2021 -- H 5829

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LC001657

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Biah, Diaz, Baginski, Alzate, Williams, Hull, Amore,
Henries, McNamara, and Batista

     Date Introduced: February 24, 2021

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. 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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     16-11-10. Streamlining English language learner certification.

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     (a) The department of education shall provide rules and regulations to streamline the

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English as a second language (ESL) and/or English language learner (ELL) teaching certification,

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including, but not limited to, providing reciprocity to persons who hold a Massachusetts teaching

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certificate with similar certification in ELL and/or Massachusetts counterpart, sheltered English

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immersion endorsements (SEI), provide cohorts where current Rhode Island certified teachers can

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obtain ESL and/or ELL endorsements, provide classes for current Rhode Island certified teachers

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at the individual school level within each school district, as well as accepting classes for Rhode

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Island ESL and/or ELL certification that are accepted for Massachusetts SEI endorsement.

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     (b) The intention of this section is to increase the number and percentage of teachers in the

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state that are certified as English as a second language (ESL) and/or English language learner (ELL)

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teachers.

 

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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 mandate the department of education to provide rules and regulations to

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streamline the English as a second language (ESL) and/or English language learner (ELL) teaching

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certification to allow reciprocity to persons who hold a Massachusetts teaching certificate with

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similar certifications, provide cohorts for teachers to take classes to obtain a certification, and

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conduct classes at the individual school level.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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