With the re-authorization of the federal Perkins Act (Perkins V),  the primary law regarding career education, RI has an opportunity to update our state plan for Career Readiness to reflect upon the many developments and opportunities in career education since the plan was last written in 2006. RIDE invites all stakeholders to reflect on those developments and additional opportunities for improvement as we write an updated State Plan that will guide this work for the next five years. Please engage in any or all of the following ways: 

• Complete a Survey
• Attend a Meeting 
• Invite us to your meeting/event 
• Contribute during Public Comment 

Complete a Survey 

RIDE will conduct surveys throughout the summer to attempt to capture the feedback of various stakeholders. Surveys will be posted here and distributed via email. If you would like to be included on this distribution list, please complete the RSVP form for the events below, even if you cannot attend you'll be able to indicate that you'd like to stay informed.  

• Meeting 1 Survey:Closed July 5 at 10am. 
  • See the Meeting Agenda, Presentation, and Resources
• Meeting 2 Survey: Closed Wednesday July 17 at 10am.  
  • See the Meeting Agenda, Presentation, and Resources
• Meeting 3 Survey: Will open on Tuesday July 23 at noon. 
  • See the Meeting Agenda, Presentation, and Resources
• Meeting 4 Survey: Will open on Thursday August 22 at noon.
  • See the Meeting Agenda, Presentation, and Resources (Available Thursday 8/15)
• Meeting 5 Survey: Will open Friday August 30 at 9am.
  • See the Meeting Agenda, Presentation, and Resources (Available Thursday 8/29)
• Meeting 6 Survey: Will open Thursday September 12 at noon.  
  • See the Meeting Agenda, Presentation, and Resources (Available Thursday 9/12)
• Meeting 6 Survey: Will open Thursday October 3 at noon.  
  
  • See the Meeting Agenda, Presentation, and Resources (Available Thursday 10/3)

Attend a Meeting 

RIDE will host a series of meetings this summer that will engage stakeholders across the state in the development of a PrepareRI Action Plan and Perkins State Plan for 2020- 2025. Meetings will be open to anyone that wants to participate with a focus on engaging representatives of educators, student advocates, industry, and community partners. Meeting topics are intended to help identify opportunities to sustain and grow career readiness efforts for students of all ages in Rhode Island. Meetings will be held from 8am – 11am unless noted otherwise. Locations will be at different locations throughout the state, hosted by some of the many critical partners of Career and Technical Education in Rhode Island. Stakeholders are encouraged to attend any or all of the meetings. Topics described below are tentative and may change based on the development of conversations across the sessions. 

Please RSVP

For planning purposes, please RSVP using this form if you intend to join a session or would like to stay updated via email. If you are unable to attend any but would like to stay on the distribution list for surveys and updates, please indicate this in the RSVP form. 

• June 27, Tech Collective, 188 Valley Street, Providence, , 8am - 11am 
  • Discussion:  Perkins overview & Decision making*
  • Introduction:  How will RI identify & Promote quality programs for all secondary students?*
• July 11, Innovate Newport, 513 Broadway, Newport, 8am - 11am 
  • Discussion: How will RI identify & Promote quality programs for all secondary students?* 
  • Introduction:  How will RI identify & Promote quality programs for all PS students?*
• July 18, CCRI Warwick, 8am - 11am 
  • Discussion:  How will RI identify & Promote quality programs for all PS students?*
  • Introduction: How will RI ensure programs are promoting academic and workforce readiness?*
• July 25, CANCELED 
• August 15, CANCELED
• August 22, Chariho Career and Technical Education Center, 455A Switch Rd, Wood River Junction, RI, 8am - 11am 
  
