Support legislative review and analysis of CCRI 1. They should focus on rewarding outcomes rather than enrollment and assure that there is a robust infrastructure in place to provide the marketplace with “just in time” training and curriculum adjustments to sync with regional economic development needs. While Rhode Island’s Economic Development strategy recognizes the critical importance of workforce training and development, there needs to be a stronger effort to bolster college completion and increase skills at CCRI and to maximize the State’s return on its investment. CCRI has a history of low retention and completion rates, especially for students who are enrolled that require significant remedial assistance, and too few students leave the institution without the necessary credentials to enter the high skilled workplace. The Business Coalition supports a more aggressive repositioning of CCRI to address both the evolving human capital needs of state employers and the desire of residents for better skills and wider opportunity. Throughout the country, there is growing understanding of the importance of local community colleges as a critical part of the region’s economic development engine. Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) i. Requires state to develop plan for instituting statewide curriculum frameworks and a school-based management model d.
Requires state to examine alignment in the public education system iii. Attempts to move RI towards MA model of education ii. Support implementation of H8308 Sub A – Unified Approach to Education (passed in 2016) i. Federal “Every Student Succeeds Act” (ESSA) – Support development and implementation of new accountability standards required by ESSA, including standards related to career readiness c. Support implementation of 3-year action plan b. Award includes 3-year action plan for improving and expanding high-quality career-focused education programs intended to prepare young people for well-paying jobs and long-term careers 2. Morgan grant award - New Skills for Youth 1. CTE Board undergoing process of implementing academic standards and curricula for 16 industrial sectors ii. Support ongoing implementation of the 2014 CTE reforms, which re-enacted a statewide Board of Trustees for CTE, and established a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity aimed at streamlining and coordinating CTE funding 1. The Coalition looks forward to engaging diverse sets of stakeholders over the coming year to address the following issue areas:
Although this document represents the consensus views of the Business Coalition, it should be noted that individual members may hold different views on certain policy issues. Specifically, as the 2018 legislative session gets underway, the Coalition suggests a policy focus on reforms that will assist businesses. The Coalition opposes policy changes that would make it more difficult to do business in Rhode Island, including “predictive” scheduling mandates, tax increases, or increases to the state’s minimum wage. Since that time, Rhode Island has enacted several reforms supported by the Coalition, including lowering the state’s corporate income tax rate, increasing the estate tax exemption and eliminating the “cliff,” reducing the state’s property tax burden by beginning to phase out the motor vehicle tax, and overhauling the state’s Career and Technical Education system.
#VICTORY DAY RI 2018 SERIES#
In 2014, the Coalition developed a series of long-term policy priorities aimed at improving Rhode Island’s economic climate. The Rhode Island Business Coalition is a diverse group of business associations committed to the adoption and implementation of public policies that improve Rhode Island’s economic competitiveness and overall business climate.