2021 -- H 5317

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - ARIANNA'S SPEECH FLUENCY ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Quattrocchi, Place, Filippi, and Chippendale

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2021

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 67.3

ARIANNA'S SPEECH FLUENCY ACT

     16-67.3-1. Legislative findings and declarations.

     The general assembly finds and declares:

     (1) This chapter shall be known as the "Arianna's Speech Fluency Act" in recognition of

Arianna Maggiacomo, a child from the state of Rhode Island with speech fluency issues.

     (2) The Rhode Island economy will benefit from a workforce which can read at grade level.

     (3) All students will benefit from teachers who are trained in a language-based,

multisensory, structured, sequential, cumulative, cognitive and flexible reading program, such as

the Orton-Gillingham classroom education program.

     (4) There are many teachers throughout the state who have expressed interest in learning a

language-based, multisensory, structured, sequential, cumulative, cognitive and flexible reading

program, such as Orton-Gillingham, but they, and the school districts, lack the funds to take the

course.

     16-67.3-2. Department of elementary and secondary education responsibilities.

     (a) The department of elementary and secondary education (the "department") shall

disseminate, using web-based technology, research-based best-practice methods by which the state

and district school boards and committees shall evaluate and improve the professional development

system of teachers in regard to student speech fluency.

     (b) The department shall also disseminate, using web-based technology, professional

development in the use of integrated digital instruction at schools that include middle grades.

     16-67.3-3. Teacher professional development and training.

     No later than September 1, 2022, the department of elementary and secondary education

shall develop and make available on its website resources to assist school districts in developing a

program to ensure all teachers and school administrators have access to materials to support

professional awareness of best practices on:

     (1) Recognition of the characteristics of student speech fluency pathology; and

     (2) Evidence-based interventions and accommodations for student speech fluency

pathology.

     16-67.3-4. Appropriation for teacher training.

     The general assembly for fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 and for each year thereafter shall

appropriate a minimum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for teacher training in the Orton-

Gillingham classroom educator program or similar program as designated by the department of

education.

     16-67.3-5. Rules and regulations.

     The department of education shall promulgate rules, regulations, and procedures for

teachers and/or school districts to seek funding and/or reimbursement for funds expended for

training in the Orton-Gillingham classroom educator program. Funding and/or reimbursement shall

be provided in compliance with the rules, regulations and procedures promulgated by the

department of education for courses consisting of at least five (5) days of training up to a maximum

of ten (10) days of training in the Orton-Gillingham classroom educator program.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2021.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - ARIANNA'S SPEECH FLUENCY ACT

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     This act would provide that the general assembly would appropriate $50,000 annually for

teacher training in Orton-Gillingham classroom educator program.

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2021.

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