Parents, Youth, & Community Join Together for the Future of Providence Public Schools
On July 23, 2019, Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green was granted permission at a RI Elementary and Secondary Education Council meeting to pursue state takeover of the Providence Public School District (PPSD). That same day scores of parents, youth, and community members turned out at the council meeting to make their voices heard during the public comment section of the meeting. Calling for a seat at the table, CYCLE was part of a group of 18 organizations, representing parents, youth, and community members, that released (and read out loud) a statement on the future of Providence public schools. The list of statement signatories has since grown to 20 organizations, all of which play important roles to support youth and families who are part of PPSD. The statement calls for the Commissioner and RIDE to design and implement a process that:
• Establishes clear authority for youth, families and community members in selecting and evaluating any state- or district-appointed leadership for Providence public schools.
• Establishes significant, ongoing, formal roles for families, students and the community in the development and implementation of plans for intervention.
• Establishes policies and practices to ensure transparency.
• Recognizes, respects and values the diverse communities served by the Providence schools.
• Is set up to succeed.
• Clearly responds to the issues youth and families identify.
Read the full statement here.