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Programs & Services • High School Reform • Virtual High School • Career Discovery • Child Outreach • Regional Transition Center • ForwardVIEW Academy • Reading Recovery Center • Adult Workforce Development • Teacher Assistant Training • Professional Development: ELA, Science, Literacy • Graduate Courses • Resource Library • Key Works of School Boards • Group Purchasing • Meeting Room Rental		High School Reform High School Reform is defined as an integrated learning system for all learners that provides business and family linkages to work-based and school-based learning. It begins with pre-kindergarten, bridges high school and post-secondary schooling and results in both academic credentials and certification of work skill competencies for successful transition into the workplace. This is replacing School-to-Career in Rhode Island as the federal funding has ended. But the premise is the same. "School-to-Career is based on the premise that education works best - delivering the highest standards and preparing students to get the best jobs - when students connect their academics to the world of work, their future careers and their daily lives." This High School Reform initiative is designed to enable each participating high school to implement the RI Board of Regents High School Reform Regulations for the high schools and career and technical centers. There are four strands which the schools can implement in order to meet the regulations by May, 2008. Applied Learning: A lead teacher from each of the eligible high schools and career and tech centers have been trained in the Applied Learning Standards and have trained 8 - 10 teachers in their own high schools. Teaching units will be developed and/or enhanced and will be connected to the New Standards. RIMES, RI Manufacturing Extension Services has partnered to train teachers and students the LEAN and 6SIGMA manufacturing qualities processes. RIMES is also providing access to actual work environments for teachers and students to explore. (Coordinated by West Bay Collaborative) Senior Project: By 2008 senior demonstration project will become a graduation requirement. Students in their senior year will choose a career-related topic, do research, have a field experience, write a paper and present to a group of judges - community, parents, employers, and teachers. Eighteen high schools are part of the Senior Project statewide network. (Coordinated by East Bay Collaborative) School Counselor Initiative: This state wide strand provided counselors professional development to understand, plan and implement the American School Counselor Association, ACSA, Standards which include Academic, Personal/Social and Career Development. With the help of this professional development, schools will be able to implement a comprehensive counseling program, K-12 as mandated for implementation in the school year 2004-05. (Coordinated by the Southern RI Collaborative) Principal Leadership: This strand has provided training and support for the school leaders, the Principals. It is a concerted and supported effort to assist the high school principals in leading their staff through High School Reform. (Coordinated by RI Association of School Principals, RIASP) Mission The High School Reform team is comprised of volunteers who are dedicated to providing the students of Rhode Island with opportunities to improve their career prospects. By providing Southern Rhode Island with a well-prepared workforce, all people will benefit and it is therefore the responsibility of all to participate. We collaborate to build a system based on local initiatives with the following target activities: Developing a comprehensive career awareness and guidance system; " Integrating school-based and work-based learning; Involving families in students' education and career planning; Enabling teachers to become actively involved in implementing Applied Learning techniques in the classroom; Establishing linkages of secondary and post-secondary education. What happens in the classroom? Core academics are taught using the Applied Learning techniques and other tools to demonstrate relationships between school and work; Core academics are taught in ways that develop necessary work skills (Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills - SCANS); Access the Applied Learning units on this web site. What happens in the workplace? On-site workplace experiences are provided for students. These include paid and unpaid internships, mentorships, job shadowing, site visits and related activities; Workplace learning opportunities with public and private employers provide a variety of career exploration and meaningful skill building opportunities. Employers and Educators working together Employers are actively involved with project based learning and other teaching strategies to ensure that all learners develop the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in a career; Industry skills standards will be identified in order to certify students' knowledge and abilities. Ways for Business and Industry to be involved Host job shadowing experiences Host internships - 45 to 90 days - unpaid Become a classroom presenter or speaker Open your place of employment to student/teacher tours Host teacher externships - 40 hours Become a career mentor for students doing their senior projects How can I get involved? To find out how you can get more involved in the High School Reform activities contact: Lizann Gibson, Executive Director SORICO 646 Camp Ave. North Kingstown, RI 02852 Tel.: 401.295-2888 ext. 102 Fax: 401-295-3232 Email: gibsonl@ride.ri.net These High School Reform activities are essential to prepare our students for their future in the world of work.
646 Camp Avenue North Kingstown, RI 02852 phone: (401) 295-2888 fax: (401) 295-3232 Email SORICO@ride.ri.net