At this pivotal moment in education across our nation, there is ample opportunity to transform systems and ensure all students have access to high-quality learning experiences. In Rhode Island, we recognize there is no one-size-fits-all model for education, but we’re committed to supporting all students to reach their highest potential. To meet this moment, we are saying goodbye to the status quo and innovating, reimagining, and rebuilding our education system. In my role as Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education for the State of Rhode Island, I have had the privilege of working alongside a bipartisan and diverse group of state policymakers to develop Opportunity to Learn, Responsibility to Lead (OTL), a set of nine principles that outline what the working group agrees a public education should offer. In Rhode Island, we are embedding the OTL principles into our Strategic Plan for Public Education. The OTL principles will serve as the umbrella for long-term success of our local education agencies and state system. They will enable us to ensure public education meets its obligation to provide opportunity for all. These principles have already begun guiding the policies we make—including the revision of our high school graduation requirements.Under previous standards, many of Rhode Island’s seniors were applying to colleges, including our local state institutions, only to find out they could not be admitted because they had not taken the necessary coursework. Many students felt ill prepared to engage in higher education and pursue their career paths. With this insight, the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) and the XQ Institute partnered to conduct an in-depth analysis—known as the Educational Opportunity Audit—of how effectively and consistently our high schools were educating students throughout the state. Based on the data and findings of this deep dive, we moved to reimagine and improve the high school experience. Through eighteen months of robust community engagement, RIDE developed graduation standards that establish college and career-ready coursework as the default expectation for every child in Rhode Island. The amended secondary regulations (which passed unanimously in November 2022 by the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education) are the most commented on regulations in the history of Rhode Island K-12 education and are deeply aligned with the OTL principles.For example, the first OTL principleasserts all students deserve the opportunity to develop their character, talents, and interests, while receiving support to address individual learning needs. This principle has proven foundational in our work reimagining high school. Under the revised regulations, local education agencies will be responsible for developing a student Individual Learning Plan (ILP) process no later than the sixth grade to help students identify and meet their academic, career, and personal/social goals. These plans will move us from solely focusing on academics to a more holistic development of students that aligns with their needs, passions, and interests. Further, our revised graduation requirements are in lockstep with the ninth OTL principle—schools and public education systems need partnerships with other public agencies and service providers to adequately understand and address students’ needs, opportunities, and outcomes. Young people cannot succeed if their basic human needs are not met. That is why, included in the secondary regulations, Rhode Island high schools must develop flexibility and supports for caregiving youth. For example, the state is exploring awarding students community service hours for their caregiving work, and designing flexible class schedules, skills-building groups, and support groups. This is being done in partnership with the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY), a national nonprofit dedicated to championing and supporting youth who provide care to chronically ill, injured, elderly, or disabled family members. The AACY is supporting Rhode Island in identifying caregiving youth supports that fit the local needs of communities across the state.As mentioned,Opportunity to Learn, Responsibility to Leadwas authored by state leaders who, despite differences in political philosophy and preferred policies, recognize education as a bedrock of community success. As you continue rebuilding education systems, consider these principles. That’s what we are doing here in the Ocean State. Our goal is to provide a world-class education to every student, regardless of their zip code. Our kids deserve nothing less.
Angélica Infante-Green
Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
High Schools as Engines of Opportunity