The bill amends Section 16-11-1 of the General Laws regarding the certification requirements for public school teachers in Rhode Island. It stipulates that no individual can be employed as a teacher in schools receiving public funding without a certificate of qualification from the board of regents for elementary and secondary education. The bill eliminates the requirement for physical education teachers to have certification in adaptive physical education, unless they were hired after July 1, 2025. This change aims to provide flexibility in hiring practices for physical education teachers while maintaining certification standards for other teaching positions. The act will take effect upon its passage.

Statutes affected:
5602: 16-11-1