Welcome to the Commissioner’s Corner
Welcome to the Rhode Island Department of Education’s (RIDE) new website and to the Commissioner’s Corner. The Commissioner’s Corner is a space for me to share information on what’s happening in...
View Article10 Back-to-School Tips for Parents
As I visit with of students, teachers, and parents in schools and communities across Rhode Island, I hear many folks talk about the importance of family involvement. I agree. Parents are a child’s...
View Article'Twas the Last Night of Summer
'Twas the last night of summer, the sky it was clear,The children were ready to start the school year.The book bags were hung by the front door with care, With notebooks and paper and stories to share....
View ArticleTop 10 Tips for Teachers - On Family Engagement
One of the issues teachers often discuss with me when I visit schools across the state is the importance of family involvement. As educators, we all know that we can do our work best when we have the...
View ArticleWhat You Don't Know about the NECAP
Students across the state are in the process of taking their NECAP (New England Common Assessment Program) tests, and the conversation continues about the appropriate use of assessments as one element...
View ArticleThe Graduation Myth
We continue to see and hear a lot of misinformation about the Diploma System and standardized assessments. To continue to advance the public discussion of this important issue and to ensure that...
View ArticleSetting the Record Straight
This week, let’s look at another question that many people have asked about our statewide assessments and the Rhode Island Diploma System: Is it true that the NECAP assessments are not appropriate for...
View ArticleAttendance matters!
It stands to reason that regular attendance in school is the first and most fundamental element in the process of teaching and learning. Students aren’t learning when they’re not in school, and...
View ArticleEducator Autonomy Project gets rolling
When I was a teacher, I had a tremendous amount of autonomy in the classroom, and I treasured that. Today, I hear from teachers all the time who share with me their frustrations about not having the...
View ArticleLearning never takes a vacation! Tips for the holiday season.
Students and teachers alike are anticipating a wonderful holiday season, and across our state schools are humming with activity as learning continues right up to the holiday vacation. Of course, while...
View ArticleRhode Island students are making progress!
Last week, we released our complete report on the October 2013 NECAP test administration. I am pleased to share that a number of schools and districts have made significant improvements in both...
View ArticleThe Common Core State Standards prepare our students to succeed!
Three years ago, Rhode Island teachers began preparing to use the Common Core State Standards in their work with our students. The Common Core standards are designed to ensure that students –...
View ArticleExperiment with Reading!
As we enter the beautiful summer months, students and families alike are looking forward to having some fun. Fortunately, there are a number of fun and educational opportunities available to them...
View ArticleHow Did We Get Here?
You’ll find little argument that there is too much testing going on in schools. What is less clear is how this happened. Testing isn’t a new phenomenon. Grandparents can recount stories of their...
View ArticleYou are not “just a number”!
I have heard high school students who are concerned about test results proclaim: “I am more than just a number!"My response is, “Of course you are!"You are a scholar, and you have unique interests,...
View Article'Twas the last night of summer...
'Twas the last night of summer, the sky it was clear,The children were ready to start the school year.The book bags were hung by the front door with care, With notebooks and paper and stories to share....
View ArticlePreparing students for challenging careers
In Rhode Island, we don’t ask our high-school students to choose between a pathway to postsecondary education or a career pathway; rather, our goal is to provide all high-school students with the...
View ArticleWhen Students Speak Up, People Listen!
Our mission as leaders of public education in Rhode Island is to make sure that all Rhode Island students are “ready for success in college, careers, and life,” and there is no doubt that students who...
View ArticleLooking forward to learning in 2015!
We have had another great year of teaching and learning in Rhode Island! Working together, we have accomplished a lot this year that will improve classroom instruction and advance achievement for all...
View ArticleDesign Team off to a great start on our next strategic plan!
I want to share with you the great news that the 26 members of the team that will write our next strategic plan for elementary and secondary public education in Rhode Island came together on Saturday...
View ArticlePARCC makes good sense!
Why participation in state assessments helps all of us In Rhode Island, we have successfully administered state assessments in mathematics, reading, writing, and science for many years. Assessments...
View ArticlePARCC assessments will help us see if we’re making progress
Later this month, Rhode Island students will participate in a new set of assessments in literacy and mathematics, the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers)...
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