PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Providence, Rhode Island, schools informed some elementary school teachers on Friday that they must enroll to be certified to teach English as a second language or they will be reassigned.
The requirement is part of an agreement the Providence school district made in 2018 with the U.S. Department of Justice to educate students who do not speak English proficiently after an investigation found the district was violating federal law, the Providence Journal reported.
This year, some 50 teachers must work toward certification as instructors of English language learners, the newspaper reported.
If they don’t, “they may become displaced from their current positions next year. Displaced teachers will be assigned to open positions in the district prior to the start of the school year,” said Laura Hart, a spokesperson for the school district.
The Providence Teachers Union said the cost of certification is a barrier and they want certification to be included in yearly professional development. Currently, Rhode Island’s three public college and Roger Williams University will reimburse teachers up to $3,200 for enrolling in classes to get certified.
About one-third of the district’s 24,000 students are English language learners.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.