The only way to meet these challenges and give Rhode Island the competitive edge it needs to build a strong economy is to equip students today with the tools they need to be effective, world class workers. Preparing students well means fundamentally changing how we educate our youth. It means integrating the worlds of school and work, learning from business what is expected to succeed, and teaching those skills. It also means helping students make the often difficult transition from school to work. Through collaborative partnerships between educators and local businesses, we can provide all of our students with a world class education that will prepare them further education and careers in high-skill, high wage jobs.
Employers contribute job-related criteria for inclusion in classroom curriculum.
They serve as mentors, supervisors, and teachers. They participate in career days at local schools and speakers bureaus. Employers can provide internships, shadowing opportunities, apprenticeship training, part-time and permanent jobs. In work-based learning, employers partner with schools to provide structured learning experiences for students that develop broad, transferable skills. Structured Field Studies Groups of students are provided opportunities to visit and tour several businesses during the course of a school year as part of the structured field study program.