RIDE to Continue to Control Providence Schools for a Minimum of 3 More Years

RIDE to Continue to Control Providence Schools for a Minimum of 3 More Years

A study by Johns Hopkins University deemed Providence schools among the worst in America. The findings sparked a takeover of the district.

Since then, COVID has hit, and the school district has spiraled.

Violence has hit many of the schools, one of the many issues that the Johns Hopkins report flagged as one of the many serious deficiencies.

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Thursday night, the Rhode Island Council on Elementary and Secondary Education met and received Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green’s recommendation for the future of the state intervention in Providence Public Schools.

“As Commissioner overseeing the intervention of Providence Public Schools, I am committed to delivering the improvement students, families, and teachers of Providence have demanded for more than three decades,” said Commissioner Infante-Green. “Two independent reviews of PPSD clearly showed that the District has made progress with the support of the state, but it is not yet where it needs to be, and it remains unclear if local stakeholders are ready for a return that will sustain the progress made. I thank the Council for their approval of my recommendation that will allow all Providence stakeholders to further strengthen the foundation for PPSD’s long-term success. I look forward to continuing the momentum and working closely with our partners to address the remaining challenges that will help us create a world-class education system that we can all be proud of.”

Infante-Green's interpretation of the studies is different from others.

Just ten days ago, the Rhode Island Businesses for Better Education a coalition of businesses and business organizations, issued a statement raising concerns about the pace of progress in Providence Public Schools. SchoolsWorks/Harvard reports show that student performance has not significantly improved since the RIDE takeover. 

Despite concerns about the state's performance, poor test scores, and opposition, the council approved Infante-Green's recommendation.

Now, the state intervention is scheduled to run through October 15, 2027.

Providence schools' most recent RICAS scores showed that the district has not even returned to the 2019 level when it was pegged as among the worst-performing districts in the country.

 

Press Event Friday

On Friday, a number of community leaders are hosting a press event.

At 3:30 PM at 797 Westminster Street, the public is invited for a press conference, at which Providence School Committee member Ty'Relle Stephens and others say they “will discuss the Commissioner’s recommendation and the Council’s decision, and what it means for the future of our schools. We anticipate a significant turnout, including additional public officials, families, and candidates who share our concerns and vision for the future of Providence schools.”

Scheduled to attend are: 

State Rep. David Morales

State Rep. Enrique Sanchez

City Council Majority Whip Miguel Sanchez

PVD School Board Member Toni Akin

PVD School Board Member Night Jean Muhingabo

PVD School Board Member Ty’Relle Stephens

BLM RI PAC Executive Director Harrison Tuttle

NAACP Vice Chair Nicole Tingle