 | 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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1 | This act would amend and revise the minimum standard for the public education system's |
2 | basic education program. |
3 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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