  • Discussion: How will RI ensure programs are promoting academic and workforce readiness?*
  • Introduction: How will competitive funding to support state priorities?*
• August 29, TBD, 8am - 11am 
  • Discussion: How will competitive funding to support state priorities?*
  • Introduction: How will grant/formula funding be distributed to ensure quality of programming?*
• September 12, Davies Career and Technical High School, 50 Jenckes Hill Rd, Lincoln, RI, 8am - 11am 
  • Discussion: How will grant/formula funding be distributed to ensure quality of programming?*
  • Discussion: Next Steps *
• Tentative Additional Date: October 3, Location TBD, 8am - 11am
  • Discussion: Review of the Draft State Plan* 
• POSTPONED, Rhode Island State House, 82 Smith St, Providence, RI, 8am - 11am 
  • Discussion: Review of Public Comment and Updates to State Plan* 

*all topics are subject to change/expand

Invite us to your Meeting 

Please email Nicole.Smith@ride.ri.gov to invite us to your meeting to discuss more about the PrepareRI/Perkins Planning process. 

Participate in Public Comment 

Once drafted, the Perkins State Plan will be posted for public comment for 30 days. We anticipate this timeline being in October/November.

CTE Programs are required to: 

• align to a set of Career Field standards established by the Career and Technical Education Board of Trustees (or view the standards summary with high-wage-high-demand identifications here) and RIDE CTE program standards;
• include a series of at least three interrelated courses; and,
• include at least one work-based learning experience completed by every student in the program that is aligned to the Governor’s Work-based Learning Guidance. 
• allow students to earn a pathway endorsement upon successful completion by integrating the school’s proficiency based graduation assessment with the pathway programming.

In December 2018, The CTE Board of Trustees endorsed a publicly available CTE Program Accountability system that reports out on key metrics to help students and families better understand their options for CTE programs. The metrics include: 

• Completion rate​
• Percent of concentrators (students who take two or more courses in a sequence) who earn a CTE Board-recognized credential​
• Graduation rate​
• Percent of concentrators (students who take two or more courses in a sequence)  who graduate from high school (Perkins)​
• Postsecondary outcome​
• Employment or college enrollment in second quarter after secondary completion (Perkins)​
• Percent of graduates earning a living wage [pending analysis of feasibility]​
• Equity​
• Participation gap: difference between a group’s representation among CTE participants and their representation in the entire school’s population​
• Completion gap: difference between a group’s representation among CTE completers and their representation in the entire school’s population​
• Groups measured: race, poverty status, sex, disability status, English Learner status

The system will be piloted with 2017-18 program data to be released in  Summer 2019. 

CTE Teacher Certification Requirements

The Regulations Governing the Certification of Educators in Rhode Island   create a Rhode Island Teacher Certification area in Secondary CTE. These regulations were revised in December 2018 to reflect the following requirements for CTE Teacher Certification areas: 

Requirements for Full CTE Teacher Certification:

Requirements for Preliminary CTE Teacher Certification: 

The Career and Technical Education Preliminary Certificate is issued in a specific career and technical education area of certification to individuals who have demonstrated accomplished practice through an apprenticeship and experience in the specific career and technical area and who have passed a written and practical exam in the career and technical field, when applicable.The Career and Technical Education Preliminary Certificate is valid for three (3) years and may be renewed one time for four (4) years. 

Conditions for Renewal

• The applicant is enrolled in a preparation program prior to renewal and must demonstrate progress in the preparation program at the time of renewal. 
• The preparation program and the employing agency recommend renewal based on the educator’s performance in the job and progress in the program. 
• The applicant has passed a written practical exam in the career and technical area when available and applicable. Applicants who hold advanced industry licenses issued by the appropriate Rhode Island governing body or advanced industry certificates are not required to complete subject matter testing. If a bachelor's degree or work experience was completed more than ten (10) years prior to the date of application, subject matter testing will be required, even if it otherwise would not have been required.

