PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island is expediting a program to certify more Providence educators to teach English as a second language.

The Providence Journal reports the program is a partnership between the Providence school district and Roger Williams University. One out of every three students in the city school system is learning English and yet only a third of the district's 2,000 teachers are specially trained to instruct these students.

The fast-track program offered through the university takes only one year to complete and costs teachers around $3,500 in tuition up front — $500 of which is reimbursed by the school district.

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