In response to the need to improve the performance of Rhode Island's high schools, the Rhode Island High School Summit was held on November 15th and 16th, 2000. The Department of Education and the Northeast Regional LAB at Brown University collaborated as sponsors. The goals of the Summit were:
 

• To confirm what Rhode Island students should know and be able to do upon graduation.
• To develop new approaches (strategies) to achieve the desired learning results.
• To determine what the obstacles are to achieving worthwhile change.
• To identify next steps for post-High School Summit activities.
• To propose recommendations for Regents' consideration regarding Rhode Island high schools

Nearly one hundred individuals from key stakeholder groups attended the Summit meeting and several hundred participated in focus groups before the meeting. From the wide-ranging set of thoughts, ideas, and recommendations generated before and at the Summit, eight broad areas for transforming Rhode Island high schools, and recommendations for possible action, emerged. The eight broad areas for transformation are:

1) Students ready to learn
2) Basic literacy must be a priority
3) Students must learn what matters
4) Communities must support high schools and their students
5) High schools must be adolescent-friendly and challenging
6) High schools must develop cohorts of leaders
7) High schools must teach for tomorrow
8) High schools help students embrace learning as the business of life

The strong consensus of the Summit participants was that the local high school is the fundamental unit of change for the transformation that is required. It is vitally important that administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, and other staff all be involved in the process of transforming schools. Due to the vital role that teachers play in student learning, it is paramount that large numbers of teachers be substantially and continuously engaged in the transformations envisioned by this report.

The Department of Education firmly believes that every high school needs to be a part of a learning and support network of other high schools within the state. All high schools need to accept and work with similar content standards and the state has already set performance standards in key subject areas. These performance standards (e.g., those of the New Standards Reference Examinations) cannot and should not comprise the total content of the high school curriculum. All of the state's high schools are urged to thoughtfully consider the numerous content standards found the state curriculum frameworks and the national standards documents in various disciplines. Not all of these content standards can, or should, be addressed by a single high school or by every single student. Yet all high schools and teachers should be able to clearly relate their curricula and their individual lessons to clear and compelling content standards (what students should know and be able to do).

The Summit Report has proposed that networks of high schools be formed with some attention to geography, similarity, prior history, and individual choice. A network may be formed by any nonprofit organization from at least four school districts and include at least seven high schools. High schools may propose to join a network that exists outside of Rhode Island but must provide evidence of how their involvement with that particular network will result in at least as much possibility for change and support as envisioned by networks internal to the state. It is recommended that any high schools pursuing this path consult with the Department of Education as they consider this option. Any network that desires support from the Department, The Human Resource Investment Council (HRIC), The Department of Labor and Training (DLT), and/or The Economic Development Council (EDC), must meet the following criteria in order for it to be recognized and considered:

1. At least one major business partner who agrees to provide informed personnel to the effort in an on-going basis. In most cases this will not be a full-time assignment for a particular company employee but a shared responsibility coordinated by the CEO or designee.
2. A commitment on the part of the participating high schools to experiment, collect evidence, engage in sustained evaluation, and alter time, space, and resources as their insights suggest. At least 75% of the faculty and staff must signal by a signed agreement, their commitment to this transformation process.
3. The formal endorsement of the School Committee, Superintendent, Principal, and other appropriate local organizations (e.g., teacher unions, local businesses) for the high school’s involvement in the network.
4. A commitment to come into full compliance with the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC) accreditation standards with or without a NEASC visit.
5. A set of goals and action plans must be identified and agreed upon by members of the Network. These goals should directly lead to improved student learning for all students in a high school.

Access entire report:
 Strategies for Transforming Rhode Island High Schools


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