Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H6053 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2023 -- H 6053
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7	7	LC001466
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9	9	S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
12	12	____________
13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE PAUL W. CROWLEY RHODE ISLAND STUDENT
16	16	INVESTMENT INITIATIVE
17	17	Introduced By: Representatives Sanchez, Morales, Caldwell, Slater, and Boylan
18	18	Date Introduced: March 03, 2023
19	19	Referred To: House Education
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22	22	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
23	23	SECTION 1. Section 16-7.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7.1 entitled "The Paul 1
24	24	W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode 2
25	25	Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows: 3
26	26	16-7.1-2. Accountability for student performance. 4
27	27	(a) The board of regents shall adopt and publish statewide standards of performance and 5
28	28	performance benchmarks in core subject areas, to include writing and mathematics (grades four 6
29	29	(4), eight (8), and ten (10)). These standards and performance benchmarks shall be ratified by the 7
30	30	board and implemented and performance standards and performance benchmarks for reading in 8
31	31	two (2) grades shall be added. 9
32	32	(b) Districts and schools need to be held accountable for student performance results. 10
33	33	Therefore, every school district receiving state education aid under this title shall develop a district 11
34	34	strategic plan. The district strategic plan shall: (1) Be based on high academic standards for student 12
35	35	performance consistent with the statewide standards and benchmarks; (2) Be the product of a shared 13
36	36	communitywide process that defines a vision of what students should know and be able to do; (3) 14
37	37	Address the needs of each school in the district; (4) Encourage the development of school-based 15
38	38	improvement planning and implementation; (5) Include a process for mentoring of new teachers; 16
39	39	(6) Be designed to improve student achievement with emphasis on closing the performance gaps 17
40	40	among groups of students, such as the performance gaps correlated with poverty, gender, language 18
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44	44	background, and disability; (7) Include establishment of student intervention teams to address the 1
45	45	instructional needs of diverse learners, include high standards of student behavior designed to 2
46	46	create an orderly educational environment with due regard for the rights of students, and an asset 3
47	47	protection plan; and (8) Be consistent with Rhode Island’s comprehensive education strategy. In 4
48	48	order to ensure the most efficient use of resources implementing strategic plans, districts and 5
49	49	schools are encouraged to work together as consortia and as part of the regional collaboratives. 6
50	50	(c)(1) The strategic plan shall include strategies to improve the performance of students in 7
51	51	mathematics, reading, and writing. Each plan must describe a scientific research-based, as 8
52	52	described in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Title 1, Part B, § 1208 [20 U.S.C. § 6368], 9
53	53	reading instruction to improve the reading skills of all students in the early grades (kindergarten 10
54	54	through grade five (5)) that is aligned with the board of regents reading policy. The district must 11
55	55	develop, implement, and evaluate a personal literacy program for each student in these grades who 12
56	56	is performing below grade level. These strategies shall be based on the adequate yearly progress 13
57	57	expected for students and schools. Annual performance targets for determining whether schools 14
58	58	and districts have made adequate yearly progress will be set by the commissioner of elementary 15
59	59	and secondary education. The general assembly expects these district strategies to increase the 16
60	60	number of fourth grade students performing at, or above, the proficient standard in mathematics, 17
61	61	reading, and writing in each district and school. The increase shall be established annually in 18
62	62	accordance with § 16-7.1-4. 19
63	63	(2) The general assembly recognizes the contribution of school counselors to positive 20
64	64	educational change; to the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001; and to the 21
65	65	success of students in three (3) developmental domains: academic, career, and personal/social. It 22
66	66	endorses the National Standards for School Counseling Programs as developed by the American 23
67	67	School Counselor Association (ASCA). Further, the general assembly encourages every district to 24
68	68	implement a K-12 standards-based, comprehensive, developmental school counseling program. 25
69	69	The general assembly further encourages every district to provide professional development 26
