2025 -- H 5602

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LC001725

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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

     Introduced By: Representative William W. O'Brien

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-11-1 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:

     16-11-1. Certification of public school teachers required — Deductions from state aid

for noncompliance.

     No person shall be employed to teach, as principal or assistant, in any school supported

wholly or in part by public money unless the person shall have a certificate of qualification issued

by or under the authority of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education. Provided,

however, that any person who is employed as a part time speech and language pathologist at the

Rhode Island School for the Deaf, for a period of not less than ten (10) years prior to July 11, 1990,

shall not be required to have a certificate of qualification, and shall be exempt from the provisions

of this section which require the certificate. Provided, further, however, that any person who is

employed as a physical education teacher shall not by required to have a certification in adaptive

physical education, unless they were hired after July 1, 2025. In case any city or town shall pay or

cause to be paid any of the public money to any person for teaching who did not, at the time of

teaching, hold a certificate, then the department of elementary and secondary education shall deduct

a sum equal to the amount so paid from the amount of the state’s money due, or which may

thereafter become due, to the city or town, before giving his or her order in favor of the city or town

for any of the public money under the provisions of §§ 16-1-10, 16-1-11, and 16-5-22.

     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 eliminate any requirement that any person who is employed as a physical

education teacher not be required to have a certification in adaptive physical education, unless they

were hired after July 1, 2025.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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