16-54.1-2. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) “Bilingual dual language teacher”, or “BDL teacher,” means a teacher who provides

integrated language and content instruction in a partner language only or in a partner language and

in English, appropriate to the instructional program model they teach in, and holds the appropriate

certification pursuant to regulation 200-RICR-20-20-1.

(2) “Bilingual language instruction program model” or "Bilingual education program

model” is an approach that serves multilingual learners at all stages of English language

development and who share a common home/native language. The goal of this approach is

proficiency and literacy in English and a partner language, as well as content achievement in both

English and a partner language. Instruction is provided in both English and home/native or partner

language. The bilingual education approach consists of dedicated English language development

and integrated language and content instruction components and can be structured in any of the

instructional program models as defined by 200-RICR-20-30-3.

(3) "Department" means the department of elementary and secondary education.

(4) "Eligible teacher" means a full-time teacher certified to teach in a kindergarten through

grade twelve (K-12) school by the department of elementary and secondary education and is

actively teaching within a public school with a high-incidence of multilingual learners in

accordance with regulation 200-RICR-20-30-3.

(5) "High incidence of multilingual learners" means a local educational agency with a

multilingual learners student population that meets at least one of the following two (2) criteria: (i)

Is greater than or equal to two hundred and fifty (250) total multilingual learners; or (ii) Is greater

than or equal to twenty percent (20%) of the local educational agency's total student population

pursuant to the Rhode Island regulations governing the education of multilingual learners (200-

RICR-20-30-3).

(6) "Local education agency" or "LEA" shall have the same meaning as defined in § 16-

25 92-3.

(7) "Multilingual individual" means an individual who has demonstrated advanced low or

higher proficiency in the target language of certification in accordance with the American Council

on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency scale through any of the approved

seal of biliteracy language proficiency assessments including, but not limited to: ACT, SAT,

advanced placement (English language and composition, English literature and composition, and

world language), ACCESS, LAS Links (Form C/D), AAPPL, STAMP 4S, and ASLPI.

(8) "Qualifying languages" means the most common languages other than English spoken

in the local education agency according to the U.S. Census Bureau and department data sources.

(9) "State" means the State of Rhode Island.

(10) "World language educator" means a person who is certified by the department of

elementary and secondary education as an all grades world language teacher in accordance with

regulation 200-RICR-20-20-1.