2021 -- S 0991
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LC003053
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021
____________
AN ACT
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS
Introduced By: Senator Ana B. Quezada
Date Introduced: June 28, 2021
Referred To: Placed on Senate Calendar
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 16-11 of the General Laws entitled "Certification of Teachers [See
2 Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding
3 thereto the following section:
4 16-11-10. Streamlining English language learner certification.
5 (a) The department of education shall provide rules and regulations to streamline the
6 English as a second language (ESL) and/or English language learner (ELL) teaching certification,
7 including, but not limited to, providing reciprocity to persons who hold a Massachusetts teaching
8 certificate with similar certification in ELL and/or Massachusetts counterpart, sheltered English
9 immersion endorsements (SEI), provide cohorts where current Rhode Island certified teachers can
10 obtain ESL and/or ELL endorsements, provide classes for current Rhode Island certified teachers
11 at the individual school level within each school district, as well as accepting classes for Rhode
12 Island ESL and/or ELL certification that are accepted for Massachusetts SEI endorsement.
13 (b) The intention of this section is to increase the number and percentage of teachers in the
14 state that are certified as English as a second language (ESL) and/or English language learner (ELL)
15 teachers.
1 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2022.
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 EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
AN ACT
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS
***
1 This act would mandate the department of education to provide rules and regulations to
2 streamline the English as a second language (ESL) and/or English language learner (ELL) teaching
3 certification to allow reciprocity to persons who hold a Massachusetts teaching certificate with
4 similar certifications, provide cohorts for teachers to take classes to obtain a certification, and
5 conduct classes at the individual school level.
6 This act would take effect on January 1, 2022.
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