2023 -- H 5638
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LC001875
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- LANGUAGE ACADEMIES ACT
Introduced By: Representatives Chippendale, Noret, Fenton-Fung, Nardone, Roberts,
Casimiro, J. Brien, and Place
Date Introduced: February 15, 2023
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 1
adding thereto the following chapters: 2
CHAPTER 112 3
LANGUAGE ACADEMIES ACT 4
16-112-1. Short title. 5
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Language Academies Act". 6
16-112-2. Establishment. 7
The Rhode Island department of education shall establish language academies for non-8
English proficient students for the purpose of students becoming English proficient. The size and 9
staffing of each academy shall be determined by the department. 10
16-112-3. Funding. 11
(a) The Rhode Island department of education is hereby authorized to utilize and designate 12
a portion of or all of any existing school or school building in a city or town where at least ten 13
percent (10%) of the students who will attend school at a language academy reside in said city or 14
town. 15
(b) Language academies shall be eligible for the state aid portion of per-pupil aid from the 16
sending district. The department of education shall draw upon the Rhode Island education 17
revitalization fund (RIERF) as provided in chapter 113 of title 16, for the remaining operational 18
costs of the language academies. 19
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16-112-4. Eligibility. 1
Any student who is unable to obtain English proficiency, as defined by the department of 2
education, shall be assigned to a language academy. Once proficient in English, the student will be 3
transferred back to their home school. Provided students may attend a language academy outside 4
of their home school district, if a language academy suitable for their needs is not available in their 5
home school district. 6
16-112-5. Tutorial program. 7
The Rhode Island department of education shall develop a tutorial program to meet the 8
objectives of creating English-proficient students in instances where the commissioner of education 9
determines that due to the non-English student population size, it is not feasible or economical to 10
provide non-English proficient students with a classroom environment for learning to become 11
English proficient. 12
16-112-6. Transportation. 13
(a) Students shall be provided transportation to language academies designated by the 14
Rhode Island department of education. 15
(b) State school transportation shall be provided at the sending school district’s expense. 16
Funding for the transportation regions shall be pursuant to § 16-21.1-2. 17
16-112-7. Rules and regulations. 18
The department of education shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the 19
provisions of this chapter and for the emergency certification of teaching staff. 20
CHAPTER 113 21
RHODE ISLAND EDUCATION REVITALIZATION FUND ACT 22
16-113-1. Short title. 23
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Education 24
Revitalization Fund Act". 25
16-113-2. Purpose. 26
The State of Rhode Island shall establish the Rhode Island Education Revitalization Fund 27
(RIERF) to provide funds for any language academy pursuant to chapter 112 of title 16. 28
16-113-3. Funding. 29
(a) There shall be created a statewide property tax on all real property of any private college 30
or university, nonprofit college or university, or any other post-secondary school. 31
(b) The amount of the tax in subsection (a) of this section shall be based upon the 32
endowment of the private college or university, nonprofit college or university, or any other post-33
secondary school. 34
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(c) The amount to be collected to fund this chapter shall be included in the annual budget 1
bill approved by the general assembly each fiscal year. 2
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 3
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- LANGUAGE ACADEMIES A CT
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This act would establish language academies for non-English proficient students and would 1
also establish the Rhode Island education revitalization fund to provide funding to the language 2
academies. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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