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December 18, 2007

Carcieri touts new graduation requirements / Photo

Journal photo/Frieda Squires
Marissa Simeone and Rebecca Stein, both juniors at Mt. Hope High School, Bristol, listen to Governor Carcieri as he speaks to a group of students about new graduation standards.

BRISTOL -- In his first stop on a series of visits to high schools around the state, Governor Carcieri emphasized to students at Mt. Hope High School today the importance of a new system of standards-based graduation requirements.

“I feel so strongly about this,” he said, “because I believe it’s the future of our state.”

Carcieri spoke to a group of 15 students representing each of the four high school grade levels about standardized testing and the new diploma system, which requires graduating students to demonstrate proficiency through either a senior project, a multiyear portfolio of their work or end-of-course exams.

He told them about the importance of his own education, which led to a brief stint as a teacher before becoming a successful businessman and politician, and said that education reforms in Rhode Island are aimed at better preparing students for life after graduation.

“What do we need to do to give our youngsters the skills to be successful?” he said.

Carcieri met with the students for about an hour in the school library after sitting down with teachers earlier in the morning. He plans to visit six high schools around the state to talk about the new system and listen to comments from faculty and pupils about the changes. His next stop is Westerly High School on Thursday.

Many of the students selected by school administrators to meet with Carcieri today told him the portfolios that all Mt. Hope teenagers are required to create is a useful and accurate tool to gauge performance.

“We can really see what we need to do and how we’ve grown,” said senior Robert Cotta.

The digital portfolio system was started at Mt. Hope four years ago. It’s put together on a computer over a student’s entire tenure in school and, when completed, can include more than one hundred assignments, along with awards and even video clips.

-- Journal staff writer Alex Kuffner

In May, before a student graduates, he or she must give a panel of teachers, administrators and community members a “tour” of the highlights of their portfolio to demonstrate proficiency. The portfolio must be judged proficient for the student to receive a diploma.

Sophomore Jonathan Silva showed the room his portfolio, which is still in the works and consists of 24 pieces of work, including a history paper, a play critique and a lab report from the school science fair.

“It almost sums up everything I’ve done the entire year,” he said.

Freshman Jordan Moshkwoski, however, said that with the focus on proficiency, the portfolio doesn’t accurately reflect if a student is taking accelerated or honors courses.

“I think that’s kind of a flaw that should be improved on,” she said.

State Department of Education Commissioner Peter McWalters, who was also present, said that could be something officials take a second look at.

In an interview after the meeting, Edward P. Mara, superintendent of the Bristol Warren Regional School District, said the new diploma system is the result of an overall change in philosophy.

“Before, you did your work, received your grades, and you just left high school,” he said. “These kids now get constant feedback. They know what they’re doing well, so it gives them the opportunity to get better.”

Earlier, senior Jason Moniz told the governor about recent positive changes at Mt. Hope, which has seen steady improvement in standardized test scores over the past five years and in 2005 was named a Regents’ commended school. Moniz’s older brother graduated from the school several years ago and remarked on the gains.

“He says my diploma’s worth a lot more than his,” Moniz said.

“That’s what we’re trying to do,” Carcieri responded. “We’re trying to do that at every school in the state.”

Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:58 PM | Permalink

December 18, 2007

Carcieri touts new graduation requirements / Photo

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