| Chapter 247 |
| 2019 -- S 0755 Enacted 07/15/2019 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO EDUCATION - CURRICULUM [SEE TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 - THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT] |
| Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Picard, Metts, and Pearson |
| Date Introduced: April 04, 2019 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 16-22-4 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: |
| 16-22-4. Instruction in health and physical education. |
| (a) All children in grades one through twelve (12) attending public schools, or any other |
| schools managed and controlled by the state, except as provided in § 16-100-3(d), shall receive in |
| those schools instruction in health and physical education under rules and regulations the |
| department of elementary and secondary education may prescribe or approve during periods that |
| shall average at least twenty (20) minutes in each school day. No private school or private |
| instruction shall be approved by any school committee for the purposes of chapter 19 of this title |
| as substantially equivalent to that required by law of a child attending a public school in the same |
| city or town unless instruction in health and physical education similar to that required in public |
| schools shall be given. Commencing September 1, 2012, the required health education curriculum |
| shall be based on the health education standards of the Rhode Island health education framework: |
| health literacy for all students as promulgated by the Rhode Island department of education and |
| consistent with the mandated health instructional outcomes therein. Commencing September 1, |
| 2012, the required physical education curriculum shall be based on the physical education |
| standards of the Rhode Island physical education framework: supporting physically active |
| lifestyles through quality physical education as promulgated by the Rhode Island department of |
| education and consistent with the instructional outcomes therein. |
| (b) The department of elementary and secondary education shall incorporate, in |
| consultation with the state department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and |
| hospitals, substance-abuse prevention and suicide prevention into the health education |
| curriculum. For the purpose of this section, "substance-abuse prevention" means the |
| implementation of evidence-based, age-appropriate programs, practices, or curricula related to the |
| use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; "suicide prevention" means the |
| implementation of evidence-based, appropriate programs, practices, or curricula related to mental |
| health awareness and suicide prevention. |
| SECTION 2. Section 16-100-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-100 entitled "Dual |
| Enrollment Equal Opportunity Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 16-100-3. Policy implemented. |
| (a) The Board board of Education education shall prescribe by regulation a statewide |
| dual enrollment policy that shall allow students to enroll in courses at postsecondary institutions |
| to satisfy academic credit requirements in both high school and the aforementioned postsecondary |
| institutions. The regulations shall address the postsecondary institution's graduation requirements, |
| if any; the institution's ability to award degrees/certificates in Rhode Island; the minimum course |
| grade to receive credit at the student's secondary school; and any other criteria that the Board |
| board deems appropriate. |
| (b) The board shall convene a workgroup, including, but not limited to, representatives |
| from the department of elementary and secondary education, the office of the postsecondary |
| commissioner, superintendents, school committees, public higher education institutions, guidance |
| counselors, and teachers. The purpose of the workgroup is to consider and advise the board as to |
| a dual enrollment policy and its possible effect on school funding pursuant to chapter 7.2 of title |
| 16 this title; academic supports; transportation; possible shared costs of the education; possible |
| fee schedules; manners in which low-income students could access the program; and possible |
| contracted tuition costs with our public higher education institutions. |
| (c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, payments to public institutions of higher |
| education for dual and concurrent enrollment shall be limited to no greater than the appropriation |
| contained in the appropriations act. On or before September 30, 2017, the council on |
| postsecondary education shall promulgate rules and regulations enforcing this limitation. |
| (d) Students in grade twelve (12) enrolled full-time, as defined by the institution, in a |
| dual enrollment program where the courses are taken on a higher education institution campus |
| shall be exempt from the requirements set forth in § 16-22-4(a). |
| SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
| ======== |
| LC000744 |
| ======== |