Welcome to the Office of Educator Quality and Certification
ANNOUNCEMENT: RI LAUNCHES AN INNOVATIVE
RECRUITMENT PROGRAM-
The Rhode Island Teaching Fellows
Please Note:
The Office of Educator Quality and Certification is
open to the public 8:00-4:00 Monday - Friday.
Due to a reduction in staff, processing time for
certification applications is 3-4 months.
PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO RECENT STATE BUDGET CUTS WE ARE NO
LONGER ABLE TO VALIDATE PARKING
On behalf of the citizens of the State of Rhode Island, the Department of Education has a compelling interest in assuring and supporting quality teaching for all PK-12 students in our schools. Staff in the Office of Educator Quality and Certification is working to create a seamless licensure system, based on Professional Teaching Standards, that defines teaching in Rhode Island. To that end, we are committed to approving educator preparation programs that assess candidate performance to standards, the recertification of educators through the completion of Individual Professional Development Plans (I-Plans), and providing on-going high quality professional development for all Rhode Island educators. These systems provide the Department of Education with a framework for reaching its goal to ensure a high quality education for all Rhode Island students.
In 1996 the Board of Regents’ for Elementary and Secondary Education adopted a Comprehensive Education Strategy as its blueprint for education in Rhode Island. Since that date, the Department of Education has been engaged in on-going and systematic education reform efforts. The Comprehensive Education Strategy charts a course to raise student achievement levels and holds schools and communities accountable in achieving that goal. All PK-12 learners must have equal access to high quality programs in order “that all students achieve at high levels needed to lead fulfilling and productive lives, to compete in academic and employment settings and to contribute to society.” (Mission Statement RI Department of Education)
National attention and federal laws have caused an even greater urgency in our education reform efforts. Every level of the Rhode Island educational system has been assessed. Higher standards for students, schools and districts, for teachers, and for the Department of Education have been adopted. All of these efforts have been and continue to be accomplished in collaboration with the entire Rhode Island educational community.