AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS (Extends teacher certifications without fee or penalty for three (3) or five (5) years for teachers who hold certifications as of July 1, 2026.)

S2212

2026 -- S 2212
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LC003820
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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:
Senators Acosta, Mack, Bissaillon, Valverde, Zurier, DiPalma, Gallo, and
McKenney

Date Introduced:
January 23, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Sections 16-11-2.3 and 16-11-3 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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are 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

the person’s
score on any
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standardized teacher’s examination; provided, however, that
he or she

the person
successfully
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completes an assessment, based on criteria established by the
board of regents for elementary and
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secondary education

Rhode Island department of education (RIDE)
, in accordance with 34 CFR §
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200.56.
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(b) The
board of regents for elementary and secondary

Rhode Island department of

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education may administer a written examination to prospective teachers seeking certification.
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(c) Effective July 1, 2026, all currently certified teachers as of July 1, 2026, shall have their
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certifications automatically extended for three (3) or five (5) years, without fee or penalty. This
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shall include all teacher certifications issued by the department of education, including, but not
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limited to, emergency certifications with conditions.
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(d) In order to promote teacher recruitment, for the three (3) year period from July 1, 2026,
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through to June 30, 2029 (the "period"), the Rhode Island department of education shall waive all
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fees to apply for a teacher initial certification for that period, and shall waive all Praxis examination

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fees for that year period.
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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) Any teacher holding a valid Rhode Island teacher certification and who has at least
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three (3) years of certified teaching experience, shall be allowed to acquire an additional
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certification(s) through examination or content coursework so long as the teacher has a minimum
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of three (3) years of certified teaching experience.
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SECTION 2. Chapter 16-11 of the General Laws entitled "Certification of Teachers [See
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Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding
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thereto the following section:
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16-11-11. Educator preparation programs.

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The Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education shall review and
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revise as necessary its rules and regulations governing the licensure of teachers and administrators.
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The rules and regulations shall be revised so as to create and permit multiple pathways and
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flexibility in the credential requirements for both undergraduate and post-baccalaureate degrees to
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obtain teacher or administrator certification. In so promulgating these rules and regulations, or
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revisions thereto, the department may incorporate awarding credit for non-traditional classes,
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work/life experience that is deemed tantamount to formal classwork, and permitting teacher and
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administrator candidates to obtain course credit by demonstrating course competency through a test
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or other demonstration of competency so as to allow waiver of the course and to provide credit for
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the course.
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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 extend teacher certifications without fee or penalty for three (3) or five (5)
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years for teachers who hold certifications as of July 1, 2026. This act would permit a teacher who
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has three (3) years of certified teaching experience, to acquire an additional certification through
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examination or content coursework. This act would also direct the department of elementary and
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secondary education to revise its regulations pertaining to certification to create multiple pathways
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to obtain teacher and administrator certification.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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