It is found and declared as follows:

(1)  Rhode Island must continue to develop the educational and career and technical skills of its students for its continued economic development, prosperity, and for maintaining and improving its quality of life.

(2)  The present and future workforce requires ever higher levels of educational and career and technical training in order to improve the economic prosperity of our state and nation.

(3)  With regard to high school graduation and college going rates, the state’s low-income students continue to lag behind their peers.

(4)  A comprehensive, long-range strategy is essential if this critical problem is to be addressed. This plan will need to incorporate the elements of programs that have demonstrated success in supporting underrepresented, first-generation and low-income students, including appropriate incentives to encourage and support these students toward the goal of graduating from school and pursuing and completing higher levels of education and training.

(5)  This plan will require the involvement and support of families, educators, and the community at large, working closely with underserved students, and must provide students with a well-organized and directed advisory program to include intensive orientation and training of these advisors.