13-R424
2013 -- S 1047
Enacted 07/20/13
J O I N T R E S
O L U T I O N
RESPECTFULLY
REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION RECONSIDER THE STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENT
PORTION OF THE STATE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGIES
Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Metts, Sheehan, Satchell, and Miller
Date Introduced: July 03, 2013
WHEREAS, According to
the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
approximately 4000 high school students from the Class of 2014 are
in jeopardy of not graduating
from high school due to the students' score on the state
assessment; and
WHEREAS, The General
Assembly is concerned about the impact of not having a high
school diploma on students' lives and the economy of the
State; and
WHEREAS, The common core standards are currently being implemented in
schools
throughout the State; and
WHEREAS,
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College
and Career (PARCC) as the state assessment
that aligns with the common core standards; and
WHEREAS, The New England
Common Assessment Program (NECAP) will be
replaced by the PARCC beginning in the 2014-2015 school year;
and
WHEREAS, The former Rhode Island Board of Regents adopted regulations
for
graduation standards beginning with the 2013-2014 school year
that will require three measures
to be eligible to graduate which are: 1) Successfully
completing 20 academic courses in six core
content areas; 2) Successfully completing a performance-based
diploma assessment such as a
senior project, exhibition, or electronic portfolio; and 3)
Reaching the level of partial proficiency
on the first administration of the state assessment or
showing growth between the first and
subsequent administrations of the state assessment; now,
therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this General Assembly of the State of
Plantations
hereby supports a rigorous
curriculum, high standards, and high expectations for all of
our students; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this General Assembly hereby urges the Board of
Education to
reconsider the current graduation requirements including the use
of the state assessment and
examine using a weighted compilation of the state assessment,
coursework performance, and
senior project or portfolio; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this General Assembly respectfully requests that
the Board of
Education delay the state
assessment portion of the graduation requirement to allow for adequate
time for students to be immersed in the common core
curriculum; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and hereby is
authorized and directed to
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Chairperson
of the Rhode Island Board of
Education.
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LC02965
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