CTE Teacher Certification Areas

RI currently has CTE teacher certification areas in the following areas: 

For questions on CTE teacher certification, please contact:

Paul Williams, Career & Technical Education Specialist

• Email: Paul.Williams@ride.ri.gov
• Phone: 401-222-8481

CTE Funding Model

• CTE Funding Overview Flyer
• CTE Funding Working Group - Final Funding Proposal [February 2018]
• CTE Tuition Workbook ("Attachment A") updated for FY 2020 [August 2019]

CTE Program Equipment Fund

 This new fund was established through the CTE Tuition Workgroup in Fall of 2019. It is prioritized for CTE Centers to offset equipment costs in programs that engage students in high-wage-high-demand sectors. FY19 Applications are now closed. 

• CTE Program Equipment Fund Application Guidance (PDF)

• CTE Program Equipment Fund Application Template (Microsoft Word)

Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act

• Legislation 

Rhode Island CTE Categorical Fund

• SAMPLE 2013 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

Check back frequently for future funding opportunities.

The Rhode Island Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education approved and adopted, effective July 1, 2012, the Board of Regents Regulations Governing Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Rhode Island, which supersedes all previous rules and regulations pertaining to career and technical education and vocational education.

• CTE Regulations as of 9-14-2012 [PDF, 278KB]
• CTE Program Industry Specific Standards [PDF, 1906KB]
• CTE Program Industry Specific Standards Summary Sheet [PDF, 782KB]

Associated guidance materials have been developed to support LEAs and CTE Centers implement, high quality, rigorous technical programs.

• CTE Frequently Asked Questions (Jan. 2013)

List of Programs

The list by transportation regions includes provisionally approved CTE programs, and other programs offered in CTE centers, secondary high schools and charter schools.  These programs in Rhode Island are primary providers of CTE career preparation programs. LEAs are responsible for ensuring that all age/grade-appropriate students and their parents are provided with CTE program information as a meaningful secondary school educational option. Additionally, LEAs must provide parents and students with information about application processes, enrollment periods and application deadlines. The 2012 CTE Regulations require LEAs to provide for increased student access to statewide RIDE-approved career preparation programs.

Career and Technical Education Transportation Regions

Click here for more program information available in each region.

Career education programming can take many forms and accomplish various goals for students. Three types of career programs are shared below. 

AWARENESS: Career awareness activities include education and counseling programs that help students make informed career choices and inform their decisions to enroll in educational and technical courses of study. Career awareness activities provide opportunities for students to explore the world of work, careers, and specific jobs. Career awareness activities may include, but are not limited to, career interest inventories, job searches and job shadowing. Career awareness activities shall follow the guidance provided by the Rhode Island Frameworks for School Counseling.

EXPLORATION: Career exploration activities provide students with both an in-depth, focused investigation of careers and work and the opportunity to experience careers and/or learn basic job skills. Career exploration activities allow students to discover career interests and strengths and to plan the appropriate subjects, courses, disciplines and applied learning skills needed to reach their goals. Career exploration activities can be delivered in a wide array of settings, including but not limited to internships, job-shadow programs, and/or enrollment in one or two introductory career and technical courses.

PREPARATION: Career preparation programs are the most intense level of career and technical educational services available to secondary students. Career preparation programs provide students with rigorous academic and technical training and deep preparation for entry into post-secondary education, training programs, and/or careers. Career preparation programs are distinguished from career awareness and career exploration programs and activities by the depth and rigor of the education and technical training provided, the number of contact hours and/or sequenced, non-duplicative courses that focus on skill development in a single career-based or occupational area, and the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials whenever applicable to the program, and/or post-secondary credits, and/or advanced standing in training programs or jobs.

Ongoing relationships among secondary and postsecondary education, business, families, special populations and other community stakeholders are central to career preparation programs.

Collaborative partnerships:

• include formal and/or informal relationships as necessary for supporting quality career and technical education programs; and
• reflect the community and is representative of key stakeholders.

