RI+XQ started in 2018 with interactive design sessions for all of the state’s 64 public high schools. These sessions invited state leaders, teachers, school leaders, students, families, and local partners to dream big about the future of high school in Rhode Island with XQ’s resources and tools. Of the 32 high school teams that submitted proposals, 20 received planning grants in June 2019 and began a seven-month design journey to develop full redesign proposals.

In March 2020, following a rigorous selection process, XQ named Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts (TAPA) and Ponaganset High School as XQ schools. Learn more. 

XQ’s Educational Opportunity Audit as a driver for change

After working with individual high schools in Rhode Island, our partnership led to a statewide approach aimed at giving all students access to meaningful, engaged learning—grounded in relevant, real-world learning experiences that transform what learning looks like in all classrooms across the state.

All Rhode Island high schools were invited to participate in an Educational Opportunity Audit (EOA). XQ’s EOA is central to our commitment to equity. It’s a rigorous and comprehensive process—conducted with students, teachers, families, and leaders—that identifies hidden patterns and barriers to college and career readiness by gathering and analyzing student transcripts, surveys, and focus groups. 

In June 2020, XQ and RIDE presented an analysis of the Rhode Island high school student experience. Our EOA found only six out of 10 of the state’s students were enrolled in the courses they needed to be considered college-eligible. This led to RIDE proposing new Readiness-Based Graduation Requirements and an accompanying Action Plan. Parents, students, educators, and other members of the public were given 18 months to weigh in, through virtual and in-person meetings. The amended graduation requirements were the most commented set of regulations in K-12 education in Rhode Island and represented extensive input from the public, including comments from the formal public comment period and public conversations. View a summary of the regulations, public comment, and slideshow here.

On November 15, 2022, the Rhode Island Council on Elementary and Secondary Education approved updated Secondary Regulations that aim to reimagine high school and the statewide graduation requirements. The secondary regulations establish college and career-ready coursework as the default expectation for every child in Rhode Island regardless of where they live, their parent’s income, the language they speak at home, or their disability status.  

The revised regulations have three priorities: preparing graduates to create their own future; increasing engagement through real-world relevant learning experiences; and changing how we support our children and families.

Community activations and student engagement

Rhode Island leaders knew it would take broad and unwavering participation from community members across the state to make their bold vision a reality. In September 2021, XQ and RIDE hosted a community activation event at the WaterFire Festival to raise awareness, seek public input, celebrate educators, amplify student voice, and showcase high school transformation. Governor Dan McKee and Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green joined nearly 15,000 attendees. The experience invited the community to interact with student data and share ideas for spending new state and federal funding alongside live music, local art exhibits, and the Inside Out Photobooth Truck.

Keeping the focus on student voice and empowerment, WaterFire also included a series of student roundtables for young people to share how schools could make them feel more valued and prepared. Check out this video highlight.

The WaterFire festival kicked off the XQ + For Freedoms Student Billboard Challenge for students ages 13-21 to articulate their hopes and dreams on a billboard design. For Freedoms and XQ designed and displayed the winning billboards across Rhode Island. Check out the student gallery. 

In 2022, XQ returned to the WaterFire festival  in partnership with RIDE and hosted a  Teacher’s Lounge where educators shared their insights and ideas about rethinking high school, and the community shared what “future-ready” means.