Yolanda Cartagena Ortiz

This document, known as the Educational Reform Law of Puerto Rico, establishes new public policy for the educational system, centering on the student as the primary focus. Key reforms include decentralizing services through Regional Education Offices, establishing Alliance Public Schools, and implementing a student-centric budget model based on average cost per student. The law also aims to develop new philosophical, sociological, psychological, and neuroscientific frameworks for the teaching system, enhance evaluation and accountability, promote digital transparency, and foster broad community and third-sector involvement. The overarching goal is to prepare students with comprehensive skills, including STEM/STEAM, for a global economy, promoting integrated development and equitable access to quality education.

This Consolidated State Plan for the Puerto Rico Department of Education, submitted under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), aims to simplify application requirements and reduce administrative burden. It outlines the state's comprehensive strategy to improve educational outcomes for all students by addressing persistent achievement gaps. Key long-term goals are established for academic achievement, graduation rates, and Spanish Language Proficiency, targeting significant improvements by 2022. The plan details a statewide accountability system based on indicators such as academic performance, student growth (for non-high schools), graduation rates, and school quality/student success, emphasizing meaningful stakeholder engagement and various programmatic interventions like 'Gaming for Learning,' 'Online Learning,' 'Star Links curriculum,' 'Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS),' 'Team teaching,' 'Project C.A.S.A.,' and STEM programs to foster student success.

This document, known as Law No. 75, creates the Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Service (PRITS) to establish and promote public policy for innovation and information technology within the Government of Puerto Rico. The strategic direction focuses on modernizing government operations, fostering inter-agency integration of IT systems, and enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accessibility of public services. Key objectives include developing a unified digital platform, improving the main government portal (Upgrade pr.gov), establishing IT policies and standards, and ensuring technological accessibility for citizens with disabilities, all with the goal of driving economic development and improving citizen trust.

This document outlines the outcomes of the curriculum review process for the Social Studies program at the Puerto Rico Department of Education. It maintained and adapted eight content standards in accordance with the National Council for Social Studies, reviewed grade-level expectations, and updated thematic outlines and syllabi for all courses, including 16 elective courses. The program's focus is on achieving a global education by actively using technology and action research, aiming to empower teachers to innovate content and allow students to be protagonists in their learning by deciding topics and developing community-impacting projects.

This document outlines significant curriculum changes and a new educational approach for the Early Childhood Education Program. Key focus areas include revising infant/toddler and pre-kindergarten standards to align with child development domains such as language, socio-emotional development, and reasoning. Additionally, it introduces an integrated K-3rd grade curriculum featuring an 'imaginary journey' across the globe, designed to promote academic skill development alongside cultural awareness, global understanding, and comparative analysis with Puerto Rico's heritage.