CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION 

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathways offered in the Smithfield Public School District allow both resident and nonresident students expanded options to participate in courses that are related to career choices that they are interested in pursuing. Parents and students should visit the CTE website and attend an open house to learn more about our academic, career, and co-curricular activities.  Additionally, students and parents should create a four-year academic plan with their school counselor to ensure pathway requirements can be met. 

Guidelines for enrollment and participation in the district’s CTE Pathways are delineated in this policy.  Enrollment criteria shall not unfairly target students on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. 

Admission and Application Process for CTE Pathways - Smithfield Residents

1. Smithfield residents will receive priority in the application process.

2. Smithfield residents may apply as early as 8th grade or at any point during their high school career. Students will be notified when the application window is open.  

3. Parents, in consultation with their child, should complete an application found online at https://www.shsri.org

4. Students looking to transfer to a different pathway will be required to re-apply for the new pathway.

5. Students may be denied acceptance into a pathway if it is determined that they will be unable to complete the required three or four-course sequence in conjunction with additional graduation requirements.

Admission and Application Process for CTE Pathways - Non-Smithfield Residents

1. Non-Smithfield students entering grades nine, ten, or eleven are eligible for enrollment into Smithfield High School CTE Pathways.  Preference will be given to students in grades 9 and 10, followed by 11th grade.

a. Any nonresident student meeting the established general admission criteria of a Rhode Island high school is eligible to apply to the SHS CTE   Pathways.

b. Admission of non-resident students to an SHS CTE Pathway is dependent upon the available seats.  

c. Smithfield residents will receive priority in the application process. 

2. Applications must be electronically submitted on or before January 1st to be considered for the following school year.  After January 1st, the application process is “rolling,” meaning applications may be received at any time, reviewed, and accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications received after September 15th may be considered for the following semester of the current school year.   

a. An admissions team composed of the school principal, school counselor, and CTE program coordinator will review applicant documentation.  Applicants transferring to SHS from another district will have their official transcript reviewed to identify any credit(s) that will fulfill the CTE pathway course and/or elective requirement(s).

b. Smithfield High School reserves the right to interview students as part of the application process.  The admissions team will inform applicants of their acceptance or denial through written notification.

c. In the event that a Pathway reaches maximum capacity, a waiting list will be developed.  Applicants denied access may follow the appeal process outlined in this policy. 

3. An admissions team composed of the school principal, school counselor, and CTE program coordinator will review applicant documentation.

a. Applicants transferring to SHS from another district will have their official transcript reviewed to identify any credit(s) that will fulfill the CTE pathway course and/or elective requirement(s).  Smithfield High School reserves the right to interview students as part of the application process.  

4. The admissions team will inform applicants of their acceptance or denial through written notification.  

a. In the event that a Pathway reaches maximum capacity, a waiting list will be developed.  

b. Applicants denied access may follow the appeal process outlined in this policy. 

c. Students may be denied acceptance into a pathway if it is determined that they will be unable to complete the required three or four-course sequence in conjunction with additional graduation requirements.

d. All non-resident students interested in participating in a CTE Pathway who did not meet or exceed the standard on a recent Rhode Island State Assessment or comparable standardized diagnostic assessment (math & reading), may be diagnostically assessed to determine their level of proficiency as it relates to established program criteria. The sending district may provide documentation (i.e. transcripts, portfolio of work, alternate assessments) that demonstrates achievement at these levels of proficiency.

e. Students who are not within two (2) years of grade-level proficiency in reading comprehension and mathematics, may not be considered for admission to Smithfield High School CTE Programs. For students with disabilities, either qualifying under IDEA or Section 504, a portfolio of the student’s work in mathematics and/or language arts may be submitted. For students who do not meet the established criteria under the general admissions process, an additional review may be undertaken of his/her portfolio materials.

f. Attendance and behavior records will be reviewed.  Excessive absences, tardiness, or serious and/or excessive discipline referrals may be cause for denial into a CTE Pathway.

Application Process

1. Parents, in consultation with their child, must complete an application found online at https://www.shsri.org.  In addition to the online application, the following documentation is required:

• Transcripts

• Attendance and Behavior Records

• Rhode Island State Assessment Scores, STAR Assessments, and other diagnostic assessments

• Parent/Guardian Acknowledgement

• Sending School Documentation and Recommendation

• Sending District Superintendent Signature and Release

2. Students/parents will be invited to SHS for a meeting with the principal/CTE coordinator and offered a tour.

Students who are accepted into the CTE Pathway must register in Smithfield. Upon successful registration, the high school counseling office will begin the course selection process.  Students are required to successfully complete at least one required pathway course each school year.  Non-resident students wishing to transfer to a different pathway will be required to re-apply for the new pathway and notify their home district.

Removal From Programs - Resident & Non-Resident

Students are responsible for meeting all individual pathway requirements and timelines, maintaining academic expectations, and following the SHS Code of Conduct. Smithfield High School reserves the right to reconsider or withdraw acceptance of any student that does not maintain eligibility/good standing status.  Students may also be removed from CTE Pathway for the following:

• Excessive absences, tardiness, or serious and/or excessive discipline referrals.

• Failure to earn a passing grade in a required pathway course.

• Failure to matriculate to the next grade.

• Failure to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Smithfield High School and policies of the Smithfield School District. 

In programs that require safety standards (OSHA, etc.), students must consistently meet those expectations. In the event that a student fails to consistently meet safety standards, a retraining opportunity will be provided and documented. Subsequently, if a student continues not to meet safety standards, the Superintendent may remove the student from his/her CTEPathway, with notification to the sending district, when appropriate. 

The CTE Coordinator and school counselors will review student progress at the end of each semester.  Students in danger of not fulfilling pathway requirements will be notified.  The CTE coordinator, school counselor, and/or administrator will meet with the student and parents/ guardians to develop a support plan.  Students failing to complete the support plan and pathway requirements will be removed from the Pathway.  Students, parents, and the sending district, if applicable, will be notified in writing of such removal.  Non-resident students removed from a CTE Pathway will no longer be enrolled at Smithfield High School and must return to their sending school. 

Appeal Process

Any student denied placement in or removed from a CTE Pathway at Smithfield High School shall have the right to appeal that decision. 

Level 1 

Students denied acceptance in a CTE Pathway may file a written appeal to the Principal. 

School Counselors will conduct a second transcript analysis and share results with the Appeals Board, consisting of:

a. School Principal or designee

b. Director of School Counseling 

c. School Counselor

d. CTE Coordinator

The Appeals Board will make their final decision in writing.

Level 2

If the parent/student is not satisfied with the result of the Appeals Board decision, the parent/student may submit a written appeal to the Superintendent. 

Level 3

If the parent/student is not satisfied with the Superintendent’s decision, the parent/student may submit a written appeal to the Smithfield School Committee. 

Nothing in this provision shall be construed to deny students with disabilities or their parents from availing themselves of Due Process rights under state or federal special education laws or regulations.

Out-of-District Student Transportation

In accordance with Rhode Island General Law §16-21.1-2, transportation to the

Smithfield High School CTE Programs will be provided by the sending districts in the Region 3

Transportation Zone (Barrington, Bristol, Central Falls, Cranston, East Providence, Johnston, Lincoln, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, Smithfield, and Warren). Students residing in non-Region 3 communities must provide their own transportation to Smithfield High School.

ADOPTED:  June 3, 2019

REVISED: June 5, 2023