2013 -- S 639 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

=======

LC01957/SUB A/2

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION

     Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, Paiva Weed, Ruggerio, Gallo, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: March 06, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Education

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

1-2

by adding thereto the following chapter:

1-3

     CHAPTER 100

1-4

DUAL ENROLLMENT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACT

1-5

     16-100-1. Short title. -- This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Dual

1-6

Enrollment Equal Opportunity Act.”

1-7

     16-100-2. Definition.--“Dual Enrollment” means that a student is enrolled in a secondary

1-8

school while simultaneously enrolled at a local public institution of higher learning, such as a

1-9

community college or university.”

1-10

     16-100-3. Policy implemented. – (a) The Board of Education shall prescribe by

1-11

regulation a statewide dual enrollment policy that shall allow students to enroll in courses at

1-12

postsecondary institutions to satisfy academic credit requirements in both high school and the

1-13

aforementioned postsecondary institutions. The regulations shall address the postsecondary

1-14

institution’s graduation requirements, if any; the institution’s ability to award degrees/certificates

1-15

in Rhode Island; the minimum course grade to receive credit at the student’s secondary school;

1-16

and any other criteria that the Board deems appropriate.

1-17

     (b) The board shall convene a workgroup, including, but not limited to, representatives

1-18

from superintendents, school committees, public higher education institutions and teachers. The

1-19

purpose of the workgroup is to consider and advise the board as to a dual enrollment policy and

1-20

its possible effect on school funding pursuant to section 16-7.2, possible shared costs of the

2-1

education, possible fee schedules, manners in which low-income students could access the

2-2

program and, possible contracted tuition costs with our public higher education institutions.

2-3

     16-100-4. Dual enrollment adoption. -- School districts and schools must adopt the

2-4

statewide dual enrollment policy promulgated pursuant to this section by June 30, 2015. All

2-5

school districts, charter schools, career and technical schools, approved private day or residential

2-6

schools and collaborative schools shall be subject to the requirements of this section.

2-7

     16-100-5. Reporting. -- School districts that have students participating in dual

2-8

enrollment programs shall report to the department of elementary and secondary education on an

2-9

annual basis regarding the number of students, the number of credits earned at postsecondary

2-10

institutions, the name of the institution, and the dollar amount the school district is allocated for

2-11

this program. The department of education shall provide the governor, president of the senate and

2-12

speaker of the house a report that shall contain the above information provided by district and in

2-13

the aggregate on an annual basis by October 31 of each year, commencing on October 31, 2015.

2-14

     SECTION 2: This act shall take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01957/SUB A/2

========

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION

***

3-1

     This act would require the board of education to prescribe by regulation a statewide dual

3-2

enrollment policy that would allow students to enroll in courses at postsecondary institutions to

3-3

satisfy academic credit requirements in both high school and the aforementioned postsecondary

3-4

institutions.

3-5

     This act would take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01957/SUB A/2

=======

2013 -- S 639 H.

SUBSTITUTE A

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION

=======

LC01957/SUB A/2

=======

======================================================================

Presented by