Elorza, Taveras, and Paolino to Make Education Recommendations to Smiley

Elorza, Taveras, and Paolino to Make Education Recommendations to Smiley

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and former Mayors Angel Taveras and Joseph Paolino are holding a press conference Monday morning at City Hall to “outline education recommendations” for Mayor-elect Brett Smiley, who will be in attendance as well. 

In 2019, the Wall Street Journal called Providence’s schools an “education horror show,” on the heels of the Johns Hopkins report that deemed the city’s school culture “broken” — and the worst in America. 

Elorza — who has held office since 2015, rebuffed the national experts and simply gave the schools a “C.” 

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In 2011 under Taveras, 1 in 5 Providence schools was failing, and Taveras opted to fire all the teachers.

In 1986, under Paolino, the dropout rate in Providence’s public schools “hovered between 45% and 50%," according to the Providence Dropout Prevention Plan.

“After letting down our students for decades, the State took a big step forward by taking over the Providence school system. Unfortunately, the pandemic hit soon thereafter and the takeover effort never really took off,” said Smiley’s campaign when he ran.

“Now more than ever, our students need access to accelerated, accessible and equitable delivery of educational support in the classroom and out," his campaign continued. "As Mayor, Brett will be the fiercest advocate and champion for our students, our families and our community. He will hold the State accountable and direct City resources where our students and families need it most."