Chapter
244
2004 -- H 7986
Enacted 07/01/04
A N A C T
RELATING
TO EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND STUDENT INVESTMENT
INITIATIVE
Introduced
By: Representatives Crowley, Savage, and Watson
Date
Introduced: February 12, 2004
It
is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION
1. Section 16-7.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7.1 entitled "The
Rhode
Island Student Investment Initiative" is hereby amended to read as
follows:
16-7.1-2.
Accountability for student performance. -- (a) The board of regents
shall
adopt
and publish statewide standards of performance and performance benchmarks in
core
subject
areas to include writing and mathematics (grades four (4), eight (8), and ten
(10)). These
standards
and performance benchmarks shall be ratified by the board and implemented, and
performance
standards and performance benchmarks for reading in two (2) grades shall be
added.
(b) Districts and schools need to be held accountable for student performance
results.
Therefore,
every school district receiving state education aid under this title shall
develop a
district
strategic plan. The district strategic plan shall: (1) be based on high
academic standards
for
student performance consistent with the statewide standards and benchmarks; (2)
be the
product
of a shared community wide process which defines a vision of what students
should
know
and be able to do; (3) address the needs of each school in the district; (4)
encourage the
development
of school-based improvement planning and implementation; (5) include a process
for
mentoring of new teachers; (6) be designed to improve student achievement with
emphasis on
closing
the performance gaps among groups of students such as the performance gaps
correlated
with
poverty, gender, language background, and disability; (7) include establishment
of student
intervention
teams to address the instructional needs of diverse learners, include high
standards of
student
behavior designed to create an orderly educational environment with due regard
for the
rights
of students, and an asset protection plan; and (8) be consistent with Rhode
Island's
comprehensive
education strategy. In order to assure the most efficient use of resources
implementing
strategic plans, districts and schools are encouraged to work together as
consortia
and
as part of the regional collaboratives.
(c) (1) The strategic plan shall include strategies to improve the performance
of students
in
mathematics, reading, and writing. Each plan must describe a scientific
research based, as
described
in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Title 1, Part B, Section 1208 [20
U.S.C.
section
6368] reading instruction to improve the reading skills of all students in the
early grades
(kindergarten
through grade three (3) five (5)) that is aligned with the board
of regents reading
policy.
The district must develop, implement and evaluate a Personal Literacy Program
for each
student
in these grades who is performing below grade level. These strategies shall be
based on
the
adequate yearly progress expected for students and schools. Annual performance
targets for
determining
whether schools and districts have made adequate yearly progress will be set by
the
commissioner
of elementary and secondary education. The general assembly expects these
district
strategies to increase the number of fourth grade students performing at or
above the
proficient
standard in mathematics, reading, and writing in each district and school. The
increase
shall
be established annually in accordance with section 16-7.1-4.
(2) The general assembly recognizes the contribution of school counselors to
positive
educational
change, to the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and to
the
success
of students in three (3) developmental domains: academic, career, and
personal/social. It
endorses
the National Standards for School Counseling Programs as developed by the
American
School
Counselor Association (ASCA). Further, the general assembly encourages every
district
to
implement a K-12 standards-based comprehensive, developmental school counseling
program.
(d) Each strategic plan must indicate the manner in which self-studies will be
completed
at
the school level in accordance with guidelines established by the commissioner.
Funds shall be
appropriated
to the department of elementary and secondary education to assist districts
with on-
site
reviews. Schools to be visited shall be determined by the commissioner.
(e) Each strategic plan must indicate the method in which school administrators
and staff
shall
achieve and maintain an orderly educational environment in accordance with due
process
and
with due regard for the rights of students.
(f) Each strategic plan shall include the development of inter-agency
agreements for the
coordination
of services among state and local agencies responsible for service to children
and
families.
These agreements shall address the identification and provision of services to
pre-school
children
with disabilities and children and youth with behavioral health care needs.
(g) All district strategic plans and annual updates shall be submitted to the
commissioner
of
elementary and secondary education no later than May 1, of each year.
SECTION
2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC02359
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