Improving High School Graduation Rates in Rhode Island presents detailed graduation and dropout rates for every school and district in Rhode Island, research on early warning signs and risk factors of dropping out, as well as key strategies for increasing student engagement, graduation rates, and college and career readiness. The Issue Brief includes a specific focus on student-centered learning as a key strategy for increasing high school graduation rates and college and career readiness. 

The Issue Brief received extensive coverage, including stories on Rhode Island Public Radio, in the Providence Journal, and in Providence Business News, as well as in several local newspapers.

A recent poll, conducted by the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy, revealed most New Englanders believe that students are graduating from high school unprepared for college or a career. But the poll also revealed the public recognizes a path forward. Almost all New Englanders agree that high-quality, student-centered learning plays a critical role in preparing young people for success in life.

In their WBUR column about the poll, Nellie Mae president and CEO Nick Donohue and Rennie Center Executive Director Chad d'Entremont highlight how student-centered programs are already improving schools and helping communities around New England. "As we move forward," they remind us, "it's essential to take the lessons learned from local efforts in student-centered learning and use them to build broader reform strategies that will equip all students for success."

The Blended & Personalized Learning Conference, hosted by the Highlander Institute, the Christensen Institute and the Learning Accelerator, will take place on April 1 at the RI Convention Center. This event focuses on implementation and invites the best classroom, building, and district implementers from across the nation to share their successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Participants can expect to attend sessions that model blended and personalized learning teaching strategies and offer specific and replicable tactics that are supported by resources. 

For registration information, visit the conference website, complete the registration form, or contact Michaela at [email protected].

The revised Secondary School Regulations go into effect on July 1, 2017, affecting the graduating class of 2021. 

The RI Department of Education will host an informational webinar on the revisions to the Secondary School Regulations on Thursday, March 30 at 2:30 p.m. You may register for the webinar here. 

Please contact Cali Cornell at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Are you interested in specific areas of child well-being? Rhode Island KIDS COUNT publishes E-Newsletters on the following areas related to child well-being: 

• Children's Health and Health Insurance 
• Child Welfare/Juvenile Justice 
• Early Childhood/Early Learning 
• Student-Centered Learning
• RI Campaign for Grade-Level Reading 
• Rhode Island KIDS COUNT also publishes a general interest E-Newsletter. 

Please click here to start receiving these updates today!

For more information about the Student-Centered Learning Initiative, please contact Senior Policy Analyst Stephanie Geller at (401) 351-9400 or [email protected].