PROVIDENCE, RI – As students, families, and teachers prepare for the start of the 2024-2025 school year, the Providence Public School District (PPSD) is proud to announce that three of Providence’s redesign schools have completed the National Academy Foundation’s (NAF) Year of Planning (YOP) program and are ready to open their doors as NAF Academies in the fall. Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School, Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex (JSEC), and Mount Pleasant High School have worked with District officials and NAF over the past year to align their pre-existing Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to the NAF YOP process. Providence’s NAF schools will formerly launch their academies in September 2024.
NAF is a national education non-profit that brings schools and businesses together to better prepare students of all backgrounds to succeed in college, career, and their futures. Since 1980, NAF has led a movement for immersive, career-focused teaching and work-based learning, helping students explore career options, create a plan for their future, and take part in hands-on, work-based learning.
“I’m excited that through a partnership with NAF, more Providence students will be able to take advantage of engaging, career-focused educational programs aimed to bolster economic opportunity and growth,” said Governor Dan McKee. “To continue to move Rhode Island in the right direction, we must ensure our workforce is strong and that begins with offering a high-quality education. I’m pleased that Providence is aligning their NAF academies with some of the sectors Rhode Island is seeing the greatest need in.”
"Under the Providence Turnaround, our goal is to create opportunities and learning environments that promote excellence in education and prepare our students for success in college, career, and beyond," said Rhode Island Department of Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “Our three redesign schools that have received NAF accreditation and are now part of a distinguished network with a proven track record of supporting students reach their highest potential represent our commitment to offering a world-class education. From life sciences to healthcare and engineering, we are thrilled to offer Providence youth have greater access to exciting and innovative career pathways.”
“We are very proud of the hard work our Redesign Team has done in the District to achieve NAF approval and provide our students greater access to innovative, high-quality education opportunities," said Providence Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez. “This partnership with NAF represents a great stride in opening doors for students to high paying, in-demand jobs in growing sectors including the life sciences which is a key priority area for the state of Rhode Island. I look forward to seeing our students grow and thrive in our new NAF academies.”
“In line with our commitment to expand post-secondary education and career pathways for all students, NAF is helping us to build out Industry Advisory Boards for each CTE program at the redesign schools. By working with a national network, we’re giving our students greater access to quality work-based learning opportunities in high demand and high-wage industry clusters,” said PPSD Director of CTE Brett Dickens.
“NAF’s newest network members in Providence will be a part of a transformative movement to ensure that all high school students are college, career, and future ready. It’s been a pleasure to work with Providence’s redesign schools. Throughout NAF’s rigorous review process, school leaders and CTE teachers have successfully leveraged our resources and support to bolster their CTE programs,” said NAF Assistant Director of Academy Development Megan Marx.
The YOP process is designed to align high school programs and resources to successfully start a career academy. NAF works to ensure all stakeholders develop a lasting relationship with academies and are well-trained and confident in implementing the NAF design. The process establishes a sustainable foundation for high-quality CTE programs by creating a shared vision and mission to fulfill the school and community goals. It also ensures NAF’s standards of practice are in place before an academy opens in its Launch Year. NAF provides guided technical assistance, professional development, a full suite of resources, and NAF-developed, industry-validated curriculum to support the academy development process.
During the 2022-23 school year Jorge Alvarez, JSEC, Mount Pleasant High School, and two other PPSD schools, DelSesto Middle School, and Hope High School, engaged in a rigorous, data-driven process to redesign their academic programs. Through the redesign process, the District is creating new school options that meet student and family interests and prepare students for success in their post-secondary careers.
Since 2019, PPSD has expanded work-based learning experiences now offering 31 CTE programs in many industry clusters. CTE is a powerful educational experience with rigorous course sequences, work-based learning hours, industry credentials and dual enrollment opportunities. PPSD’s CTE Office is focused on identifying post-secondary opportunities for graduates in high wage, high growth industries. In June, approximately 100 students were honored at PPSD’s CTE Career Signing Day. These students committed to good-paying, entry level positions at companies and organizations including General Dynamics, Electric Boat, Laborers Union (LiUNA), and Providence Water.
Alvarez, JSEC, and Mount Pleasant High School have developed Industry Advisory Boards made up of local industry leaders and professionals that collaborate with the schools to design career-driven post-secondary preparation as well as linking schools to exemplary programs across the country.
Providence Public Schools is committed to providing a world-class education for all students, preparing them for success in college, career, and life. The District is dedicated to equity and excellence, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
For more information about Providence Public Schools, visit www.providenceschools.org. Follow Providence Public Schools on Facebook, X (@pvdschools), or Instagram (@pvdschools) for timely updates.
