SORICO - School-to-Career


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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		What is Career-to-School? School-to-Career 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. RI School-to-Career states: "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." School-to-Career: A Business, Industry, Community & Education Partnership This School-to-Career 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 20 High Schools and 4 Career and Technical Centers in Region II which include: East Greenwich, Exeter/West Greenwich, North Kingstown, South Kingstown, Narragansett, Westerly, Chariho, Chariho C&T, Block Island, East Providence HS and C&T, Barrington, Bristol/Warren, Tiverton, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport C&T, Rogers HS, Warwick C&T, Pilgrim, Toll Gate, Veterans, West Warwick, Coventry HS and Coventry C&T. There are four strands in which the schools can participate to meet the regulations by May, 2006: Applied Learning: A lead teacher from each of the eligible high schools and Career and Tech Centers will be trained in the Applied Learning Standards in order to train 8 teachers in their own high schools. Teaching units will be developed and/or enhanced and will be connected to the New Standards. A Business Advisory Committee will be formed to provide access to actual work environments for teachers and students to explore. (Coordinated by West Bay Collaborative.) Senior Project: By 2005, 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. (Coordinated by East Bay Collaborative) School Counselor Initiative: This statewide strand will provide counselors professional development to understand, plan and implement the American School Counselor Association, ASCA, Standards which include Academic, Person/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 will provide training and support for the school leaders, the Principals. It is a concerted and supported effort to assist the HS Principals in leading their staff through High School Reform. (Coordinated by RI Association of School Principals, RIASP) Mission "The School-to-Career Regional Councils will provide a framework within which local partnerships or consortia can develop School-to-Career strategies addressing those goals delineated within the Rhode Island School-to-Work Transition Act of 1996 and further refined by the Rhode Island Human Resource Investment Council and the Investment 2000 Plan." he RI STC Region II Council is comprised of volunteers who are dedicated to providing the students of Southern 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 and promoting school to career in the classroom; Establishing linkages of secondary and post-secondary education; and Participating in the development of career majors. What Happens in the Classroom? Core academics are taught using the projects 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) 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 skillbuilding 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. How Can I Get Involved? To find out how you can get more involved in School-to-Career activities, contact the RI STC Region II Council Coordinator: Lizann Gibson, Executive Director SORICO 646 Camp Avenue North Kingstown, RI 02852 Telephone: 401-295-2888 Fax: 401-285-3232 Email: gibsonl@ride.ri.net School-to-Career activities are essential to prepare our students for their future in the world of work. RI Educator Extern Program Guidelines General/Educator Information Business Information/Resources Related Links State School-to-Career: www.ristc.org FWR Curriculum Honored Information on BEACH (Be Environmentally Aware, Conserve Habitat), an interdisciplinary curriculum developed by RI Educators, which is to be nationally honored. Click H ERE Craftsman NSTA Young Inventors Awards www.nsta.org/programs/craftsman This is a children's invention competition for kids in grades 2-8, administered by the National Science Teachers Association
646 Camp Avenue North Kingstown, RI 02852 phone: (401) 295-2888 fax: (401) 295-3232 Email SORICO@ride.ri.net