Partnerships between RIDE, RI Department of Labor & Training, RI Governor’s Workforce Board, Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island, Workforce Solutions of Providence/Cranston, businesses and secondary schools strengthen CTE programs by providing students and teachers with insights on the specific skills employers are seeking from today’s workforce. Internship programs and lecture series with local businesses increase student interest in career paths and provide students with valuable experiences they can apply to post-graduation employment.

Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA)

Tom Gauthier, State Advisor
Johnson and Wales – T-401-598-4909

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. DECA enhances the preparation for college and careers by providing co-curricular programs that integrate into the classroom instruction, applying learning in the context of business, connecting to business and the community, and promoting competition. DECA members leverage their experiences to become academically prepared, community oriented, professionally responsible, experienced leaders aspiring to prepare more than 203,000 high school and college members for college and careers. DECA advisors, in 5,000 classrooms, employ DECA’s guiding principles. These principles explain the methods for implementing DECA in classrooms and the expected outcomes.  The Carl D. Perkins Act uniquely recognizes DECA as an integral strategy for delivering successful career and Technical Education programs in high schools and colleges.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)

Marie M. Birch, CFCS, State Advisor
35 Woodbine Street, Cranston, Rhode Island 02910 – T-401-935-4566 – F- 401-785-4696

FCCLA is a national Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) promoting personal growth and leadership development through Family and Consumer Sciences education. Focusing on the multiple roles of family member, wage earner and community leader, members develop skills for life through character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge, community service and career preparation. It is the only in-school student run organization with the family and community as its central focus.

This organization helps students prepare for life after graduation by making them productive community members, employees, businesspersons, and responsible family members. FCCLA teaches students to be strong, independent, and hardworking leaders of tomorrow.  Members have been making a difference in their families, careers, and communities by addressing important personal, work, and societal issues.

The organizations purposes are:

• To provide opportunities for personal development and preparation for adult life
• To strengthen the function of the family as a basic unit of society
• To encourage democracy through cooperative action in the home and community
• To encourage individual and group involvement in helping achieve global cooperation and harmony
• To promote greater understanding between youth and adults
• To provide opportunities for making decisions and for assuming responsibilities
• To prepare for the multiple roles of men and women in today's society

FCCLA is open to young men and women, in public and private schools through grade12 in RI and across the United States. This student organization has over 225,000 across all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. It provides opportunities for active students to participate at local, state, and national levels through school chapters, state executive board, conferences and over 28 national competitive events. FCCLA is the Ultimate Leadership Experience.

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

Dr. Robert Brooks, State Advisor

Approximately 600 FBLA-PBL students participate in business/career-related experiences, state workshops and conferences and competitive events. Students have opportunities to compete to prepare a business plan, develop desktop publishing and accounting skills or select a performance event.  Workshops are held to assist students to understand business, personal finance and leadership, as examples. A State Leadership Conference offers students the opportunity to compete in specific events.

FBLA members are enrolled in a local high school and follow a required course of study.  FBLA is a co-curricular opportunity which enhances students’ academic and technical skill development and is consistent with National Standards for Business Education. PBL students have academic advisers, provided by their colleges/universities, to guide them with course selections and participation in the organization.

FBLA policy states that “student membership is open to all full-time secondary students in business/business-related programs regardless of race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability.”

Future Farmers of America (FFA)

Stacie Pepperd, State Advisor
455 Switch Road, Wood River Junction, Rhode Island 02894 – T-401-364-6869 – F-401-364-1191

FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. To accomplish its mission, FFA:

• Develops competent and assertive agricultural leadership.
• Increases awareness of the global and technological importance of agriculture and its contribution to our well-being.
• Strengthens the confidence of agriculture students in themselves and their work.
• Promotes the intelligent choice and establishment of an agricultural career.
• Encourages achievement in supervised agricultural experience programs.
• Encourages wise management of economic, environmental and human resources of the community.
• Develops interpersonal skills in teamwork, communications, human relations and social interaction.
• Builds character and promotes citizenship, volunteerism and patriotism.
• Promotes cooperation and cooperative attitudes among all people.
• Promotes healthy lifestyles.
• Encourages excellence in scholarship

The FFA Organization has chapters in five Rhode Island high schools: Chariho, Exeter-West Greenwich, Narragansett, Ponaganset and Scituate.

