To ensure students get the most they can from high school in preparing them for higher education or the workforce, the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) is considering changes to the regulations for secondary schools. Through the end of August and September the Department is hosting numerous community hearings to hear formal public commentary.

The tour will be making a stop in Warwick at the Warwick Public Library Sept. 6 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The current draft, which was approved by the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education in May, is available online and outlines several proposed revisions reached through a review process involving engagement from key stakeholders and community member feedback from last December until this past May. There were numerous focus and community groups, involving parents, teachers, administrators and state officials continuously discussing the possibilities for schools in the future, all of which presented data and suggestions for revisions. Some of the possible changes include improvements to literacy programs, increased flexibility in how students meet graduation and class requirements and allow for “individualized pathways.”

In terms of diploma requirements, one revision was to reduce number of performance based assessments from two to one while spotlighting applied learning skills among various other revisions and suggestions.

There will be several public hearings throughout the state on the proposed regulations. The first was held Monday, August 22 at the Cumberland Public Library. The remaining hearings are slated for, Monday, August 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the Newport Public Library, 300 Spring St; Tuesday, September 6 at 5:30 p.m. at the Warwick Public Library, 600 Sandy Lane; and Monday, September 12 at 5:30 at the University of Rhode Island Providence Campus, 80 Washington St. or 255 Westminster St.

All hearings are accessible to those individuals with disabilities. There will also be interpretive services for those with hearing impairments if requested 48 hours previous to the hearing. The service can be requested by calling Sonya Barbosa at 222-8463 or by RI Relay (800) 745-5555.

Written comments can also be submitted to Sonya Barbosa at RIDE, 255 Westminster St, Providence, RI 02903 or by emailing secondary@ride.ri.gov or by faxing 222-6178.

For more information on the possible changes in the secondary school regulations and the process in which changes were reached visit, www.ride.ri.gov/DiplomaSystem.