Those who have become teachers often cite being supported and the ability to access available resources as determining factors for their success. Community-based organizations provide many kinds of support, from English language tutoring to child day care. These organizations have their own network and can be of value in connecting prospective teachers to key staff in school departments and conveying key information that can facilitate the process. When teacher candidates need to conduct research projects and find sites for their practicum they can use these agencies’ contacts to assist them in making the appropriate connections in the community.

Below, you will find local, state, and nationwide organizations that may be helpful to individuals pursuing education.

ESL Adult Literacy Programs in Rhode Island

East Providence Public Library
The East Providence Public Library provides a list of resources that are available to enhance family literacy
view the list

Educational Testing Service (ETS)
ETS provides a comprehensive suite of English language learning products and services, including the TOEFL and TOEIC tests, that encourage learning, assess progress and measure proficiency.
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English for Action (EFA)
EFA's mission is to serve Latino immigrant families in Providence, Rhode Island through participatory English language and childcare programs that link language learning, leadership development and community-building.
visit the website

Office of Adult Education and GED, RIDE
The Office of Adult Education and GED at the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education administers grant funded programs in adult basic education, GED, and English for speakers of other languages.
visit the website

Rhode Island Regional Adult Learning
Project RIRAL provides literacy services to adults so that they may achieve their personal educational, and employment goals in order to be productive family members, citizens and workers.
visit the website

Rhode Island's Community-Based Organizations

Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy (CHisPA)
CHisPA is a bilingual community-based non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of Latino families and individuals by advocating for them and by providing a variety of programs and services that will empower them to achieve their full potential as productive members of the Rhode Island Community.
visit the website

Dorcas Place Adult and Family Learning Center
Since 1981, Dorcas Place Adult and Family Learning Center has been giving low-income Rhode Islanders the educational opportunities they need to realize their full potential and climb the ladder to success—through literacy, workplace training, college preparatory programs, and employment.
visit the website

Genesis Center
Founded in 1982, the Genesis Center meets the changing needs of Rhode Island’s diverse communities through adult education, job training, and childcare programs. Their mission is to "join with the community to provide education and comprehensive services which empower individuals and families of diverse cultures as they move toward self-sufficiency." Annually, they serve more than 500 immigrants, refugees, low-income individuals up to the age of 74, and children ages 6 weeks to five years.
visit the website

International Institute of Rhode Island
The International Institute of Rhode Island has provided educational, legal, and social services to immigrants and refugees throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts since 1921.
visit the website

Progeso Latino
Since 1977, Progeso Latino has supported the needs of the Rhode Island Latino population as well as immigrants and refugees of European, African and Asian nationalities.
visit the website

Socio-Economic Development Center for Southeast Asians (SEDC)
SEDC is a community-based organization that provides a vast array of support services for the Southeast Asian population in Rhode Island.
visit the website

National Organizations

Colorin Colorado
Colorín Colorado is a free web-based service that provides information, activities and advice for educators and Spanish-speaking families of English language learners.
visit the website

National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME)
NAME celebrates cultural and ethnic diversity as a national strength that enriches a society and rejects the view that diversity threatens the fabric of a society.
visit the website

National Association of Bilingual Education
The National Association for Bilingual Education is the only national professional organization devoted to representing bilingual learners and bilingual education professionals.
visit the website

National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE)
NABSE is the nation's premiere non-profit organization devoted to furthering the academic success for the nation's children—particularly children of African descent.
visit the website

National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
NCLR, the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans.
visit the website

The National Council on Educating Black Children
The National Council on Educating Black Children has based its "Blueprint for Action" on the research pioneered by the late Dr. Ron Edmonds. This "Blueprint for Action" embraces Edmond's concept that "all children can learn," and provides a framework for collabrative community partnerships with public school districts to solve problems and accelerate achievement for all children, black children in particular.
visit the website

Southern Poverty Law Center: Teaching Tolerance
Teaching Tolerance supports the efforts of K–12 teachers and other educators to promote respect for differences and an appreciation of diversity.
visit the website

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages
Representing a multifaceted academic discipline and profession, TESOL offers members serial publications, books, and electronic resources on current issues, ideas, and opportunities in the field of English language teaching. TESOL also conducts a variety of workshops and symposia, including an annual convention, regarded as the foremost professional development opportunity for English language educators worldwide.
visit the website

Teacher Support Websites

Educator Support Network
Educator Support Network is a proactive resource that provides a new generation of personal development for educators in the US.
visit the website

Inspiring Teachers
Inspiring Teachers is a community of educators that network for mutual growth and support in the teaching profession. Their mission is to empower beginning teachers and provide strategies to help them not just survive, but thrive in the classroom.
visit the website

Teachers Count
Teachers Count's mission is to raise the status of the teaching profession and provide resources to the education community.
visit the website

Teachers Support Network
The Teachers Support Network aids in recruiting and assessment. They also have discreet modules to support application tracking, hiring and finishing, workforce/ NCLB reporting and a completely outsourced Induction/ Pre-service Orientation Academy to ensure the newly placed teachers receive the pedagogical support and the on-going teaching community support and mentoring required to ensure their success
visit the website

Teacher Support Network on Facebook
Teacher Support Network was founded in 1870 as the Teachers Benevolent Fund.
view their profile

U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education is the agency of the federal government that establishes policy for, administers, and coordinates most federal assistance to education.
visit the website

UWeb Teacher Support Network
This website is designed especially to support novice teachers. On Demand Information is open to anyone and provides access to specific resources for teachers in their early careers.
visit the website

Testing Resources (SAT, GRE, Praxis)

Educational Testing Service (ETS)
ETS works to advance the quality of and equity in education by providing fair and valid assessments, research and related services.
visit the website

Praxis Series: Teacher Licensure and Certification
The Praxis Series assessments (from the Educational Testing Service) are used by states as part of the teacher licensure and certification process. The Praxis I tests measure basic academic skills, and the Praxis II tests measure general and subject-specific knowledge and teaching skills.

Rhode Island adopted new Praxis Series licensure test requirements effective as of August of 2000. The new tests replace the previous Core Battery test requirement for initial licensure. Visit the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for more information.

PRAXIS I: Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST)

This test measures basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. The PPST must be passed by any undergraduate student who seeks to complete an undergraduate teacher preparation program as part of a bachelor’s program.

PRAXIS II: Subject Assessments; Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT)

The Subject Assessments measure knowledge of specific subjects taught in K—12 education; the PLT measures teaching skills and knowledge. The PLT and a subject test are required for teacher licensure in Rhode Island.
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Test of English as a Foreign Language(TOEFL)
TOEFL is the most widely accepted English-language test in the world. The TOEFL is accepted by more institutions than any other English-language test in the world, including the top colleges and universities. More than 6,000+ institutions in 110 countries, including almost every university in the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada rely on TOEFL scores for admissions, scholarship and graduation decisions.
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