| Chapter 296 |
| 2021 -- H 5829 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 07/09/2021 |
| 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 |
| 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: |
| 16-11-10. Streamlining English language learner certification. |
| (a) The department of education shall provide rules and regulations to streamline the |
| English as a second language (ESL) and/or English language learner (ELL) teaching certification, |
| including, but not limited to,: providing reciprocity to persons who hold a Massachusetts teaching |
| certificate with similar certification in ELL and/or the Massachusetts counterpart, sheltered English |
| immersion endorsements (SEI),; provide providing cohorts where current Rhode Island certified |
| teachers can obtain ESL and/or ELL endorsements,; provide providing classes for current Rhode |
| Island certified teachers at the individual school level within each school district, as well as |
| accepting classes for Rhode Island ESL and/or ELL certification that are accepted for |
| Massachusetts SEI endorsement. |
| (b) The intention of this section is to increase the number and percentage of teachers in the |
| state that who are certified as English as a second language (ESL) and/or English language learner |
| (ELL) teachers. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2022. |
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| LC001657/SUB A/2 |
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