Central Falls Transformation Report - Annenberg Institute for School ...

The Multiple Pathways programs include:
• Day Program: Guide to Success (G2S)
• P.M. School
• Saturday School
• Early College/College Crusaders
The P.M. and Saturday school programs are based at the high school, and the G2S day
program is housed at the Feinstein School building in Central Falls. Within each of these
programs, childcare services were provided to students who had children of their own.
Day Program: Guide to Success
Interviewees described the G2S day program as a system of support that offers flexible
scheduling as an opportunity for students to make up credits and accelerate their learning.
The program also enables families to leverage resources that they may be unaware of, such
as social and community services. Oftentimes these systems of support can be difficult to
navigate and the G2S program staff helps families steer through the process.
School leaders told us that the day program has been associated with two major successes:
• Helping students stay in school due to facilitated conversations between school staff and
parents about family financial constraints
• Creating an understanding that students will be more valuable in the workforce once
they earn a high school diploma
G2S classes were described as similar academically to the classes offered at the high school,
only in a smaller setting and with a more diverse group of teachers. A smaller program
within the G2S model – Square Mile – serves special education students.
In the 2010-2011 school year, the recruitment target for the G2S program were fifteen
over-aged and under-credited students who had already dropped out of school and an
additional fifteen to twenty students who were at risk of dropping out. Actual enrollment
was higher, with a total of sixty students identified to participate in the program. Of the
sixty students, forty-seven enrolled and completed the program over the school year.
Fifteen of the students who completed the G2S program had already dropped out of
school and re-enrolled and graduated through the G2S program. One leadership team
member described the impact G2S has had in the district:
Seeing these fifteen kids so excited about school was amazing. Kids will tell you that
nobody believed in them a year ago. I think it’s probably the greatest accomplishment
for anyone in this city. These were kids who were not productive citizens a year
ago. Now there are fifteen kids who have a high school diploma, who also have
applied to CCRI [Community College of Rhode Island] and are thinking, “What is
my next goal?” It’s a huge positive impact for everyone in the community and the
state.
Most of the thirteen students who did not complete the G2S program pursued other
endeavors including:
• Three students dropped out of CFHS to accept full time employment.
• Three students enrolled in a dual GED/certificate program.
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