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High School Diploma System

For the past several years, the state has been immersed in an ambitious school reform initiative organized under the umbrella of the new Rhode Island Diploma System (Adobe^® Reader^® PDF 162KB). Its goal is for all students to gain the 21st century knowledge and skills to be successful in school, work and life - to be well prepared for high performing, bright futures. Beginning with the Class of 2008, graduating students must demonstrate that they have mastered a set of specific content and skills expectations. http://www.ride.ri.gov/highschoolreform/dslat/system/sys_ovr.shtml

Arising from the recommendations of two High School Summits (2000 and 2002) and the Regulations of the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education Regarding High School and Ensuring Literacy for Students Entering High School (2003), the Rhode Island Diploma System provides the plans, policies and structures to address issues of disengaged, low performing students and unequal access and opportunity. The Rhode Island Diploma System calls for districts to organize around five components, which as an integrated strategy should lead to higher student achievement. The five components of the Rhode Island Diploma System are: proficiency-based graduation requirements (PBGRs); supports to students; supports to staff; communication; and policy infrastructure and use of data. 

Under the PBGRs, students must complete both standards-based courses (minimum 20 Carnegie Units) and diploma assessments that embed applied learning. Unlike the single high-stakes test used in many states to identify who graduates, the Rhode Island Diploma System employs multiple measures to determine that students have attained the competencies that allow them to transition seamlessly to post-secondary pathways in education, the workplace or the military. 

To meet proficiency, students must demonstrate achievement of the state high school grade span expectations in oral and written communication, reading, mathematics and science and the local expectations in social studies, the arts and technology.  Additionally, students must complete two school-selected diploma assessments from the choices of: graduation exhibition, graduation portfolio and performance-based end-of-course exams/common tasks. Students must also show evidence that they have mastered the applied learning skills of critical thinking, problem solving, research, communication, decision making, interpreting information, analytic reasoning and personal or social responsibility.

The Rhode Island Statewide Curriculum is an explicit support for systemic efforts directed at improving student achievement, especially the Rhode Island Diploma System. The Rhode Island Statewide Curriculum offers substantive information, images and resources that can guide all partners in the school community who are working to help students learn. The Rhode Island Statewide Curriculum complements the Rhode Island Diploma System by specifying the details of what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. It offers concrete examples of lessons and assessments aligned with the grade span expectations, the cornerstone of the proficiency-based graduation requirements. It provides the foundation for curriculum work and professional development in the district, the school and the classroom. Like the Rhode Island Diploma System, the Statewide Curriculum recognizes that student learning is dependent upon skilled teachers, involved families, business/community partners and higher education linkages.

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