2025 -- H 5602
========
LC001725
========
S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS
Introduced By: Representative William W. O'Brien
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
Referred To: House Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 16-11-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-11 entitled "Certification 1
of Teachers [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby 2
amended to read as follows: 3
16-11-1. Certification of public school teachers required — Deductions from state aid 4
for noncompliance. 5
No person shall be employed to teach, as principal or assistant, in any school supported 6
wholly or in part by public money unless the person shall have a certificate of qualification issued 7
by or under the authority of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education. Provided, 8
however, that any person who is employed as a part time speech and language pathologist at the 9
Rhode Island School for the Deaf, for a period of not less than ten (10) years prior to July 11, 1990, 10
shall not be required to have a certificate of qualification, and shall be exempt from the provisions 11
of this section which require the certificate. Provided, further, however, that any person who is 12
employed as a physical education teacher shall not by required to have a certification in adaptive 13
physical education, unless they were hired after July 1, 2025. In case any city or town shall pay or 14
cause to be paid any of the public money to any person for teaching who did not, at the time of 15
teaching, hold a certificate, then the department of elementary and secondary education shall deduct 16
a sum equal to the amount so paid from the amount of the state’s money due, or which may 17
thereafter become due, to the city or town, before giving his or her order in favor of the city or town 18
for any of the public money under the provisions of §§ 16-1-10, 16-1-11, and 16-5-22. 19
LC001725 - Page 2 of 3
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
========
LC001725
========
LC001725 - Page 3 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS
***
This act would eliminate any requirement that any person who is employed as a physical 1
education teacher not be required to have a certification in adaptive physical education, unless they 2
were hired after July 1, 2025. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
========
LC001725
========