2025 -- H 5744

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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 -- BILINGUAL, DUAL LANGUAGE AND WORLD

LANGUAGE TEACHERS INVESTMENT ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Morales, Diaz, Alzate, Giraldo, Stewart, Carson,
Dawson, Handy, O'Brien, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Findings of fact.

     (1) The demographic divide in which there are less bilingual, dual language and world

language teachers and more multilingual students is of growing public concern.

     (2) Currently, multilingual students comprise twenty-seven percent (27%) of students in

Rhode Island’s urban core student population and sixteen percent (16%) of Rhode Island’s

statewide student population (Rhode Island Kids Count, 2024).

     (3) Only two percent (2%) of multilingual learners are enrolled in dual language programs

and comprise a large portion of urban core and urban ring school students.

     (5) A common explanation of why the demographic divide is so concerning is that

multilingual students benefit most from instruction from teachers that are certified in bilingual, dual

language and world language.

     (6) More students benefiting from dual language instruction may, in turn, translate into

better academic outcomes such as student motivation, improved interest in academics, consistent

attendance, and grades.

     (7) Bilingual, dual language and world language teachers represent excellent role models

and provide a continuous source of inspiration for not only multilingual students, but all students.

     (8) Linguistic separation and isolation can be countered through significant investment in

bilingual, dual language and world language teachers that will deliver academic content through

multiple languages.

     (9) Students learn important societal lessons through the example of cooperative interracial

and interethnic relationships among teachers.

     (10) It is in the best interest of the state, its residents, and its students to develop and support

certified bilingual, dual language and world language teachers. The Rhode Island Blueprint for a

Multilingual Learner Success (2021) calls for a nimble system that "Secures and allocates human

and fiscal resources to support high-quality core instruction to meet the diverse needs of MLLs,

including professional learning opportunities for all teachers and administrators."

     (11) Support for increased preparation and training of bilingual, dual language and world

language teachers can successfully be leveraged by providing direct financial support to public

institutions of higher education in Rhode Island working to increase the number of certified

bilingual, dual language and world language teachers.

     SECTION 2. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by

adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 117

BILINGUAL AND DUAL LANGUAGE AND WORLD LANGUAGE TEACHERS

INVESTMENT ACT

     16-117-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Bilingual and Dual Language and

World Language Teachers Investment Act".

     16-117-2. Definitions.

     When used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following

meanings:

     (1) "Bilingual and dual language educator" means a person who is certified by the

department of elementary and secondary education as a bilingual and dual language teacher in any

grade in accordance with the department of education regulation 200-RICR-20-20-1.

     (2) "Eligible teacher" means a full-time teacher certified to teach in a kindergarten through

grade twelve (K-12) school by the department of elementary and secondary education and is

actively teaching within a public school located in the urban core or urban ring.

     (3) "FAFSA" means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form;

     (4) “Initial teacher certification programs” means Rhode Island approved educator

preparation programs that lead to full initial certification in Rhode Island.

     (5) "Mandatory fees and tuition" means the costs that every student is required to pay in

order to enroll in classes, and does not include room and board, textbooks, program fees that may

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exist in some majors, course fees that may exist for some specific courses, meal plans, or travel;

     (6) "Multilingual adult" means an adult who has demonstrated advanced low or higher

proficiency in the target language of certification in accordance with the American Council on the

Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency scale through any of the approved Seal of

Biliteracy language proficiency assessments including, but not limited to: ACT, SAT, Advanced

Placement (English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, and World

Language), ACCESS, LAS Links (Form C/D), AAPPL, STAMP 4S, and ASLPI.

     (7) "Multilingual learner" means a student who speaks a language other than English at

home.

     (8) "Recipient student" means a college student attending Rhode Island College or the

University of Rhode Island enrolled in a certification program for world language or bilingual and

dual language and is awarded a scholarship pursuant to the provisions of § 16-117-4.

     (9) "Recipient teacher" means an eligible teacher who is awarded a scholarship pursuant to

the provisions of § 16-117-6.

     (10) "Scholarship" or "scholarship program" means the scholarship program that is

established pursuant to § 16-117-4 to promote and increase the quantity of bilingual, dual language

and world language teachers in urban core and urban ring public schools.

     (11) "State" means the State of Rhode Island.

     (12) "Urban core" means the municipalities of Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls,

Woonsocket and Newport.

     (13) "Urban ring" means the municipalities of Cranston, Warwick, West Warwick, North

Providence and East Providence.

     (14) "World language educator" means a person who is certified by the department of

elementary and secondary education as an All Grades World Language teacher in accordance with

the department of education regulation 200-RICR-20-20-1.

     16-117-3. Strategy to expand teaching certifications for bilingual dual language and

world language teachers.

     The department of education is hereby empowered and directed to collaborate with the

office of the postsecondary commissioner and in consultation with Rhode Island college (RIC) and

the university of Rhode Island (URI) to increase and streamline the issuance of world language or

bilingual and dual language certifications in order to increase the number of bilingual and dual

language and world language teachers in urban core and urban ring public schools.

     16-117-4. Scholarship program for college students.

     (a) Beginning November 1, 2025, there is hereby established a scholarship program within

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the office of the postsecondary commissioner to promote and increase the number of bilingual, dual

language and world language teachers in urban core and urban ring public schools.

     (b) The general assembly shall annually appropriate, commencing in fiscal year 2026, the

sum of five hundred thousand ($500,000) to implement the scholarship purposes of this chapter.

Additional funds beyond the scholarships may be appropriated to support and advance the

scholarship program established pursuant to the provisions of this section. In order to support

administrative, recruitment, and implementation efforts, an amount not to exceed fifty thousand

dollars ($50,000) shall be used as discretionary funds by the office of the postsecondary

commissioner. Any unexpended discretionary funds shall revert to their original purpose of

providing scholarships. In addition to appropriations by the general assembly, charitable donations

may be accepted into the scholarship program.

