2014 -- S 2864

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LC004585

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF

ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION TO INCLUDE IN ITS NEXT ROUND OF

SCHOOL COUNSELOR PREPARATION PROGRAM APPROVAL REVIEWS A GREATER

EMPHASIS ON STRATEGIES AND SKILLS IN ORDER TO ALLOW SCHOOL

COUNSELORS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT WORKFORCE READINESS IN K-12

SETTINGS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Picard, Pichardo, Cool Rumsey, Sheehan, and Cote

     Date Introduced: April 09, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Education

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     WHEREAS, School counselors play a central role in promoting student achievement and

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supporting students as they consider their options for colleges and careers. These education

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professionals serve as key conduits of information regarding career exploration opportunities.

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They are natural collaborators who work well with agencies and organizations in the community

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to maximize students' chances for success; and

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     WHEREAS, School counselors must be prepared to respond to the needs of today's

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students, who now confront a challenging economy and careers that may span multiple

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disciplines. For many students, first-hand workplace experience in the form of internships and

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apprenticeships allows them to acquire job-embedded knowledge, develop insights into potential

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careers, and build essential soft skills; and

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     WHEREAS, The educator preparation programs at Rhode Island's institutions of higher

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education are responsible for providing school counselors with the coursework and training that

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will enable them to support a range of students, including those in career and technical schools

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and those who enter the workforce directly; and

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     WHEREAS, It is critical for school counselor preparation programs to ensure that their

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graduates understand the ways that internships and apprenticeships enhance classroom-based

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learning for K-12 students, and acquire practical knowledge of how to partner productively with

 

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businesses, non-profit organizations, and other entities from the community that can offer

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students extraordinary experiences; and

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     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Senate’s recent report, The Rhode to Work, underscores

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the need for many more secondary students to have the opportunity to pursue internships and

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apprenticeships, to gain the skills they need to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce; and

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     WHEREAS, The new set of standards for educator preparation programs approved by the

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Board of Education at its November 13, 2013, meeting similarly highlight the need for educator

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preparation programs to get K-12 students career ready and to integrate Rhode Island initiatives;

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and

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     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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(RIDE) is scheduled to review school counselor preparation programs at institutions of higher

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education in the state; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby respectfully requests that the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary

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Education to include in its next round of school counselor program approval reviews a greater

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emphasis on strategies and skills in order to allow school counselors to more effectively support

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workforce readiness efforts in K-12 settings; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby further requests that the school counselor

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preparation programs in the state collaborate with RIDE to expand the learning opportunities for

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school counselors in training that center on workforce readiness; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Chair of the Board of Education, the

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Commissioner of Education, the Dean of the School of Education at Rhode Island College, and

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the Dean of the School of Professional Studies at Providence College.

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LC004585

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