Rhode Island Public Schools- They're for me!!
By Karen Comiskey Jenkins, Communications Director National Education Association Rhode Island

There's a new state song for Rhode Island that lauds its ocean life, the State House, countryside, cityscape, and pride in the independence of its people, with a refrain that proclaims "RI it's for me!" For a state known for fierce loyalty among its residents, it's the perfect theme.

Loyalty and pride in Rhode Island extends to its cities, towns, neighborhoods - and schools. Here in our little state, it's almost impossible to attend a sporting event, read the newspaper, go to the beach, or visit a shopping mall without coming across a familiar face. We even have a saying for the occasion: "only in Rhode Island!" More often than not, it's the school experience that ties all of us together.

And Rhode Island public schools have earned our pride. They have educated - and continue to educate - as diverse a group of students as one might find in a much larger urban environment. They are meeting head-on the challenges of this population and moving them successfully toward the 21st century.

There are innovative reform programs - both statewide and local in nature - in place in just about every school district, enabling schools and teachers to provide higher technology skills, improve graduation rates, raise test scores, guarantee employment readiness, and instill a love of lifelong learning.

For example, the Rhode Island Skills Commission combines business, education, labor, government, and social service agencies in an open forum revolving around issues and recommendations highlighted in the 1990 national report America's Choice: high skills or low wages. Specifically, the Commission's work falls into five categories:

1. academic standards and performance-based assessments;
2. restructuring schools to support all learners, and coordinating schools with other agencies that serve families and children;
3. youth apprenticeship programs and corresponding certification;
4. supporting companies as they strive toward a high performance work organization and investment in employee training; and
5. reorganizing employment and training programs to make them accessible to all consumers.
   

And through federal grants, programs in mentoring, performance assessment for beginning teachers, curriculum reform, professional development, school restructuring, strategic planning, and technology training have sprung up all across the state, as districts seize this funding opportunity to design their own reform packages.

Rhode Island - with its beautiful coastline, rich history, and diverse cultural traditions - is an exciting place to learn as well. Public education is one of our best resources. Rhode Island public schools - they're for me!