The bill amends the General Laws in Chapter 16-11 regarding the certification of teachers in Rhode Island. It introduces new provisions that suspend the requirement for applicants to complete a standardized teacher's examination as a prerequisite for obtaining a teaching certificate until July 1, 2027. Specifically, it states that individuals who obtained an initial certificate prior to January 8, 2002, will not be barred from certification based solely on their scores from standardized examinations. Additionally, the bill allows the board of regents for elementary and secondary education to administer written examinations to prospective teachers but clarifies that no applicant will be required to take any standardized examination or assessment designated by the board prior to the specified date, with the exception of testing required as part of accredited post-secondary teacher preparation programs.

Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for the board of regents to issue certificates of qualification without examination to individuals who can demonstrate their qualifications. It also stipulates that teachers certified in two fields or subjects of science, other than general science, will automatically be certified in general science without needing to take an examination or provide additional proof of qualifications. Overall, the bill aims to ease the certification process for teachers in Rhode Island by temporarily suspending standardized testing requirements.