2016 -- S 2394

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LC003840

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, DiPalma, Walaska, McCaffrey, and Lynch Prata

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 16-11-1, 16-11-2, 16-11-2.3 and 16-11-3 of the General Laws in

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Chapter 16-11 entitled "Certification of Teachers [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island

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Board Of Education Act]" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-11-1. Certification of public school teachers required -- Deductions from state aid

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for noncompliance. -- No person shall be employed to teach, as principal or assistant, in any

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school supported wholly or in part by public money unless the person shall have a certificate of

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qualification issued by or under the authority of the board of regents for council on elementary

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and secondary education. Provided, however, that any person who is employed as a part time

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speech and language pathologist at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, for a period of not less

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than ten (10) years prior to July 11, 1990, shall not be required to have a certificate of

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qualification, and shall be exempt from the provisions of this section which require the certificate.

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In case any city or town shall pay or cause to be paid any of the public money to any person for

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teaching who did not, at the time of teaching, hold a certificate, then the department of

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elementary and secondary education shall deduct a sum equal to the amount so paid from the

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amount of the state's money due, or which may thereafter become due, to the city or town, before

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giving his or her order in favor of the city or town for any of the public money under the

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provisions of §§ 16-1-10, 16-1-11, and 16-5-22.

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     16-11-2. Examinations -- Issuance of certificates. -- The board of regents for council on

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elementary and secondary education shall hold, or cause to be held, in any places in different

 

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parts of the state and at any times it may determine, examinations for the position of teacher in

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the public schools of this state; and the board of regents for council on elementary and secondary

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education is authorized to issue certificates of qualification which shall be valid throughout the

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state for the grade and time specified in the certificate. All assessed fees shall be deposited as

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general revenues.

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     16-11-2.3. Standardized testing -- Issuance of certificates. -- (a) No person who

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obtained an initial certificate prior to January 8, 2002 shall be barred from certification under this

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chapter solely because of his or her score on any standardized teacher's examination; provided,

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however, that he or she successfully completes an assessment, based on criteria established by the

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board of regents for council on elementary and secondary education, in accordance with 34 CFR

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§ 200.56.

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      (b) The board of regents for elementary and secondary education may administer a

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written examination to prospective teachers seeking certification.

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     16-11-3. Certificates without examination. -- The board of regents for council on

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elementary and secondary education may, in its discretion, issue certificates of qualification

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without examination to persons who may present evidence of qualification and shall comply with

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the regulations of the board. Provided, that any teacher who is certified in two (2) fields or

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subjects of science, other than general science, shall also be automatically certified in the field or

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subject of general science without the need for examination or other proof of qualifications in the

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subject of general science.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 16-11 of the General Laws entitled "Certification of Teachers [See

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Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board Of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding

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thereto the following sections:

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     16-11-2.4. Service member certification. – The council on elementary and secondary

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education shall, upon the presentation of satisfactory evidence by an applicant for certificates of

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qualification, accept education, training, service and teacher certification in another state

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completed by a member of the Armed Forces or Reserves of the United States, the National

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Guard of any state, the Military Reserves of any state, or the Naval Militia of any state toward the

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qualifications, and in lieu of examination to receive the certification. The council on elementary

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and secondary education shall promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to implement the

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provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, a procedure to expedite the issuance of a

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certificate to a person who is certified in another state if, in the opinion of the board, the

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requirements for the certification of such other state are substantially equivalent to the

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requirements of this state, or the experience of the applicant demonstrates substantial compliance

 

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to the requirements of this state.

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     16-11-2.5. Military spouse certification. – (a) The council on elementary and secondary

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education shall establish rules and regulations to expedite the issuance of a certificate of

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qualification to a person:

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     (1) Who maintains an active certificate of qualification in another state;

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     (2) Whose spouse is a member of the armed forces of the United States;

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     (3) Whose spouse is subject to a military transfer to Rhode Island; and

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     (4) Who left employment to accompany their spouse to Rhode Island.

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(b) The rules and regulations shall contain a procedure to issue the person a certificate if

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in the opinion of the board, the requirements for certification of such other state are substantially

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equivalent to that required in this state or the person's experience, including evaluations, indicate

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that the person would meet the qualifications for certification in this state.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

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     This act would amend certain sections of the education law to reference the new council

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on elementary and secondary education, and would make provisions to allow for certification as

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teachers, military personnel, and their spouses who are certified in another state.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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