Standards

The Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health
Professionals and the American Federation of Teachers have been
advocates for the establishment of rigorous, clear and explicit
academic standards as a necessary ingredient in raising student
achievement. Since 1992, the RIFTHP has taken a leadership
position in Rhode Island's standards-based education
initiatives, particularly through its involvement with the Rhode
Island Skills Commission. The RIFTHP, along with RIDE, NEA/RI
and the RI Human Resource Investment Council, has been a partner
in the Skills Commission effort, with the RIFTHP Director of
Professional Issues also serving as the Co-Director of the
Skills Commission.

The Skills Commission's work on the development of a
Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM), an endorsement on a high
school diploma indicating that a set of rigorous academic and
applied learning standards has been met, has resulted in the
RIFTHP's involvement in standards-based school improvement
discussions and professional development for teachers and
administrators in standards-based instruction and
assessment. The RIFTHP and the Skills Commission have reached
over 2,500 teachers in the last two years through standards
awareness sessions, a course in standards-based instruction
(Course One), and work with local leaders and affiliates in
better understanding the demands being placed on them by Rhode
Island's legislated standards-based accountability system. (SALT
& Article 31)