Chapter 151

2019 -- S 0869 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 07/08/2019

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

Introduced By: Senators Metts, Goodwin, Gallo, Quezada, and Pearson

Date Introduced: May 08, 2019

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 16-11 of the General Laws entitled "Certification of Teachers [See

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

thereto the following section:

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

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

establish a fast-track principal certification program.

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

the following courses:

(1) School finance;

(2) School law; and

(3) Program evaluation, including data analysis.

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

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

and successful completion of the following three (3) requirements:

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

currently employed;

(2) Leading a district- districtwide or school-wide schoolwide initiative; and

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

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

applicant shall:

(1) Have a minimum of ten (10) years' experience as a teacher rated "effective" or "highly

effective";

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

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

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

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

another leadership position within a school or LEA; and

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

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

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

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

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

following within the state:

(1) Public school districts;

(2) Regional school districts;

(3) State-operated schools;

(4) Regional collaborative schools; and

(5) Charter schools.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC002552/SUB A/2

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