2023 -- S 0486
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LC001068
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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 -- CURRICULUM
Introduced By: Senators Acosta, Britto, Gallo, Tikoian, Lauria, Cano, McKenney, Zurier,
Quezada, and DiPalma
Date Introduced: March 07, 2023
Referred To: Senate Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 16-22 of the General Laws entitled "Curriculum [See Title 16 1
Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding thereto the 2
following section: 3
16-22-39. Instruction support. 4
(a) For the purpose of this section, "local education agencies" ("LEAs") shall include all of 5
the following within the state of Rhode Island: 6
(1) Public school districts; 7
(2) Regional school districts; 8
(3) State-operated schools; 9
(4) Regional collaborative schools; and 10
(5) Charter schools. 11
(b) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education (the "commissioner") shall 12
direct the department of elementary and secondary education (the "department") to provide 13
professional support and assistance in partnership with LEAs regarding effective ways to evaluate, 14
on an ongoing basis, student improvement and proficiency. The goal of such support shall be to 15
increase student achievement consistent with state standards. In general, such support shall include, 16
but need not be limited to: 17
(1) The department understanding the LEA's size, budget, and demographics to support 18
and tailor the development of effective systems; 19
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(2) The department assisting the LEA in a budget review to identify, maximize, restructure, 1
and/or add a curriculum leadership infrastructure. At the district level, personnel may include: 2
assistant superintendents, district curriculum directors or coordinators; at the school level, 3
personnel may include: teaching and learning coaches, mentor/induction coaches, content leaders, 4
and teacher leaders; and 5
(3) The department providing the LEA with ongoing opportunities to understand the 6
design, use, and impact of assessments, as well as how they may guide shifts in curriculum 7
instruction. 8
(c) Specifically, such support shall include, but is not limited to: 9
(1) Engaging in a root-cause analysis; 10
(2) Designing student assessments to provide data that captures student improvement and 11
proficiency accurately; 12
(3) Using and analyzing the data collected to inform LEA actions including, but not limited 13
to, modification of instructional techniques; 14
(4) Identifying assets and challenges; 15
(5) Discussing the role that leadership, culture, and social climate play in the individual 16
schools within the LEA; and 17
(6) Collaborating with teachers, students, administrators, parents, and any other 18
stakeholders regarding barriers to learning and improving school culture. 19
(d) The commissioner shall provide quarterly reports to the board of education regarding 20
the reallocation and use of department resources to support LEAs pursuant to this section. 21
(e) On or before June 30, 2024, and every year thereafter on or before June 30, the 22
commissioner shall report to the committees having jurisdiction over education issues in the senate 23
and the house of representatives, the results of the support efforts provided in this section. 24
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 25
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM
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This act would direct the department of elementary and secondary education to provide 1
professional support and assistance to local education agencies ("LEAs") regarding effective ways 2
to use data such as the LEA's budget and demographics, school culture, and assessments to improve 3
student performance. 4
This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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LC001068
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