2018 -- S 2185

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LC004297

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, Raptakis, Seveney, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2018

     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.

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     No person shall be employed to teach, as principal or assistant, in any school supported

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wholly or in part by public money unless the person shall have a certificate of qualification issued

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by or under the authority of the board of regents for council on elementary and secondary

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

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language pathologist at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, for a period of not less than ten

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

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shall be exempt from the provisions of this section which require the certificate. In case any city

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or town shall pay or cause to be paid any of the public money to any person for teaching who did

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not, at the time of teaching, hold a certificate, then the department of elementary and secondary

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education shall deduct a sum equal to the amount so paid from the amount of the state's money

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due, or which may thereafter become due, to the city or town, before giving his or her order in

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favor of the city or town for any of the public money under the provisions of §§ 16-1-10, 16-1-11,

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and 16-5-22.

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     16-11-2. Examinations -- Issuance of certificates.

 

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     The board of regents for council on elementary and secondary education shall hold, or

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cause to be held, in any places in different parts of the state and at any times it may determine,

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examinations for the position of teacher in the public schools of this state; and the board of

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regents for council on elementary and secondary education is authorized to issue certificates of

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qualification which shall be valid throughout the state for the grade and time specified in the

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certificate. All assessed fees shall be deposited as general revenues.

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     16-11-2.3. Standardized testing -- Issuance of certificates.

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     (a) No person who obtained an initial certificate prior to January 8, 2002 shall be barred

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from certification under this chapter solely because of his or her score on any standardized

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teacher's examination; provided, however, that he or she successfully completes an assessment,

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based on criteria established by the board of regents for council on elementary and secondary

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education, in accordance with 34 CFR § 200.56.

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     (b) The board of regents for council on elementary and secondary education may

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administer a written examination to prospective teachers seeking certification.

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     16-11-3. Certificates without examination.

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     The board of regents for council on elementary and secondary education may, in its

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discretion, issue certificates of qualification without examination to persons who may present

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evidence of qualification and shall comply with the regulations of the board. Provided, that any

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teacher who is certified in two (2) fields or subjects of science, other than general science, shall

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also be automatically certified in the field or subject of general science without the need for

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examination or other proof of qualifications in the 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.

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     The council on elementary and secondary education shall, upon the presentation of

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satisfactory evidence by an applicant for certificates of qualification, accept education, training,

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service and teacher certification in another state completed by a member of the Armed Forces or

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Reserves of the United States, the National Guard of any state, the Military Reserves of any state,

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or the Naval Militia of any state toward the qualifications, and in lieu of examination to receive

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the certification. The council on elementary and secondary education shall promulgate rules and

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regulations as necessary to implement the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to,

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a procedure to expedite the issuance of a certificate to a person who is certified in another state if,

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

 

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substantially equivalent to the requirements of this state, or the experience of the applicant

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demonstrates substantial compliance to the requirements of this state.

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     16-11-2.5. Military spouse certification.

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     (a) The council on elementary and secondary education shall establish rules and

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regulations to expedite the issuance of a certificate of 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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