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7/24/2023
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Rep. Kislak releases report on Providence schools takeover
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 STATE HOUSE – Rep. Rebecca Kislak has released a report on the state takeover of the Providence Public School District with the hope that it will help spur discussion on including community involvement and future governance.
The report, which Representative Kislak co-authored with Brown University undergraduate Alissa Simon, reflects on the history of the takeover that began in 2019, offers brief case studies of several takeovers of schools in other states, and provides overviews on school governance structures generally and those currently existing in Providence.
As the report says in its executive summary, it is not intended as a comprehensive account of the current situation in Providence, but more to identify the major factors that brought about the takeover and the issues that have unfolded since. It highlights the positions of major stakeholders in PPSD and is intended to provoke discussion about what the future of the district might look like once the takeover comes to an end — how the city might draw on existing, active voices in the Providence community to build a more equitable, engaged education system for PPSD students.
“We continue to be at an inflection point for Providence Schools. I continue to hope we can rise to the occasion and build something great and sustainable,” said Representative Kislak (D-Dist. 4, Providence), who is also the parent of two students in Providence public schools, in a letter introducing the report. “Reading and reflecting on this report, it seems to me that the answers are not that complicated. Whether a district is in a takeover or not, what works best is involving the community and ensuring adequate funding. Involving the community in governance in a meaningful way is also key to a school and school district success.”
The report offers suggestions and information about possibilities to improve governance structures once the takeover ends, particularly emphasizing the need to engage and give voice to the community, students, parents and teachers, and to address racial inequities.
Among the possibilities that it highlights is the creation of school-level councils, which were pioneered by Chicago public schools. In Chicago, every school has its own 12-member council consisting of parents, community members and educators, plus additional student representatives. The councils have considerable power in hiring principals, budgeting and educational planning — decentralizing control and putting it into the hands of locals with considerable stakes in the success of each school.
Representative Kislak thanked Simon for her extensive research, organization and writing of the report.
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Note: The full report and the letter from Representative Kislak are attached.
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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