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3/12/2024
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Rep. O’Brien introduces bills to address teacher shortages
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STATE HOUSE – Rep. William W. O’Brien has introduced two pieces of legislation that would address teacher shortages in Rhode Island.
The first bill (2024-H 7592) would extend the temporary limit on the number of days that retired teachers, administrators and staff members can return to work as substitute employees during any school year. Currently, the temporary limit is due to expire at the end of the current school year and Representative O’Brien’s bill would extend the sunset provision to June 20, 2026. The bill has been referred to the House Finance Committee.
“Our state is facing a significant shortage of qualified teachers and this troubling fact poses a real threat to the quality of education received by some of our state’s students. This bill will allow seasoned and experienced retired teachers to provide even more support in the classroom to help the dedicated but significantly short-staffed teachers and our students who deserve qualified, quality teachers,” said Representative O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence).
The second bill (2024-H 7725) would allow emergency preliminary certificates for teaching to be issued for up to a total of five years. The bill has been referred to the House Education Committee.
“Part of the teacher shortage problem in our state is that we cannot get enough new qualified teachers to enter the profession. This bill will allow individuals who are still in the process of securing their teaching certifications to begin teaching, helping fill in the significant gap of teachers that are needed in Rhode Island. Without this bill, some school districts would have a difficult time operating at the level that our kids deserve,” said Representative O’Brien.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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