SMITHFIELD – Ending the school year on a high note, Smithfield High School was awarded $122,165 in Rhode Island Department of Education Career and Technical Education grants to create two new programs focused on expanding historically underserved students.

Noticing both a resource in computer science teacher Micheal Deslauriers and a disparity of females in computer science and information technology, Acting Principal Kenneth Hopkins worked with teachers and administrators from both the high and middle schools to write the grant.

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence Career and Technical Center was one of eight schools to be included among an award of nearly $1.2 million by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) of CTE Innovation and Equity Grants, the state authority announced Thursday, June 7.

WOOD RIVER JCT. — Chariho Tech is one of eight schools in the state that will share $1.2 million in Innovation and Equity Grants, career and technical program funding that is meant to assist underserved student populations. The Rhode Island Department of Education announced Thursday that the schools will receive $150,000 over two years to encourage more female students to study information technology, or IT.

The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) today announced the awarding of nearly $1.2 million in CTE Innovation and Equity Grants, funds that will be used by new and existing career education programs to help expand access for historically underserved students. The eight recipient schools are spread out across the state and will each receive roughly $150,000 in funding over two years, starting in the 2018-2019 school year.

Several local high school students are getting their foot in the door early at submarine builder Electric Boat, thanks to a course that teaches them valuable trade skills.

They’re taking a maritime sheet metal class offered by the Westerly Education Center as part of the workforce training program. It’s the first time the center has opened the program to students who are intent on entering the workforce right after graduation, which is coming soon for some. 

“We are trying to get young people ready to become future members of the workforce, and doing something like this can be a way to achieving that,” said Ouellette. “The chamber applauds local companies that reach out to students to demonstrate that there is a world of jobs out there that they might not otherwise know about.”

The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) announced that registration is now open for summer and fall classes through the Advanced Course Network (ACN). At RICourseChoice.org, Rhode Island public middle and high school students can explore and register for more than 60 free, credit-bearing, and work experience course options offered through the Advanced Course Network (ACN). Summer classes are available for the first time this year.

PAWTUCKET – The fifth-ranked member of Tolman High School’s Class of 2018, Melissa Giron is always looking for a challenge in the classroom. But her 4.3 grade point average in high school wasn’t enough, so Giron decide it was time to advance her education a year early.

Through the PrepareRI Dual Enrollment program which allows all public high school students in Rhode Island to take free courses at one of the state’s public colleges, Giron is currently taking a full course of classes at Community College of Rhode Island’s Lincoln campus.

Governor Gina M. Raimondo, Rhode Island's leading employers and other stakeholders gathered together Wednesday to celebrate the launch of a new internship program that will provide 100 high school students with hands-on work experience in industries including technology, health care, finance, education, manufacturing and construction. The PrepareRI Internship Program builds on Governor Raimondo's goal of having work-based learning in every high school in the state and preparing students with the skills they need for the jobs of the future.