Through this initiative, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT works at the state level, advocating for policies to support student-centered learning. For more information, please click here. This initiative is supported by funding from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation.

Student-centered learning incorporates students' skills and interests into the learning process and engages students in their own success. 

Student-centered learning: 

• Is personalized - Personalized learning recognizes that students engage in different ways and in different places. Students benefit from individually-paced, targeted learning tasks that start from where the student is, formatively assess existing skills and knowledge, and address the student's needs and interests. 
• Is competency-based - Students move ahead when they have demonstrated mastery of content, not when they have reached a certain birthday or met the required number of hours in the classroom. 
• Happens anytime, anywhere - Learning takes place beyond the traditional school day, and even the school year. Learning is not restricted to the classroom. 
• Allows students to take ownership - Student-centered learning engages students in their own success-and incorporates their interests and skills into the learning process. 

For more information, please visit the Nellie Mae Education Foundation's website, and watch this video.

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is releasing a series of Student-Centered Learning Fact Sheets. This first Fact Sheet focuses on Personalized Learning, a range of instructional approaches that are designed to address the skills, knowledge, needs, interests, and aspirations of individual students. 

Each of these Fact Sheets will highlight state policies that support and limit the spread of student-centered learning practices, highlight best practices in Rhode Island and across the nation, and provide recommendations for expanding and strengthening student-centered learning in Rhode Island.

Blended and Personalized Learning Conference 

The 2nd Annual Blended and Personalized Learning Conference will take place on Saturday, April 2, 2016 in Providence, RI. For more information and to register, please click here. 

RI-CAN is launching a new summer teacher fellowship to shape the organization's vision of personalized learning policy in Rhode Island. For more information and to apply, please click here.

Are you interested in specific areas of child well-being? Rhode Island KIDS COUNT publishes E-Newsletters on specific areas related to child well-being: 

• Children's Health and Health Insurance 
• Child Welfare/Juvenile Justice 
• Early Childhood/Early Learning 
• Student-Centered Learning 
• Rhode Island KIDS COUNT also publishes a general interest E-Newsletter. 

Please click here to start receiving these updates today!