RI Hospitality Education Foundation

Heather Singleton, Coordinator
94 Sabra Street, Cranston, RI 02920 – T-401-223-1120

RIHEF works with seven (7) schools in Rhode Island as identified by the chart above. ProStart is a two year food service management program that requires 400 hours of hands on learning experience, and passage of the national examination both in first year and second year of the program in order to earn a nationally recognized certification from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.  If certification is earned, students qualify for collegiate credit and scholarships at various colleges and universities throughout the United States.  The Hospitality & Tourism Management program is also a two year program that focuses on the overall hospitality, lodging, and travel/tourism industry. This program is parallel to the ProStart program in which national certification is earned from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute.  The RI Hospitality Education Foundation also has a pool of over 700 local employers that support our education and training efforts throughout the State. 

Junior Achievement of Rhode Island (JA)

Lee Lewis, President
120 Waterman Street, Suite 200, Providence, RI 02906 – T-401-331-3850 – F-401-351-9860

Junior Achievement of Rhode Island serves to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. JA is the world's largest K-12 organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, student centered programs.

As high school students begin to position themselves for their future, there are many unanswered questions about what lies ahead. Junior Achievement's high school programs help students make informed, intelligent decisions about their future, and fosters skills that will be highly useful in the business world. With a range of different programs, JA teaches about concepts relating to entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness. The volunteers bring real-life business experience and guidance into the classroom at a time that represents an essential crossroads for young people. 

SkillsUSA Rhode Island

Joshua Klemp, Director
CCRI, 400 East Avenue, Warwick, RI 02886 – T-401-825-2316 – F-401-825-1117 – C-401-641-4477

SkillsUSA Rhode Island is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA RI helps each student excel.  The RI association of SkillsUSA is part of a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. It was formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America). With an annual membership that surpasses 6,000 annually, SkillsUSA RI is the state’s largest career and technical student organization. We provide a nationally recognized employability skills curriculum to our student members and students are able to showcase their skills to business and industry through our SkillsUSA RI Championships. The championships are comprised of more than 50 different competitive events and requires the dedication.

Technology Student Association (TSA)

Matt Moniz, State Co-Advisor
Ricci Middle School - 51 Intervale Ave., North Providence, RI 02911 – 401-233-1170

John Marsula, State, Co-Advisor
Riverside Middle School - 179 Forbes St., Riverside, RI 02915 - 401-433-6230

The national TSA is the only student organization devoted exclusively to the needs of students interested in technology. Open to students enrolled in or who have completed technology education courses, TSA’s membership includes over 150,000 middle and high school students in 2,000 schools. The Technology Student Association of RI has introduced and perfected a diverse variety of different types of career and technical education skills. Students participating in the program compete in an annual TSA State Competition involving a wide array of technical challenges. Participating students learn through these exciting competitive events and leadership opportunities. In addition, the State Competitions have improved not only in the growth of student participants but also in the number and variety of technical challenges.

Vocational Training for Adults (VTA) is in place to strengthen the academic and technical skills of adults so that adults completing a career and technical education (CTE) VTA program are able to seek employment in a high skill/wage work environment or advance in an existing career. Types of career clusters in which VTA students are trained to succeed include medical pathways, advanced manufacturing, medical record keeping and advanced construction.

Reports

• Annual Report on Career and Technical Education to the General Assembly - 2013
• Annual Report on Career and Technical Education to the General Assembly - 2012

Research

• Association for Career and Technical Education 
• Perkins Collaborative Resource Network 
• National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity
• National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education Consortium
• National Research Center for Career and Technical Education

Information

• Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
• Rhode Island Labor Market Information
• WaytoGoRI