Licensure Reciprocity: Rhode Island

Analysis of Rhode Island's policies

Rhode Island does not support licensure reciprocity for certified teachers from other states. Regrettably, Rhode Island grants a waiver for its licensing tests to out-of-state teachers who have passed tests in their previous states, regardless of whether or not they have met Rhode Island's passing scores.

Teachers with comparable out-of-state certificates may be eligible for Rhode Island's standard certificate. Applicants are required to complete an approved teacher education program. However, it appears that the state offers "enhanced reciprocity" for alternate route teachers, who must have three years of experience and submit transcripts, which are then possibly reviewed by a state official, who then determines what additional coursework must be taken to qualify for a license. This process discounts previous experience and training, resulting in teachers having to repeat some, most or all of a teacher preparation program in the new state.

Rhode Island is also a participant in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement; however, the latest iteration of this agreement no longer purports to be a reciprocity agreement among states and thus is no longer included in this analysis.

Citation

Reciprocity www.ride.ri.gov/educatorquality/certification/reciprocity.aspx www.ride.ri.gov/educatorquality/DOCS/Certification/Gen%20Instr%20%202009.pdf

Recommendations for Rhode Island

To uphold standards, require that teachers coming from other states meet testing requirements.
Rhode Island takes considerable risk by granting a waiver for its licensing tests to any out-of-state teacher who has passed a test in another state. It should not provide any waivers of its teacher tests unless an applicant can provide evidence of a passing score under its own standards. The negative impact on student learning stemming from a teacher's inadequate subject-matter knowledge is not mitigated by the teacher's having met another state's standards.

Accord the same license to out-of-state alternate route teachers as would be accorded to traditionally prepared teachers.
Rhode Island should reconsider its recency requirement regarding experience for alternative route teachers, as it may deter talented teachers from applying for certification. Rhode Island should ensure that its experience requirement does not preclude fully certified, alternate route teachers who have completed their preparation from obtaining reciprocal licensure. For example, certified Teach For America teachers who have fulfilled their two-year commitment in other states should be eligible for licensure in Rhode Island.

State policies that discriminate against teachers who were prepared in an alternate route are not supported by evidence. In fact, a substantial body of research has failed to discern differences in effectiveness between alternate and traditional route teachers. Regardless of whether a teacher was prepared through a traditional or alternate route, all certified out-of-state teachers should receive equal treatment.

State response to our analysis

Rhode Island was helpful in providing NCTQ with facts that enhanced this analysis. The state noted that proposed certification regulations will require all out-of-state teachers to meet the state's testing expectations, and that clearer language around reciprocity practices is include in the proposed regulations. 

Rhode Island also asserted that any individual who holds a full license from another state is eligible for licensure in Rhode Island. The state added that it does not send alternate route candidates for additional coursework if they have completed an approved program, or if they hold the full state license. It also pointed out that it does not require recency as long as the certificate is currently valid, and that there is no recency of experience requirement used in the decision-making process. Further, Teach For America candidates are eligible for licensure and have been issued Rhode Island certificates after completion of their two-year commitment.