2023 -- S 0987
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LC002750
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S TATE OF RHODE IS L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A CT
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME
Introduced By: Senators Cano, Gallo, Lauria, Burke, Quezada, Lawson, DiMario,
Murray, Euer, and Miller
Date Introduced: May 15, 2023
Referred To: Senate Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by
2 adding thereto the following chapter:
3 CHAPTER 112
4 BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME
5 16-112-1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as "Building Opportunities in Out-of-School
7 Time".
8 16-112-2. Purpose.
9 The purpose of this chapter is to provide funding to support comprehensive and effective
10 before school, afterschool, school break, and summer learning programming for students in grade
11 pre-Kindergarten through twelve (PK-12), workforce development programming for individua ls
12 seeking to become youth development professionals, and retention programs for current youth
13 development professionals.
14 16-112-3. Funding.
15 The general assembly shall allocate no less than four million dollars ($4,000,000) per fiscal
16 year to invest in out-of-school time ("OST") programs as follows:
17 (1) Technical assistance supports related to program operation;
18 (2) Professional development for established youth development professionals, including,
19 but not limited to, retention initiatives, technical supports, technology assistance and quality
1 evaluation that include youth development educator improvement recommendations and resources;
2 and
3 (3) Workforce development and funding a pipeline of qualified diverse individuals seeking
4 to become youth development professionals, including, but not limited to, technical assistance
5 professionals, certified teachers, child care providers and other educators.
6 16-112-4. Department of education.
7 (a) The Rhode Island foundation shall serve as the fiscal sponsor and receive the funding
8 allocated by the general assembly pursuant to this chapter and shall distribute it as grants to
9 programs selected in accordance with the process developed by the panel identified in subsection
10 (d) of this section.
11 (b) Recipients of grants may include nonprofit organizations, municipal governments,
12 tribal governments, local public education agencies and public universities.
13 (c) Only programs that adhere to the afterschool quality standards and indicators
14 established by the Rhode Island department of education shall be eligible to receive grants under
15 this chapter.
16 (d) The fiscal sponsor shall convene a panel of stakeholders from the OST community to
17 create a competitive application process for allocating grants each fiscal year. Stakeholders may
18 include the Rhode Island department of education, the Rhode Island department of human services,
19 the Rhode Island afterschool network, youth development experts, local OST providers, youth and
20 parents.
21 16-112-5. Reporting.
22 The fiscal sponsor shall report annually to the general assembly and the governor no later
23 than January 31 of each year on programs receiving grants under this chapter. The report shall
24 include, but not be limited to, the number of children and youth served by the programs, their
25 city/town of residence, age, race/ethnicity, income status, language status, disability, and gender.
26 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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 EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A CT
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME
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1 This act would provide four million dollars ($4,000,000) to support comprehensive and
2 effective before school, afterschool, school vacation, and summer learning for students in grades
3 pre-kindergarten through twelve (PK-12), provide workforce development for individuals seeking
4 to become youth development professionals, provide retention programs for current youth
5 development programs and requires an annual report to the general assembly and the governor on
6 the status and progress of the program.
7 This act would take effect upon passage.
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