70	70	opportunities for school counselors that focus on best practices in collaborating with business, 27
71	71	industry, and other community organizations to create internships and apprenticeships for 28
72	72	secondary students. 29
73	73	(d) Each strategic plan must indicate the manner in which self-studies will be completed at 30
74	74	the school level in accordance with guidelines established by the commissioner. Funds shall be 31
75	75	appropriated to the department of elementary and secondary education to assist districts with on-32
76	76	site reviews. Schools to be visited shall be determined by the commissioner. 33
77	77	(e) Each strategic plan must indicate the method in which school administrators and staff 34
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81	81	shall achieve and maintain an orderly educational environment in accordance with due process and 1
82	82	with due regard for the rights of students. 2
83	83	(f) Each strategic plan shall include the development of inter-agency agreements for the 3
84	84	coordination of services among state and local agencies responsible for service to children and 4
85	85	families. These agreements shall address the identification and provision of services to pre-school 5
86	86	children with disabilities and children and youth with behavioral healthcare needs. 6
87	87	(g) All district strategic plans and annual updates shall be submitted to the commissioner 7
88	88	of elementary and secondary education no later than May 1 of each year. 8
89	89	(h) All strategic plans shall include strategies to decrease obesity and improve the health 9
90	90	and wellness of students and employees through nutrition, physical activity, health education, and 10
91	91	physical education. Said strategies shall be submitted by May 1st of each year to the Rhode Island 11
92	92	department of elementary and secondary education and the Rhode Island department of health. 12
93	93	(i) All strategic plans shall include strategies to implement programs and provide additional 13
94	94	mental health services for students in schools throughout the state. These strategies shall include 14
95	95	increased and guaranteed access to mental health professionals at every school, for all students in 15
96	96	each school within the state. 16
97	97	SECTION 2. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is 17
98	98	hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 18
99	99	16-21-42. Reporting by department of elementary and secondary education. 19
100	100	(a) On or before January 30, 2024, and annually on or before January 30th thereafter, the 20
101	101	department of elementary and secondary education (the “department”) shall prepare an annual 21
102	102	report entitled “statewide school mental health snapshot.” This report shall give a summary on the 22
103	103	overall status of student mental health in schools throughout the state. 23
104	104	(b) This report shall contain data and recommendations on the following: 24
105	105	(1) The number of students provided mental health evaluations through the school 25
106	106	department; 26
107	107	(2) The number of students identified with significant mental health diagnoses; 27
108	108	(3) Recommendations on ways to best sustainably fund and deliver improved mental health 28
109	109	services and supports to students in schools throughout the state; and 29
110	110	(4) Such other information as the department determines should be included in the report. 30
111	111	(c) The statewide school mental health snapshot report shall be provided to the governor, 31
112	112	the speaker of the house, and the president of the senate. 32
113	113	SECTION 3. Section 16-21.3-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-21.3 entitled "The 33
114	114	Rhode Island Student Assistance Junior High/Middle School Act" is hereby amended to read as 34
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118	118	follows: 1
119	119	16-21.3-2. Junior high/middle school student assistance program. 2
120	120	(a) The department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals shall 3
121	121	be charged with the administration of this chapter and shall contract with appropriate substance 4
122	122	abuse prevention/intervention agencies to provide student assistance services in junior high/middle 5
123	123	schools. The department shall work in conjunction with the department of elementary and 6
124	124	secondary education to collect and make available to school districts sample lessons, tools, and 7
125	125	other examples of best practices that can be incorporated into various curricula to promote 8
126	126	successful programs that support the instruction required by §16-22-12 on the connection between 9
127	127	alcohol and substance abuse, substance use disorders, with mental health issues. 10
128	128	(b) Following the first complete year of operation, school systems receiving junior 11
129	129	high/middle school student assistance services will be required to contribute twenty percent (20%) 12
130	130	of the costs of student assistance counselors to the service provider agency in order to continue the 13
