Teacher Diversity (H 5699)

We supported this bill which proposes measures to increase teacher diversity.

We supported this bill which proposes measures to increase teacher diversity but urged an amendment to restrict the use of standardized tests as a certification requirement. Before passage of the No Child Left Behind Act, Rhode Island law explicitly barred teacher applicants from being disqualified based solely on their performance on a standardized test in recognition of the documented racial disparities in the test results and lack of evidence that the tests measure anything meaningful. Unfortunately, the bill died in committee.