Project Overview
Many families don’t realize they have more than one choice for school, whether within their district or at a public charter school. Exercising choice can be challenging, since parents must follow each school’s application process.
To give students more opportunities to earn a quality education, the Rhode Island Department of Education created the country’s first statewide unified enrollment system available for students in pre-kindergarten to grade 12. With EnrollRI, families can find and apply to multiple high-quality public charter schools with just one application.
EnrollRI also empowers students to access free advanced courses and enrichment opportunities through the All Course Network. These courses range from dual enrollment options in community colleges to AP courses in neighboring high schools to art and robotics programming offered by local museums.
Because the All Course Network has different STEM courses that I might not have the opportunity to take in school, I will be set up for a good college path in the future and be able to pursue my career.
Chandaniey, Rhode Island High School Student
How It Helps
EnrollRI is centered around the needs of families, expanding opportunities for them to obtain a higher-quality education for their children. Before EnrollRI, families faced confusing timelines, processes, and requirements when searching for schools and applying to them. Now, all families in the state can learn about the high-quality charter school options in their community in one place and apply to them all using one process.
Among unified enrollment systems, EnrollRI is distinctive by providing families with school and course choice in one platform. The All Course Network enables students to access academic and enrichment opportunities outside of the traditional school day, at no cost.
This coursework is often completed through dual enrollment in a typical high school and higher education institution. Elementary and middle schoolers can access enrichment and supplementary programming through various community partners. The courses help students get a head start on college and career, develop social and emotional skills, and explore their interests alongside similarly motivated peers.
As an added benefit, the EnrollRI platform makes it easier to quickly communicate and enact changes necessary in a crisis like COVID-19. As schools were switching between in-person and remote learning, EnrollRI made it easy to increase remote learning opportunities for students. Rhode Island now has a platform that can be used to enhance the lives of its families and students for years to come.