The proposed legislation, known as the "Bilingual and Dual Language and World Language Teachers Investment Act," seeks to address the significant shortage of bilingual, dual language, and world language teachers in Rhode Island's education system, particularly in urban core and urban ring public schools. With multilingual learners constituting a growing percentage of the student population, the bill emphasizes the necessity of certified educators to improve academic outcomes and foster inclusivity. Key provisions include the establishment of a scholarship program to support college students pursuing relevant teacher certifications and the empowerment of the Department of Education to collaborate with higher education institutions to enhance teacher preparation.

The bill mandates an annual appropriation of $500,000 starting in fiscal year 2026 to fund the scholarship initiative, with the potential for additional funds for administrative and recruitment efforts. It outlines specific eligibility criteria for both students and currently certified teachers, requiring students to maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher and commit to teaching in designated schools post-certification. The act introduces new definitions and provisions without any deletions from current law, focusing on enhancing the availability of qualified language educators to improve educational outcomes for multilingual students. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.