Parents and educators weigh in on plan for improving RI schools

Authentic student, family, community and educator engagement, and clarity and consistency of roles and accountability across districts and across the system are among the most common suggestions for improving public education in Rhode Island coming out of a day-long brainstorming session.

More than 300 parents, students, educators, policymakers and leaders from the nonprofit and for profit sectors from across Rhode Island gathered to develop tactics for improving the state’s public school system. The participants worked with a set of strategies developed by the Long-term Education Planning Committee, a group convened by the Rhode Island Foundation to create a 10-year plan for improving public education.

“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’s president and CEO.

Gov. Gina Raimondo, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, House Education Committee Chair Joseph McNamara and state Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green were on hand to listen to the results of the day-long brainstorming session.

“Nothing is more important to the future of our state than building a quality education system. It impacts everything from our economy to our quality of life. Businesses want to locate where they can find a qualified workforce. Entrepreneurs want to locate where they can send their own children to high quality schools. Education is the means by which individuals change their circumstances in life,” said Ruggerio.

“The legislature is committed to supporting an educational system that prepares students to compete in the 21^st-century economy,” said McNamara. “In the last session, we increased direct aid by $33.4 million, expanded pre-kindergarten classrooms and passed legislation that expands the duties of principals and school improvement teams.

In addition to producing a vision for the future of public education in Rhode Island, the Long-term Education Planning Committee met regularly over the last year to develop the set of priorities and accompanying strategies that were discussed. The strategies include aligning the state funding formula with both state and local needs and sustaining a rigorous, statewide assessment system. More details can be found here. A full report from the committee, to include the ideas generated at the brainstorming session, is expected to be released in January.

“To do our best work as a state and truly improve outcomes for all Rhode Islanders, we need to be committed to high achievement and equity for students, families and educators,” said Steinberg. “This is our moment in time for education in Rhode Island. We passed a $250 million school improvement bond. We passed legislation modeled on Massachusetts for curriculum frameworks and site-based school management. We are focusing attention on turning around our largest school system. We have a new dynamic Commissioner of Education to lead these efforts. And, we have now developed a long-term plan for education to guide us the next 10 years.”

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.