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HB 5744

AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- BILINGUAL, DUAL LANGUAGE AND WORLD LANGUAGE TEACHERS INVESTMENT ACT

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Edith Ajello and 9 co-sponsors

The act creates a scholarship program and funding to boost certified bilingual/dual language and world language teachers in Rhode Island urban schools.

05/15/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 5744

Bill Summary — HB 5744

AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION — BILINGUAL, DUAL LANGUAGE AND WORLD LANGUAGE TEACHERS INVESTMENT ACT

Status: Committee recommended measure be held for further study (05/15/2025)
Introduced: January 21, 2025 (version dated Feb 26, 2025)
Sponsors: Reps. Morales, Diaz, Alzate, Giraldo, Stewart, Carson, Dawson, Handy, O'Brien, Ajello
Referred to: House Finance

Purpose / Intent

The bill seeks to increase the number of certified bilingual, dual language, and world language teachers serving urban Rhode Island public schools. It aims to address a documented mismatch between rising multilingual student populations and the limited number of multilingual-certified teachers by creating targeted scholarship and certification-expansion efforts.

Key provisions

  • Establishes a new chapter in Title 16 — the "Bilingual and Dual Language and World Language Teachers Investment Act."
  • Directs the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) to collaborate with the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner (OPC), Rhode Island College (RIC), and the University of Rhode Island (URI) to expand and streamline issuance of world language and bilingual/dual language teacher certifications.
  • Creates a scholarship program (administered by OPC) to promote and increase the number of such teachers in urban core and urban ring public schools. The scholarship program is established effective November 1, 2025.
  • Appropriates $500,000 annually beginning in FY2026 for the scholarship program. Up to $50,000 per year may be used for administrative, recruitment, and implementation costs; unexpended administrative funds revert to scholarships.
  • Allows OPC to accept charitable donations for the program.
  • Defines key terms (e.g., bilingual/dual language educator, world language educator, eligible teacher, multilingual learner, recipient student/teacher, urban core/ring municipalities, FAFSA, mandatory fees/tuition).

Who is affected

  • Prospective teachers and college students enrolled in Rhode Island teacher certification programs (RIC, URI) for world language or bilingual/dual language certification.
  • Current full-time K–12 teachers in the defined urban core and urban ring municipalities who may seek certification (eligible teachers).
  • Multilingual learners in public schools—particularly in urban core municipalities (Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Woonsocket, Newport) and urban ring municipalities (Cranston, Warwick, West Warwick, North Providence, East Providence).

Funding & timeline

  • Scholarship program established 11/1/2025.
  • General Assembly to appropriate $500,000 annually starting FY2026; up to $50,000 per year for program operations.
  • Charitable contributions may supplement appropriations.

Procedural history

  • Referred to Joint Committee on General Law (Jan–Feb 2025), drafted by committee, and referred to House Finance (Feb 26, 2025).
  • Public hearing held 02/19/2025.
  • Scheduled for House Finance consideration 05/09/2025.
  • 05/15/2025 — Committee recommended the measure be held for further study.

Potential impact

  • Seeks to increase supply of multilingual-certified teachers in high-need urban districts, which could improve academic outcomes, attendance, and engagement for multilingual learners.
  • Provides modest, ongoing state investment ($500K/year) to incentivize teacher supply; administrative resources capped at $50K/year.
  • Implementation details (award criteria, scholarship amounts, eligibility specifics beyond definitions) are not included in the excerpt provided and may be specified in subsections beyond the available text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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