131	131	services. 14
132	132	SECTION 4. Sections 16-22-12 and 16-22-34 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22 15
133	133	entitled "Curriculum [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — the Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" are 16
134	134	hereby amended to read as follows: 17
135	135	16-22-12. Required courses on alcohol and substance abuse. 18
136	136	(a)(1) The school committees of the several cities, towns, and school districts shall provide 19
137	137	for the incorporation of mandatory instruction of students in grades one through twelve (12) on the 20
138	138	effects of alcohol and substance abuse upon the human system in existing health education or other 21
139	139	courses. Courses for high school students shall include, but not be limited to, instruction on the 22
140	140	connections between alcohol and substance abuse, substance use disorders, and mental health 23
141	141	issues. 24
142	142	(2) The department of elementary and secondary education, in conjunction with the 25
143	143	department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities, and hospitals, shall collect and 26
144	144	make available to districts sample lessons, tools, and other examples of best practices that can be 27
145	145	incorporated into various curricula to promote successful programs that support the instruction 28
146	146	required by this section. 29
147	147	(b) The board of regents for elementary and secondary education shall institute courses of 30
148	148	instructions for teachers in the public school system on the effects of alcohol and substance abuse, 31
149	149	which may include the lesson, tools, and other examples of best practices referenced in this 32
150	150	section. 33
151	151	16-22-34. The basic education program. 34
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155	155	(a) For the purposes of this chapter, the “basic education program” means a set of 1
156	156	regulations promulgated by the council on elementary and secondary education pursuant to its 2
157	157	delegated statutory authority to determine standards for the Rhode Island public education system 3
158	158	and the maintenance of local appropriation to support its implementation under Rhode Island 4
159	159	general laws. 5
160	160	(b) The basic education program (BEP) shall include, but shall not be limited to, the 6
161	161	following basic elements: 7
162	162	(1) A standard for students who are English language learners; and 8
163	163	(2) Any other requirements set forth elsewhere in Rhode Island general laws or 9
164	164	departmental regulations. 10
165	165	(c) By August 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the department of elementary and 11
166	166	secondary education (the “department”) shall review BEP compliance of each local education 12
167	167	agency (LEA) within the state. The department shall: 13
168	168	(1) Assess programmatic compliance with the BEP to ensure high-quality education is 14
169	169	available to all public school students, regardless of where they reside or which school they attend; 15
170	170	(2) Determine the incremental cost to meet the BEP utilizing uniform chart of account 16
171	171	(UCOA) data from the LEA and all LEAs statewide; 17
172	172	(3) Determine the sufficiency of both the state and the local education aid to the LEA to 18
173	173	meet the BEP; and 19
174	174	(4) If a deficiency exists in the local education aid to the LEA to meet the BEP, the 20
175	175	department shall consult with the department of revenue to issue a joint report to the general 21
176	176	assembly on the feasibility of the municipality to raise sufficient funds to meet the BEP standard 22
177	177	set in law. 23
178	178	(d) The basic education program shall also include and incorporate the instruction required 24
179	179	pursuant to § 16-22-12. 25
180	180	SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage. 26
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187	187	EXPLANATION
188	188	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
189	189	OF
190	190	A N A C T
191	191	RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE PAUL W. CROWLEY RHODE ISLAND STUDENT
192	192	INVESTMENT INITIATIVE
193	193	***
194	194	This act would direct that the basic education program incorporate instruction on the 1
195	195	connection between alcohol and substance abuse and substance use disorder, and mental health. 2
196	196	This act would also provide that all strategic plans shall include strategies to implement programs 3
197	197	and provide additional mental health services for students. These strategies would include 4
198	198	increased and guaranteed access to mental health professionals at every school, for all students in 5
199	199	each school. The act would also direct the department of elementary and secondary education to 6
200	200	prepare an annual report on the overall status of student mental health in schools throughout the 7
201	201	state. 8
202	202	This act would take effect upon passage. 9
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