Mayor Announces High School Program for Newcomers to U.S.

Providence, RI: More than three dozen high school students – newly arrived in the U.S. from Africa, the Middle East and Central America — are receiving intensive English Language Learning instruction, core academics and support services at a new, innovative program launched by Providence Public Schools.

On Monday, April 3, Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, Providence Public School District Superintendent Christopher Maher and Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island Executive Director Kathy Cloutier announced this educational program, now in its third week of operation at the newly renovated location at 158 Messer St., Providence. Forty-one newcomer students are currently enrolled in the program.

Mayor Elorza stated, “The newcomer program marks a tremendous step in ensuring that all Providence students learn in an environment that is welcoming and supportive. Newcomers, just as the rest of our students, deserve a fair shot at a quality education.”

The Providence Public School District designed the newcomer program in response to the growing number of English Learners with at least two years of interrupted formal education. Currently, the district has more than 100 high school students who qualify as newcomers and are receiving ESL services in the city’s public high schools. More than three dozen of these students opted to enroll in the new program at Messer Street.

Superintendent Christopher Maher explained, “The program is focused exclusively on students who are new to this country, and its curriculum is designed to address their unique needs. Every course, whether it be math or science, has English Learning instruction embedded in its lessons, so that students are working to improve their literacy skills all day, every day.”

In addition to requiring English as Second Language services, many of these students face unique educational, cultural and emotional challenges that can best be addressed in a small, welcoming environment. Some are refugees who have fled war zones. Others are recovering from traumatic experiences, including separation from family members in other countries. To
the district has assigned a trauma-trained social worker to the Messer Street location. Additionally, it has contracted with Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island to maintain a case manager on site to connect students and families with community support services.

Mayor Elorza added, “I’m grateful for Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island’s partnership as it will help our newest and youngest residents succeed.”

Kathy Cloutier, executive director of Dorcas International Institute, said, “The Newcomer Program supports a key group of vulnerable youth, many of whom have come from homelands ravaged by violence. Dorcas International is thrilled that this partnership is committed to the educational goals of these students and addresses their needs holistically. Their success in school can have a positive impact on their entire family.”

Newcomer Program Leader Soledad Barreto, who also serves as director of language acquisition for the district, said that Dorcas International will reach out to the families of newcomer students, offering parent workshops and adult ESL classes. “Parents and guardians,” said Barreto, “play a key role in students’ academic success. The more we can involve families in our educational community, the more support we expect our students to receive outside the classroom.”

The Newcomer Program is designed to help students raise their knowledge and skills to a high school level, so that they may transition to a regular high school or job skills program. Students may be enrolled for as little as one semester or for as long as two academic years.

The Messer Street classrooms, which were recently refurbished, have a maximum capacity of 104 students. Because the district expects demand for the program to increase over time, it views the Messer Street location as temporary and hopes to have determined a permanent location before fall classes begin.

The Providence Public School District serves approximately 24,000 students and their families through 22 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, 10 high schools and 2 public district charter schools. Our diverse student body identifies as 63 percent Hispanic, 17 percent Black, 10 percent White, 5 percent Asian, 4 percent Multi-racial and 1 percent Native American. Approximately 26 percent of our students are English Language Learners. For more information, visit www.providenceschools.org.