Chapter 121
2023 -- H 5168
Enacted 06/19/2023

A N   A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Biah, Donovan, and Noret

Date Introduced: January 19, 2023

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Section 16-11-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-11 entitled "Certification
of Teachers [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby
amended to read as follows:
     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 Supervision of school personnel.
     (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 districtwide or 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.
     (g) Participants who have earned a principal certification by fulfilling all of the
requirements of this section and completing courses offered by the RIDE accredited school
principal preparation program (internship) shall not be required to complete the department-
approved leadership program set forth in subsection (e) of this section but shall instead successfully
complete an additional course on program evaluation (including data analysis).
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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