Rhode Island State Requirements

Below is a summary of how Learners Edge may help your continuing education and Rhode Island educator certification renewal needs. This summary should in no way release individuals from their responsibility of ensuring that the course they take meets their professional needs. We hope it provides assistance in understanding how Learners Edge might help you in the accumulation of clock hours or graduate credit for salary advancement and the Rhode Island teaching relicensure process.

See the Rhode Island Department of Education website for complete RI teacher relicensure information. 

 

Initial Educator Certificate: the first level in the three-tier system of full certification. This level of certification is held by all educators when they are certified for the first time in Rhode Island and is valid for 3 years

Conditions for Renewal

1. If the applicant was employed for three years, received three ratings on the state approved local educator evaluation system, and demonstrated successful practice by providing evidence of three ratings of Effective or higher on the state approved local educator evaluation system, the Initial Educator Certificate will be renewed as a five-year Professional Educator Certificate.
2. If the applicant was employed for three years, received three ratings on the state approved local educator evaluation system, and demonstrated successful practice by providing evidence of at least one rating of Developing or higher on the state approved local educator evaluation system, the Initial Educator Certificate will be renewed as a five-year Professional Educator Certificate with the submission of proof of completion of specified professional development based on their evaluation results for each Developing or Ineffective rating received on the state approved local educator evaluation system.
   1. (1) If the applicant was employed for at least one year but not three years, one-year certification extensions will be granted until the applicant can provide three ratings from the state approved local evaluation system.
   2. (2) If the applicant was not employed in a publicly funded educational setting that uses a state approved local educator evaluation system during the three years the certificate will be renewed as a three-year Initial Educator Certificate

Professional Educator Certificate: the second level in the three-tier system of full certification. This level of certification is awarded to holders of Initial Educator Certificates once they demonstrate acceptable levels of performance while working under their Initial Educator Certificate and is valid for 5 years

Conditions for Renewal

1. If the applicant was employed for five years, received five ratings on the state approved local educator evaluation system, and demonstrated successful practice by providing evidence of five ratings of Effective or higher on the state approved local educator evaluation system, the Professional Educator Certificate will be renewed as a five-year Professional Educator Certificate.
2. ii) If the applicant was employed for five years, received five ratings on the state approved local educator, and demonstrated highly effective practice by providing evidence of at least four ratings of Highly Effective on the state approved local educator evaluation with no rating below Effective, the Professional Educator Certificate will be renewed as a seven-year Advanced Educator Certificate.

• iii) If the applicant was employed for five years, received five ratings on the state approved local educator evaluation system, and demonstrated successful practice by providing evidence of at least one rating of Developing or higher on the state approved local educator evaluation system, the Professional Educator Certificate will be renewed as a five-year Professional Educator Certificate with the submission of specified professional development based on their evaluation results for each Developing or Ineffective rating received on the state approved local educator evaluation system. RIDE will develop a process and standards for the submission of the required professional development.
  1. (1) If the applicant was employed for at least one year but not five years, one-year certification extensions will be granted until the applicant can provide five ratings from the state approved local evaluation system.
  2. (2) If the applicant was not employed in a publicly funded educational setting that uses a state approved local educator evaluation system during the five years the certificate will be renewed as a five-year Professional Educator Certificate.

Advanced Educator Certificate: issued to an individual after providing evaluation ratings received from a state approved local evaluation system as evidence of highly effective practice while working under a Professional Educator Certificate and is valid for 7 years.

Conditions for Renewal

1. If the applicant was employed for seven years, received seven ratings on the state approved local educator evaluation system, and demonstrated highly effective practice by providing evidence of at least five ratings of Highly Effective with no rating of Ineffective and no more than one rating of Developing on the state approved local educator evaluation system, the Advanced Educator Certificate will be renewed as a seven-year Advanced Educator Certificate.
2. If the applicant was employed for seven years, received seven ratings on the state approved local educator evaluation system, and demonstrated successful practice by providing evidence of at least seven ratings of Effective or higher on the state approved local educator evaluation system, the Advanced Educator Certificate will be renewed as a five-year Professional Educator Certificate.

• If the applicant was employed for seven years, received seven ratings on the state approved local educator evaluation system, and demonstrated successful practice by providing evidence of at least one rating of Developing or higher on the state approved local educator evaluation system, the Advanced Educator Certificate will be renewed as a five-year Professional Educator Certificate with the submission of specified professional development based on their evaluation results for each Developing or Ineffective rating received on the STATE OF RHODE ISLAND REGULATIONS of the COUNCIL ON ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION Certification Regulations Page 40 11-01-16 state approved local educator evaluation system. RIDE will develop a process and standards for the submission of the required professional development.
  1. (1) If the applicant was employed for at least one year but not seven years, one-year certification extensions will be granted until the applicant can provide seven ratings from the state approved local evaluation system.
  2. (2) If the applicant was not employed in a publicly funded educational setting that uses a state approved local educator evaluation system during the seven years the certificate will be renewed as a five-year Professional Educator Certificate.