2023 -- H 5794

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LC001757

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Giraldo, Morales, Kislak, Casimiro, Cruz, Potter, Voas,
and Biah

     Date Introduced: February 22, 2023

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 16-11-2.3 and 16-11-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-11 entitled

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"Certification of Teachers [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]"

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are hereby amended to read as follows:

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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 teacher’s

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examination; provided, however, that he or she successfully completes an assessment, based on

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criteria established by the board of regents for elementary and secondary education, in accordance

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with 34 CFR § 200.56.

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

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examination to prospective teachers seeking certification.

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     (c) Effective July 1, 2023, all currently certified teachers as of July 1, 2023, shall have their

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certifications automatically extended for three (3) years, without fee or penalty. This shall include

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all teacher certifications issued by the board of education or the department of education, including,

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but not limited to, emergency certifications with conditions.

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     (d) In order to promote teacher recruitment, for the three (3) year period from July 1, 2023,

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through to June 30, 2026 (the "period"), the board of education shall waive all fees to apply for a

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teacher initial certification for that period, and shall waive all Praxis examination fees for that year

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period.

 

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     16-11-3. Certificates without examination.

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     (a) The board of regents for elementary and secondary education may, in its discretion,

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issue certificates of qualification without examination to persons who may present evidence of

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qualification and shall comply with the regulations of the board. Provided, that any teacher who is

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certified in two (2) fields or subjects of science, other than general science, shall also be

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

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or other proof of qualifications in the subject of general science.

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     (b) Any teacher holding a valid Rhode Island teacher certification and who has at least

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three (3) years of certified teaching experience, shall be allowed to acquire an additional

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certification(s) through examination or content coursework so long as the teacher has a minimum

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of three (3) years of certified teaching experience.

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     SECTION 3. 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 section:

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     16-11-11. Educator preparation programs.

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     The Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education shall review and

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revise as necessary its rules and regulations governing the licensure of teachers and administrators.

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The rules and regulations shall be revised so as to create and permit multiple pathways and

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flexibility in the credential requirements for both undergraduate and post-baccalaureate degrees to

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obtain teacher or administrator certification. In so promulgating these rules and regulations, or

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revisions thereto, the department may incorporate awarding credit for non-traditional classes,

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work/life experience that is deemed tantamount to formal classwork, and permitting teacher and

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administrator candidates to obtain course credit by demonstrating course competency through a test

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or other demonstration of competency so as to allow waiver of the course and to provide credit for

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the course.

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     SECTION 4. 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 extend teacher certifications without fee or penalty for three (3) years for

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teachers who hold certifications as of July 1, 2023. In addition, during this period, fees for initial

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certification and for the Praxis examination to certification fees would also be waived. This act

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would permit a teacher who has three (3) years of certified teaching experience, to acquire an

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additional certification through examination or content coursework. This act would also direct the

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department of elementary and secondary education to revise its regulations pertaining to

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certification to create multiple pathways to obtain teacher and administrator certification.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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