2025 -- H 5339 | |
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LC001297 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS | |
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Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Corvese, Finkelman, Donovan, McEntee, Cruz, | |
Date Introduced: February 07, 2025 | |
Referred To: House Education | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Sections 16-11-2.3 and 16-11-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-11 entitled |
2 | "Certification of Teachers [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" |
3 | are hereby amended to read as follows: |
4 | 16-11-2.3. Standardized testing — Issuance of certificates. |
5 | (a) No person who obtained an initial certificate prior to January 8, 2002 shall be barred |
6 | from certification under this chapter solely because of his or her score on any standardized teacher’s |
7 | examination; provided, however, that he or she successfully completes an assessment, based on |
8 | criteria established by the board of regents for elementary and secondary education, in accordance |
9 | with 34 CFR § 200.56. |
10 | (b) The board of regents for elementary and secondary education may administer a written |
11 | examination to prospective teachers seeking certification. |
12 | (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, until July 1, |
13 | 2027, the requirement of completion of a standardized teacher's examination as a prerequisite to |
14 | obtaining a teaching certificate under this chapter shall be suspended. No applicant for a teaching |
15 | certification under this chapter shall be required to take any standardized teacher's examination or |
16 | assessment designated by the board of elementary and secondary education or the department of |
17 | elementary and secondary education prior to July 1, 2027. Provided, however, this subsection shall |
18 | not apply to any testing that is required as part of an accredited post-secondary teacher preparation |
19 | program. |
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1 | 16-11-3. Certificates without examination. |
2 | The board of regents for elementary and secondary education may, in its discretion, issue |
3 | certificates of qualification without examination to persons who may present evidence of |
4 | qualification and shall comply with the regulations of the board. Provided, that any teacher who is |
5 | certified in two (2) fields or subjects of science, other than general science, shall also be |
6 | automatically certified in the field or subject of general science without the need for examination |
7 | or other proof of qualifications in the subject of general science. |
8 | (b) Until July 1, 2027, the requirement of completion of a standardized teacher's |
9 | examination as a prerequisite to obtaining a teaching certificate under this chapter shall be |
10 | suspended. No applicant for a teaching certification under this chapter shall be required to take any |
11 | standardized teacher's examination or assessment designated by the board of elementary and |
12 | secondary education or the department of elementary and secondary education prior to July 1, 2027. |
13 | Provided, however, this subsection shall not apply to any testing that is required as part of an |
14 | accredited post-secondary teacher preparation program. |
15 | 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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1 | This act would provide that until July 1, 2027, an applicant for a teaching certificate in |
2 | Rhode Island would not be required to complete a standardized teacher's examination as a |
3 | prerequisite to obtaining a teaching certificate. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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