After More Than Five Years of State Control, Smiley Announces Plan to "Take Back" Providence Schools

After More Than Five Years of State Control, Smiley Announces Plan to "Take Back" Providence Schools

In July of 2019, the Rhode Island Council on Elementary and Secondary Education voted to authorize a state takeover of Providence schools.

The move came after The Wall Street Journal named Providence “an education horror show — a case study in public school failure and lack of accountability.”

Now, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley has released his plan to take the schools back. 

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On Thursday, Smiley, along with City Council Pro Tempore Juan Pichardo and Providence School Board President Ty'Relle Stephens, announced that the city has a "multi-pronged" plan for returning the Providence Public School District (PPSD) to local control.

READ REPORT HERE

“We have worked diligently for two years listening to the voices of our teachers, students, families and community members and their message has been clear: it is time for the Providence Public School District to transition to local management,” said Smiley. “The report we are releasing today underscores that the City is ready for that transition."

 

About Findings

According to Smiley's office, the city "engaged over 1,200 community members through a comprehensive survey and a series of in-person Community Conversations on Education."

The city said that base on the feedback, the "Community Engagement on Education Report" released in February 2025 found that  "90% of community members want to see schools returned to local control" and "55% believe schools have moved in the wrong direction under State intervention."

On Thursday, Smiley said the plan for return to local control "prioritizes improving operational functions critical to student outcomes and student and teacher experience, such as purchasing, budgeting, facilities management and data systems."

Smiley said this "includes streamlining purchasing processes in partnership with PPSD’s Purchasing Department and supporting a coordinated approach to human resources and benefits with the Department of People and Culture, the City’s human resources department."

According to Smiley, there will be further "opportunities for community members to share their perspectives on education with the Mayor and Administration" on May 17, from 10 AM to 12 PM, when the city will host another "Community Conversation on Education" at the Providence Career and Technical Academy.