(a)  The department of education shall provide rules and regulations to streamline the English as a second language (ESL) and/or English language learner (ELL) teaching certification, including, but not limited to: providing reciprocity to persons who hold a Massachusetts teaching certificate with similar certification in ELL and/or the Massachusetts counterpart, sheltered English immersion endorsements (SEI); providing cohorts where current Rhode Island certified teachers can obtain ESL and/or ELL endorsements; providing classes for current Rhode Island certified teachers at the individual school level within each school district, as well as accepting classes for Rhode Island ESL and/or ELL certification that are accepted for Massachusetts SEI endorsement.

(b)  The intention of this section is to increase the number and percentage of teachers in the state who are certified as English as a second language (ESL) and/or English language learner (ELL) teachers.