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4/27/2026
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Media Advisory: Senate Education Committee to vote on teacher certification, Urban Collaborative bills
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STATE HOUSE – The Senate Education Committee meets Wednesday to consider bills extending current teacher certifications and amending the composition of the Urban Collaborative (UCAP) board.
The committee meets Wednesday, April 29, at 4 p.m. in Room 313 on the third floor of the State House. It is scheduled to consider:
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2026-S 2208 — Sponsored by Sen. Samuel W. Bell (D-Dist. 5, Providence), this bill would amend the composition of the Urban Collaborative and provides that it is governed by a board of trustees. It would also clarify that the Providence Public School District cannot terminate its participation in the urban collaborative during the state takeover of the Providence public schools without the approval of the Providence School Board.
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2026-S 2212 — Sponsored by Sen. Jonathon Acosta (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls) this bill would extend certifications without fees or penalties for three or five years for teachers who hold certifications as of July 1, 2026. The committee will consider a proposed amendment.
The committee will also hold hearings on several bills, including:
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2026-S 2207 — Sponsored by Senator Acosta, this bill allows municipalities participating in the state prekindergarten program to accept students from outside the municipality under certain conditions and establishes a lottery for enrollment in the program.
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2026-S 3147 — Sponsored by Education Committee Chairwoman Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick), this bill stablishes guidelines, rules and regulations for the implementation and expansion of prekindergarten education programs for children ages 3 to 4 to increase children’s school readiness statewide.
The meeting will be televised by Capitol Television on Cox channels 15 and 61 for high definition; i3Broadband (Formerly Full Channel) channel 15; and Verizon channel 34. Senate committee hearings may also air on Channel 75 for Cox Subscribers. Livestreaming is available at https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv
Any written testimony must be emailed to SLegislation@rilegislature.gov prior to 3 p.m. on Wednesday in order for it to be provided to the members of the committee at the hearing and to be included in the meeting records. Testimony will become a public record.
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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