Current through September 18, 2024
A. The Board of
Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education (Board of Regents), pursuant to
its delegated statutory authority under R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 16-45 to
establish and manage a state Career and Technical Education (CTE) system,
promulgate these Regulations of the Rhode Island Board of Regents Governing
Career and Technical Education (Regulations).
B. In furtherance of the policy set forth in
R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 16-45, the purpose of these Regulations is to establish
a comprehensive and coherent Career and Technical Education System (CTE System)
that: provides students exposure to the world of work; offers students the
opportunity to learn rigorous technical and career-based skills that are
aligned to industry standards; and through the earning of credentials, prepares
students for a seamless transition to postsecondary education and training
programs and/or careers.
C. The CTE
System shall provide career and technical education opportunities through a
diverse delivery system. Career and technical education can be delivered in a
wide array of settings including but not limited to traditional classrooms,
comprehensive high schools, work- and field- based settings, career and
technical centers, and virtual and electronic media. This diverse delivery
system shall promote program growth while at the same time, maintain and
improve the quality of Rhode Island's career preparation programs.
D. The CTE System shall forge and maintain
partnerships with higher education, technical training programs, workforce and
economic development initiatives, and regional business and industry. Through
these partnerships, RIDE will promote and systemically manage career pathways
in critical and emerging industries and provide education and training programs
that are responsive to the needs of students, business, industry, and the
regional economy.
E. These
Regulations, along with other Board of Regents' regulations, standards, and
applicable state statutes, are designed to promote and advance three career and
technical education principles:
1. Rhode
Island's CTE System will prepare learners for postsecondary education and
careers resulting in employment that provides family-sustaining
wages.
2. Career and Technical
Education will support students' postsecondary success through planning,
credentialing, industry partnerships, and articulation with higher education
and training programs.
3. Rhode
Island's CTE System will invest in high-quality, highly effective career
preparation programs offered through a diverse statewide delivery
system.
3.2.1
Elements of the Career and Technical Education System
A. The CTE System is composed of a spectrum
of educational opportunities that include career awareness, career exploration,
and career preparation.
B. 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.
C. 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.
D. In accordance with section G-14 of the
Basic Education Program, all Rhode Island students have the right to access
career exploration opportunities. The availability of and access to career
exploration activities and career preparation programs for students in
secondary grades will be reviewed as part of the Commissioner's review process
as set forth in Secondary Design: Middle and High School Learning Environments
and the Rhode Island Diploma System (Part 2 of this Subchapter).
E. 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
postsecondary 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
postsecondary credits, and/or advanced standing in training programs or jobs.
RIDE-approved career preparation programs require review by the RIDE in
accordance with §
3.4 of this Part.
3.2.2
Career Preparation
Programs
A. All RIDE-approved career
preparation programs must:
1. Align to state
academic standards and career readiness or industry standards;
2. Provide students with the opportunities to
complete coursework that contribute to their graduation coursework
requirements;
3. Adhere to the
career preparation program standards published by RIDE and set forth in §
3.8 of this Part (Appendix
1);
4. Provide participating
students the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials whenever
applicable to the program, and/or postsecondary credits, and/or advanced
standing in training programs or jobs; and
5. Meet RIDE-established targets for student
outcomes including, but not limited to:
a.
dropout and graduation rates,
b.
credential and/or postsecondary credit-earning rates,
c. program completion rates, and
d. enrollment and persistence in
postsecondary education and technical training programs.
B. Career preparation programs
take one of two forms:
1. career programs of
study or
2. career innovation
programs.
C. Career
programs of study offer not fewer than three, connected, rigorous
non-duplicative career and technical education courses; deliver a curriculum
aligned to both state academic and industry standards; provide instruction by
appropriately certified and highly trained instructors; and provide
industry-recognized credentials whenever applicable to the program, and/or
postsecondary credits, and/or advanced standing in postsecondary education and
training programs.
D. Career
innovation programs offer rigorous, non-duplicative career and technical
instruction and provide students the opportunity to earn industry-recognized
credentials whenever applicable to the program, and/or postsecondary credits,
and/or advanced standing in postsecondary education and training programs.
Career innovation programs utilize non-traditional educational methods that may
include, but are not limited to, instruction in diverse educational settings,
utilization of unconventional curriculum and assessment practices, or community
or workplace-based education.
E.
LEAs seeking RIDE approval as a career innovation preparation program may
request adaptation or modification of the RIDE program standards as set forth
in §
3.8 of this Part (Appendix
1).
F. Application for standard or
criteria modification or adaptation is subject to the following limitations and
requirements:
1. Applicants must clearly
identify the standards or criteria for which they propose modification or
adaptation, describe an alternative method of compliance with the intent of the
standard or criteria, and assure equal educational opportunity;
2. Applicants may seek adaptation or
modification of only those RIDE program standards identified as eligible in
Appendix 1 of these Regulations; and
3. Applicants must complete a RIDE-managed
program application process as set forth in §3.4.2 of this Part.
G. All career preparation programs
must meet the four requirements set forth in §3.2.2 of this
Part.
H. Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws
§
16-45-6,
RIDE shall be responsible for ensuring the quality of all career preparation
programs using a quality assurance process described in §
3.4 of this Part.
