Elorza’s Proposal to Close Charter School Is Criticized Immediately

GoLocalProv News Team

Elorza’s Proposal to Close Charter School Is Criticized Immediately

ELorza at a school community meeting before the state take over
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, who for the past five years has governed over one of the worst school systems in America, is now floating the idea of calling for the closure of a local charter school -- to allow nationally-run Achievement First to expand.

The state of Rhode Island has been forced to take over Providence’s failed system run by Elorza. That process is now proceeding.

Elorza’s proposal to close a public charter school in the city -- and then move the dollars to Achievement First -- drew immediate fire.

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Charter Schools Fire Back

The Rhode Island League of Charter Schools rejects the idea floated by Elorza to close an existing Providence charter school to allow for an expansion of Achievement First.

“Charter schools have always had their own system of accountability that is completely separate from the accountability that the Providence school system is now experiencing. The expansion of Achievement First in Providence could be a valuable component of a turnaround plan for Providence. However, Achievement First’s expansion should not be at the expense of other Providence charter schools,” said Keith Oliveira, Executive Director of the Rhode Island League of Charter Schools.

“Unfortunately, Mayor Elorza seeks to pit charter schools against each other rather than allowing Achievement First to expand on its own merit. We urge Commissioner Angelica-Infante Green to reject Mayor Elorza’s attempt to scapegoat other charter schools as justification for his standing in the way of Achievement First’s expansion” said Oliveira.

In addition, the Providence GOP joined in.

GOP leaders called on Elorza to give immediate approval for Achievement First to expand eventually to 3,100 students. They also asked him to support all the other existing public charter schools in Providence; to assist them in expanding to serve more students, and to welcome more public charter schools to form in the City. 

GOP Co-Chairs David Talan and William Ricci, said in a statement, “Achievement First has had amazing results, with student test scores that outperform those of students in East Greenwich and Barrington. — This, while traditional public schools in Providence have been a disaster, as outlined by the recent John Hopkins report.” 

In addition, the GOP said, “Achievement First currently has two Academies, with 1,300 students (about 1,100 from Providence), up to grade 7.  There is a long waiting list for children to get into Achievement First (800 children for kindergarten; 500 kids for 1st grade).  They eventually plan to expand, by the year 2026, to 3,100 students (about 2,600 from Providence), with 3 Academies and a High School.”


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