Providence Schools to Partner with Internationals Network to Launch English Learner Program at Mt. Pleasant High

The Providence School Board has approved a contract between Providence Public School District and the NY-based Internationals Network for Public Schools to develop a program for English learners at Mt. Pleasant High School.

The approach of the Internationals Network is to create small learning communities of English learners who are newly arrived to the United States. The group of students stays together from freshman year to graduation. While Internationals’ students grow their English language skills, they also learn rigorous content in an environment that offers multilingual, peer support. Internationals academies also focus on college and career readiness, with the goal of improving graduation rates. The Internationals Network has academies in New York, Minnesota, Washington DC and California.

Over the next six months, the Internationals Network will provide leadership development, coaching and planning services to help Mt. Pleasant High School build capacity for an academy launch in the 2018-19 school year. Part of the planning process will include determining the size of the Mt. .

Providence Public Schools Superintendent Christopher Maher hailed the project as an important addition to the menu of services the district currently provides for English learners, which includes English as a Second Language instruction, dual language immersion and a Newcomer program for those newly arrived to the U.S. who have had interrupted formal education.

Maher said, “We chose the Internationals Network for this work not only for its track record, but also for its core belief – which Providence Schools shares – that students’ native languages are assets to be celebrated, not deficits to be managed.”

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.