Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-11-1 (2026)

Certification of public school teachers required — Deductions from state aid for noncompliance

✓ current as of July 2026

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No person shall be employed to teach, as principal or assistant, in any school supported wholly or in part by public money unless the person shall have a certificate of qualification issued by or under the authority of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education. Provided, however, that any person who is employed as a part time speech and language pathologist at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, for a period of not less than ten (10) years prior to July 11, 1990, shall not be required to have a certificate of qualification, and shall be exempt from the provisions of this section which require the certificate. In case any city or town shall pay or cause to be paid any of the public money to any person for teaching who did not, at the time of teaching, hold a certificate, then the department of elementary and secondary education shall deduct a sum equal to the amount so paid from the amount of the state’s money due, or which may thereafter become due, to the city or town, before giving his or her order in favor of the city or town for any of the public money under the provisions of §§ 16-1-10, 16-1-11, and 16-5-22.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 6 cases, 1973–1989 · leading case: Reback v. Rhode Island Bd. of Regents, 560 A.2d 357 (R.I. 1989).

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Reback v. Rhode Island Bd. of Regents, 560 A.2d 357 (R.I. 1989). · cites it 4× “Section 16-11-1. The commissioner of education is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations regarding the annulment of those certificates, § 16-11-4.”

Schiavulli v. Sch. Comm. of Town of No. Providence, 334 A.2d 416 (R.I. 1975). · cites it 2× “1 Section 16-11-1 prohibits the hiring of noncertified teachers in any school supported wholly or in part by public money.”

Bryant v. Cunniff, 301 A.2d 84 (R.I. 1973). · cites it 3× “1956 (1969 Re *214 enactment) § 16-11-1 1 as well as upon its precursor, sec.”

Audet v. Bd. of Regents for Elementary & Secondary Educ., 606 F. Supp. 423 (D.R.I. 1985). · cites it 5× “See R.I.Gen. Laws § 16-11-1. So, the Department attempts to search out, from among those presently teaching history or art, one who is also certified in biology.”

Smith v. Harris, 560 F. Supp. 677 (D.R.I. 1983). “at § 16-11-1. In addition to full-time teachers, there are two categories of substitute teachers.”

Audet v. Bd. of Regents for Elem. & Sec. Educ., 606 F. Supp. 423 (D.R.I. 1985). · cites it 6× “R.I.Gen.Laws § 16-11-1 (1981 reenactment).”

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