AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS (Provides that for the period up until July 1, 2027, an applicant for a teaching certificate in Rhode Island would not be required to complete a standardized teacher's examination as a prerequisite to obtaining a teaching certificate.)

H7614

2026 -- H 7614
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LC003873
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

Introduced By:
Representatives O'Brien, McNamara, Solomon, Furtado, Messier,
Kazarian, Slater, Giraldo, Voas, and Casey

Date Introduced:
February 11, 2026

Referred To:
House Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 16-11-2.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-11 entitled
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"Certification of Teachers [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]"
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is hereby amended to read as follows:
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16-11-2.3. Standardized testing — Issuance of certificates.
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(a) No person who obtained an initial certificate prior to January 8, 2002 shall be barred
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from certification under this chapter solely because of his or her score on any standardized teacher’s
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examination; provided, however, that he or she successfully completes an assessment, based on
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criteria established by the board of regents for elementary and secondary education, in accordance
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with 34 CFR § 200.56.
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(b) The board of regents for elementary and secondary education may administer a written
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examination to prospective teachers seeking certification.
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(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, until July 1,
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2028, the requirement of completion of a standardized teacher's examination as a prerequisite to
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obtaining a teaching certificate under this chapter shall be suspended. No applicant for a teaching
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certification under this chapter shall be required to take any standardized teacher's examination or
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assessment designated by the board of elementary and secondary education or the department of
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elementary and secondary education prior to July 1, 2028. Provided, however, this subsection shall
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not apply to any testing that is required as part of an accredited post-secondary teacher preparation
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program.

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SECTION 2. Section 16-11-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-11 entitled "Certification
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of Teachers [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby
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amended to read as follows:
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16-11-3. Certificates without examination.
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(a)
The board of regents for elementary and secondary education may, in its discretion,
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issue certificates of qualification without examination to persons who may present evidence of
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qualification and shall comply with the regulations of the board. Provided, that any teacher who is
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certified in two (2) fields or subjects of science, other than general science, shall also be
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automatically certified in the field or subject of general science without the need for examination
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or other proof of qualifications in the subject of general science.
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(b) Until July 1, 2028, the requirement of completion of a standardized teacher's
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examination as a prerequisite to obtaining a teaching certificate under this chapter shall be
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suspended. No applicant for a teaching certification under this chapter shall be required to take any
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standardized teacher's examination or assessment designated by the board of elementary and
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secondary education or the department of elementary and secondary education prior to July 1, 2028.
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Provided, however, this subsection shall not apply to any testing that is required as part of an
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accredited post-secondary teacher preparation program.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS
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This act would provide that until July 1, 2028, an applicant for a teaching certificate in
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Rhode Island would not be required to complete a standardized teacher's examination as a
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prerequisite to obtaining a teaching certificate.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003873
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LC003873 - Page 3 of 3