| Chapter 297 |
| 2022 -- S 3015 Enacted 06/29/2022 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT |
Introduced By: Senators Acosta, and Cano |
| Date Introduced: June 13, 2022 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 16-96-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-96 entitled "The College |
| and Career Success for All Students Act [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of |
| Education Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 16-96-3. Definitions. |
| As used in this chapter: |
| (1) "Advanced Placement course" means a course sponsored by the college board and |
| offered for college credit at the high school level. |
| (2) "Advanced Placement teacher" means a teacher of an advanced placement course. |
| (3) "Pre-Advanced Placement" means set professional development resources and services |
| that equip all middle and high school teachers with the strategies and tools they need to engage |
| their students in active, high-level learning, thereby ensuring that every middle and high school |
| student develops the skills, habits of mind, and concepts they need to succeed in advanced |
| placement courses. |
| (4) "Board of regents" means the board of regents for elementary and secondary education. |
| (5) "FAFSA" means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form that allows eligible |
| students the opportunity to obtain federal financial aid through the U.S. Department of Education |
| to assist with the cost of postsecondary education. |
| (6) "Rhode Island alternative financial aid application" means the form that allows eligible |
| students who are not permitted to fill out the FAFSA an opportunity to apply for state financial aid, |
| regardless of their immigration status, to assist with the cost of postsecondary education. |
| (5)(7) "Vertical team" means a group of teachers and educators from different grade levels |
| in a given discipline who work cooperatively to develop and implement a vertically aligned |
| program aimed at helping students from diverse backgrounds acquire the academic skills necessary |
| for success in advanced placement courses and other challenging courses. |
| SECTION 2. Chapter 16-96 of the General Laws entitled "The College and Career Success |
| for All Students Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
| 16-96-6. Notice to be given regarding applications for student financial assistance. |
| (a) On and after July 1, 2023, the guidance department of every public or private high |
| school in the state shall ensure that notices (the "notice") are provided to students and their parent, |
| guardian, or responsible adult, regarding the merit and benefits of completing and filing the FAFSA |
| form (the "FAFSA") and the Rhode Island alternative financial aid application form (the |
| "alternative application"). This notice shall be provided in either the student’s junior year or no |
| later than November 1 of the student’s senior year. The guidance department shall determine the |
| form for providing the notice which that shall best ensure the information is communicated both |
| to the student and to the student’s parent, guardian, or responsible adult. |
| (b) The form of the notice may include, but shall not limited to, a written paper or hard |
| copy writing or an electronic copy. The notice may be provided in multiple formats. A hard copy |
| of the notice shall be kept in the student's file. |
| (c) The notice shall include, but not be limited to, the following: |
| (1) A general explanation of what the FAFSA and the alternative application are; |
| (2) The potential merit to and benefits of completing and submitting a FAFSA or |
| alternative application, including, but not limited to, the awarding of financial aid, income or need- |
| based aid, merit and other scholarship money, the Promise Scholarship, and Pell Grants, to pursue |
| post-secondary postsecondary education; |
| (3) A general discussion on what financial aid is and the many forms it can take; |
| (4) General instructions on how to complete each form; and |
| (5) Links to the applicable websites shall also be included. |
| (d) The notice may include referrals to organizations, websites, and other resources to |
| provide more detailed instructions on the completion of the forms. |
| SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC006126 |
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