2025 -- H 6058
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LC002318
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- DUAL ENROLLMENT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AC T
Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Dawson, Corvese, Read, Slater, Kazarian, Diaz,
Solomon, Casimiro, and Alzate
Date Introduced: March 12, 2025
Referred To: House Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Sections 16-100-2 and 16-100-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-100 1
entitled "Dual Enrollment Equal Opportunity Act" are hereby amended to read as follows: 2
16-100-2. Definition. 3
“Dual Enrollment” means that a student is enrolled in a secondary school while 4
simultaneously enrolled part-time or full-time at a local Rhode Island public higher education 5
institution of higher learning, such as a community college, college, or university. 6
16-100-3. Policy implemented. 7
(a) The board of education shall prescribe by regulation a statewide dual enrollment policy 8
that shall allow students to enroll in courses at public higher education institutions, such as a 9
community college, college, or university, postsecondary institutions to satisfy academic credit 10
requirements in both high school and the aforementioned postsecondary institutions public higher 11
education institution. The regulations shall address the postsecondary public higher education 12
institution’s graduation requirements, if any; the institution’s ability to award degrees/certificates 13
in Rhode Island; the minimum course grade to receive credit at the student’s secondary school; and 14
any other criteria that the board deems appropriate. 15
(b) The board shall convene a workgroup, including, but not limited to, representatives 16
from the department of elementary and secondary education, the office of the postsecondary 17
commissioner, superintendents, school committees, public higher education institutions, guidance 18
counselors, and teachers. The purpose of the workgroup is to consider and advise the board as to a 19
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dual enrollment policy and its possible effect on school funding pursuant to chapter 7.2 of this title; 1
academic supports; transportation; possible shared costs of the education; possible fee schedules; 2
manners in which low-income students could access the program; and possible contracted tuition 3
costs with our public higher education institutions. 4
(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, payments to public institutions of higher 5
education institutions for dual and concurrent enrollment shall be limited to no greater than the 6
appropriation contained in the appropriations act. On or before September 30, 2017, the council on 7
postsecondary education shall promulgate rules and regulations enforcing this limitation. 8
(d) Students in grade twelve (12) enrolled full-time, as defined by the institution, in a dual 9
enrollment program where the courses are taken on a higher education institution campus at a public 10
higher education institution shall be exempt from the requirements set forth in § 16-22-4(a). 11
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 12
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- DUAL ENROLLMENT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY A CT
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This act would amend references in the dual enrollment equal opportunity act by using the 1
phrase “public higher education institution” to clarify the act’s applicability to a state community 2
college, college, or university. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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