2023 -- S 0496

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LC002321

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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: Senators Gallo, Lombardo, Acosta, DiPalma, Ciccone, and Gu

     Date Introduced: March 07, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-11-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-11 entitled "Certification

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

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amended to read as follows:

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     16-11-9. Fast-track principal certification program.

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     (a) The department of elementary and secondary education (the “department”) shall

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establish a fast-track principal certification program.

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     (b) The fast-track principal certification program shall include, but need not be limited to,

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the following courses:

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     (1) School finance;

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     (2) School law; and

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     (3) Program evaluation, including data analysis Supervision of school personnel.

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     (c) Participants will earn a principal certification after successful completion of the courses,

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from a program approved by the department, required in subsection (b) of this section, and

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successful completion of the following three (3) requirements:

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     (1) A year-long internship shadowing a principal in the district where the participant is

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currently employed;

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     (2) Leading a districtwide or schoolwide initiative; and

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     (3) Successfully passing assessment requirements for Rhode Island principal certification.

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     (d) To be eligible for admission into the fast-track principal certification program, an

 

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applicant shall:

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     (1) Have a minimum of ten (10) years’ experience as a teacher rated “effective” or “highly

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effective”;

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     (2) Have a recommendation from the superintendent(s) of the local education agency

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(LEA) or agencies in which the applicant worked as a teacher previously, or is working currently;

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     (3) Have a record of consistent leadership within an LEA, demonstrated through serving

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as a facilitator of professional development, a dean, a district coach, a department chair, or in

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another leadership position within a school or LEA; and

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     (4) Possess a master’s degree or higher.

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     (e) Participants who earn a principal certification pursuant to this section shall complete a

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department-approved leadership development program to build leadership skills that support

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teaching and learning within the first renewal cycle of their certification.

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     (f) For the purposes of this section, “local education agencies” shall include all of the

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following within the state:

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     (1) Public school districts;

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     (2) Regional school districts;

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     (3) State-operated schools;

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     (4) Regional collaborative schools; and

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     (5) Charter schools.

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     (g) Participants who have earned a principal certification by fulfilling all of the

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requirements of this section and completing courses offered by the RIDE accredited school

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principal preparation program (internship) shall not be required to complete the department-

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approved leadership program set forth in subsection (e) of this section but shall instead successfully

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complete an additional course on program evaluation (including data analysis).

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     SECTION 2. 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 revise the fast-track principal certification program and require a course in

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program evaluation (including data analysis) instead of a course in supervision of school personnel.

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The act would also provide that participants who have earned a principal certification by fulfilling

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all of the requirements and completing courses offered by RIDE, would instead complete an

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additional course on program evaluation (including data analysis) in lieu of the department-

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approved leadership program to build leadership skills that support teaching and learning.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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