Rhode Island Foundation Hosts Brainstorming Session on Public Education

Rhode Island Foundation Hosts Brainstorming Session on Public Education

The Rhode Island Foundation hosted a brainstorming session on Saturday for student, family, community and educator engagement to discuss the roles and accountability across districts and across the system designed to solicit suggestions for improving public education.

More than 300 parents, students, educators, policymakers and leaders from the nonprofit, and for-profit sectors met to develop tactics for improving the state’s public school system.

State of Education

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Rhode Island public school test scores have been consistently poor compared to neighboring Massachusetts - and Providence public schools have been taken over by the state and have been ranked as one of the worst school systems in America.

The State took over the Central Falls school system approximately 20 years ago and it is the worst testing system in Rhode Island.

The participants on Saturday worked with a set of strategies developed by the Long-term Education Planning Committee, a group convened by the Rhode Island Foundation to propose a vision, priorities and strategies to guide improvements in public education over the next 10 years.

“Rhode Island must chart a course and stay the course on the way to creating a world-class public education system that prepares all students to succeed in life and contribute productively to the community,” said Neil D. Steinberg, the Foundation President and CEO.

According to the Foundation, the committee has met regularly over the last year to develop a set of four priorities and accompanying strategies that were discussed on Saturday. The strategies include aligning the state funding formula with both state and local needs and sustaining a rigorous, statewide assessment system. A full report from the committee, to include the ideas generated on Saturday, is expected to be released in January.

About Rhode Island Foundation

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Working with generous and visionary donors, the Foundation raised $114 million and awarded $52 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities in 2018.

Through leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit rifoundation.org.