     (c) The office of the postsecondary commissioner, in conjunction with the financial aid

office at RIC and URI, shall administer the scholarship program for state residents seeking

bilingual, dual language or world language teacher certification who meet the eligibility

requirements in subsection (d) of this section.

     (d) To be eligible for receipt of the scholarship, a student:

     (1) Shall be pursuing a bilingual dual language or world language teacher certification as

part of the teacher preparation program at RIC or URI;

     (2) Shall commit to work full-time as a teacher within one year of certification completion

at an urban core or urban ring public school in Rhode Island. The commitment to work full-time

shall extend to one year of teaching for each year the recipient received and accepted an award of

scholarship pursuant to the provisions of this chapter;

     (3) Shall qualify for in-state tuition and fees pursuant to the residency policy adopted by

the council on postsecondary education, as amended, supplemented, restated, or otherwise modified

from time to time ("residency policy");

     (4) Shall complete the FAFSA and any required FAFSA verification or the Rhode Island

alternative application for state postsecondary student financial assistance by the deadline

prescribed by RIC and URI for each year in which the student seeks to receive funding under the

scholarship program.

     (5) Shall maintain an average annual cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or

greater, as determined by RIC and URI;

     (6) Shall commit to a repayment of all funds received by the scholarship program if the

recipient student fails to complete or comply with all requirements and provisions of this chapter.

     (e) The office of the postsecondary commissioner, in conjunction with RIC and URI, shall

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develop a policy and procedure to secure the commitments referenced in § 16-117-4 from recipient

students.

     (f) Every scholarship awarded pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be calculated

annually. Each applicant and/or recipient student shall complete the FAFSA and any required

FAFSA verification by the deadline prescribed by RIC and URI for each year of attendance. The

scholarship award shall cover the annual cost of mandatory fees and tuition, less federal and all

other financial aid monies available to the recipient student. Once awarded, the scholarship may

continue for a period of up to two (2) years conditioned on the recipient student's compliance with

the provisions of this section.

     (g) All scholarships awarded pursuant to the provisions of this section are subject to

appropriation, and no applicant shall have a right to receive any scholarship pursuant to the

provisions of this section until awarded.

     16-117-5. Scholarship award preference for college students.

     In selecting recipient students of the scholarship established pursuant to § 16-117-4,

preference shall be given to the following applicants:

     (1) Multilingual adults with a bachelor’s degree from the United States or abroad; or

     (2) Multilingual adults enrolled in an initial teacher certification program.

     16-117-6. Scholarship program for eligible teachers.

     (a) Beginning November 1, 2025, there is hereby established a scholarship program within

the office of the postsecondary commissioner to promote and increase the number of bilingual, dual

language and world language teachers in urban core and urban ring public schools.

     (b) The general assembly shall annually appropriate, commencing in fiscal year 2026, the

sum of five hundred thousand ($500,000) to implement the scholarship purposes of this chapter.

Additional funds beyond the scholarships may be appropriated to support and advance the

scholarship program established pursuant to the provisions of this section. In order to support

administrative, recruitment, and implementation efforts, an amount not to exceed fifty thousand

dollars ($50,000) shall be used as discretionary funds by the office of the postsecondary

commissioner. Any unexpended discretionary funds shall revert to their original purpose of

providing scholarships. In addition to appropriation by the general assembly, charitable donations

may be accepted into the scholarship program.

     (c) The office of the postsecondary commissioner, in conjunction with the financial aid

office at RIC and URI, shall administer the scholarship program for state residents seeking

bilingual, dual language or world language teacher certification who meet the eligibility

requirements in subsection (d) of this section.

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     (d) To be eligible for receipt of the scholarship, an eligible teacher:

     (1) Shall be actively teaching full-time at a kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12)

public school located in the urban core or urban ring.

     (2) Shall already be certified in early childhood, elementary, middle grades, secondary

grades, or all grades by the department of elementary and secondary education in accordance with

the department of education regulation 200-RICR-20-20-1.

     (3) Shall complete the FAFSA and any required FAFSA verification or the Rhode Island

alternative application for state postsecondary student financial assistance by the deadline

prescribed by RIC and URI for each year in which the student seeks to receive funding under the

scholarship program;

     (3) Shall maintain an average annual cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or

greater, as determined by RIC and URI;

     (4) Shall commit to a repayment of all funds received by the scholarship program if the

recipient teacher fails to complete or comply with all requirements and provisions of this chapter.

     (e) The office of the postsecondary commissioner, in conjunction with RIC and URI, shall

develop a policy and procedure to secure the commitments referenced in § 16-117-6 from eligible

teachers.

     16-117-7. Promulgation of rules and procedure.

     The office of the postsecondary commissioner is authorized to promulgate rules and

regulations to effectuate the purpose of this chapter. In addition, RIC and URI shall establish appeal

procedures for the award, denial, repayment, or revocation of a scholarship award pursuant to the

provisions of §§ 16-117-4 and 16-117-6.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on November 1, 2025.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- BILINGUAL, DUAL LANGUAGE AND WORLD

LANGUAGE TEACHERS INVESTMENT ACT

***

     This act would authorize the office of the postsecondary commissioner to expand the

issuance of bilingual, dual language and world teacher certificates in urban core and urban ring

public schools by establishing two (2) scholarship programs, one for college students and one for

eligible teachers. The act would include detailed eligibility requirements and disbursement

requirements for Rhode Island college (RIC) and the university of Rhode Island (URI). In addition,

the act would permit charitable donations to the scholarship program as well as require an annual

appropriation of one million dollars ($1,000,000) by the general assembly.

     This act would take effect on November 1, 2025.

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