AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' TENURE (Requires the names of any noncredentialled school employee who is terminated for good and just cause, to be furnished to the department of education.)

H7899

2026 -- H 7899
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LC005702
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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 -- TEACHERS' TENURE

Introduced By:
Representative Justine A. Caldwell

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 16-13 of the General Laws entitled "Teachers’ Tenure" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following section:
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16-13-10. Termination for cause -- Noncredentialled employees -- List maintained.
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(a) Whenever a noncredentialled employee’s employment with a school is terminated for
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good and just cause by a principal, superintendent, school committee or other governing body of a
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public school, a private school, a school district, a charter public school, or a mayoral academy
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(hereinafter collectively referred to as a “school”), the school’s governing body shall, within sixty
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(60) days of the termination, or in cases where the termination is appealed, within sixty (60) days
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after the conclusion of the appeal filed by the terminated noncredentialled employee, and the
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termination is upheld, furnish the Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education
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(the “department”) with the identity of the terminated noncredentialled employee and the good and
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just cause for the termination. Provided, this section shall not apply to:
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(1) The nonrenewal of a contract of a noncredentialled employee pursuant to § 16-13-2; or
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(2) The termination of a noncredentialled employee due to fiscal exigency or program
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reorganization.
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(b) The department shall maintain a list of those noncredentialled employees who have
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been terminated for good and just cause as well as the good and just cause for the termination (the
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“list”), and shall update the list monthly to include any additional names and cause submitted
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pursuant to the provisions of this section. The department shall establish a tracking system for

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reporting these names and causes, as well as to provide access to these names and causes, to hiring
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authorities. This list shall be accessible only to the hiring authority of any private, parochial, charter,
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or public school or school district.
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(c) The list shall not be a public record pursuant to chapter 2 of title 38 ("access to public
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records"). This section shall not abrogate or modify any existing statutory or common law
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privileges or immunities.
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(d) As used herein, the term “noncredentialled employee” means any person working
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within or for a school whose employment with the school does not require an educational license
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or certificate issued by the department. The following persons are excluded from the definition of
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a “noncredentialled employee” if those persons are working within or for a school using any of the
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licenses listed herein:
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(1) A teacher as defined in §16-13-1;
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(2) An athletic coach as described in chapter 11.1 of title 16 (“athletic coaches”);
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(3) A teaching assistant as defined in §16-11.2-1;
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(4) A superintendent, assistant superintendent, or equivalent similar position, as defined in
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§16-2-10;
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(5) An administrator including, but not limited to, a principal, vice principal, or similar
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building-level administrator as defined in §16-12.1-2; and
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(6) Any other person who is employed in or for a school in a position that requires
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possession of a certificate or license issued by the department.
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SECTION 2. 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 -- TEACHERS' TENURE
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This act would require that the names of any noncredentialled school employees who are
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terminated for good and just cause, be furnished to the Rhode Island department of elementary and
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secondary education. The department would maintain a list of the names and the good cause for
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the termination. This list would not be a public document, but would be available to hiring
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authorities of schools and school districts.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005702
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