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Newport officials flag staffing gaps, emerging demands in MLL program as state regulations evolve
Summary
District MLL staff reported enrollment rising to 372 multilingual learners, identified certification gaps and service-time challenges (noting Thompson’s schedule), and warned that pending RIDE regulations could reshape staffing requirements and endorsements.
District staff told the School Committee that Newport’s multilingual learner (MLL) population has increased and that the district must expand certified staffing and adapt schedules to meet state service-time requirements.
Presenters said the district’s count stood at 369 when the report was prepared and was 372 on the night of the meeting, including 62 students who are dually identified as special-education and English learners. Staff said they are monitoring proficiency levels and service-time obligations set by state guidance: lower-proficiency students require more ELD blocks per day, while higher-proficiency students need fewer.
District staff explained that the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) is developing proposed MLL regulations that may broaden which teachers can provide service time (endorsements versus full ESL certification). ‘‘Right now the endorsement is just professional development; it does not count toward direct ELD service time,’’ the presenter said, noting that RIDE’s draft suggests a multi-year timeline for full compliance across districts.
Committee members pressed for specifics about which schools meet service requirements. Presenters acknowledged Thompson’s schedule currently leaves some newcomers short of required ELD minutes; district staff reported they are reviewing student schedules individually and considering hiring or schedule changes to meet legal service-time obligations.
On staffing, presenters described partnerships with higher-education programs (e.g., Roger Williams University) to expand local certification pipelines and embed professional learning into the school day to make certification more attainable for current teachers. The district stated a goal to increase the share of ESL-certified staff in coming years but described the target as ambitious and subject to program capacity and funding.
Officials said the district will provide updated MLL metrics in January and noted ACCESS test results will provide new data in May/June. The district also announced a newcomer family orientation and additional outreach to families to support integration and services.
Board members asked administration to return with concrete scheduling fixes and hiring plans to ensure compliance; the administration said work is underway to identify staff needs and to pull individualized schedules to fill gaps.
