The increased numbers of students with inconsistent/interrupted formal education (SIFE) is an urgent and compelling issue that requires a systems-level response. Most of the newcomer students that fall into the status of SIFE are often refugees, asylees, and/or Unaccompanied Minors that may require intensive and specialized services to meet their academic, socio-emotional, and mental health needs. At the same time, we should be seeking ways to build on the rich assets that our SIFE bring to their learning and that of their community, including linguistic and cultural diversity, global perspectives and incredible resiliency and commitment to their education.

Program Placement and Designing Effective Programs for SIFE

Because newcomer SIFE are an especially high-need population, there are a number of critical conditions that should be in place to ensure we are setting our newcomer SIFE up to be career, college, and community ready upon graduation. In the State of Rhode Island, majority of the newcomer SIFE attend schools in the largest school districts (Central Falls, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence, and Woonsocket). The following graph indicates the types of programs that may be appropriate given the resources of each school.