| Dear Neighbors:
This week marks the arrival of Passover and Easter, and I wish a Chag Sameach and Happy Easter to everyone observing these holy days. In this week’s letter, I will discuss possible reforms to the Providence Public School District (PPSD) to accompany its return to local control.
A. The Status Of The Takeover
In 2019, the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) assumed responsibility for PPSD for a term of five years, renewing it in 2024 for an additional term of up to three years. The Mayor and the Providence School Board believe they are ready to resume local control this July; however, RIDE has not yet decided whether it agrees. I understand that the parties are in discussions with the goal of reaching agreement on a transition plan.
B. The Senate Study Commission
In 2023, the Senate formed a study commission to review national best practices to optimize the structural conditions that will support the professional excellence that Providence teachers pursue as they carry out their important work in the classroom. The Senate chose this focus because the current adversarial relationship between labor and management has created mutual frustration that impedes PPSD’s longstanding commitment to improve student outcomes and reduce achievement gaps. The Commission produced a Report which is summarized in this Slide Deck.
The Report concluded that when urban public schools develop a culture of shared accountability between labor and management, educators can achieve professional fulfillment while producing better outcomes for students. The Report found that certain provisions of current state law (which date back to the 1960’s) prevent the establishment of a culture of shared accountability in PPSD. Therefore, the Report recommends the passage of Providence-specific legislation to remove these barriers to progress.
C. S-2934
I introduced Senate Bill No. 2934 to implement these recommendations as follows:
Section One would permit PPSD to develop a “career ladder” for its teachers, allowing them to be rewarded for professional excellence and the willingness to take on additional responsibilities. This Section revises the current law’s requirement that compensation be tied strictly to years of service without regard to the needs of students or a teacher’s unique professional skills.
Section Two contains two reforms.
1. Expanding Criteria For Layoffs
The first would remove the current mandate that reductions in staffing resulting from declining enrollment be carried out exclusively on the basis of seniority. If enacted, this would allow PPSD to consider other criteria that would better align the faculty’s professional skills with the specific needs of the school’s student population. Rhode Island’s current “seniority only” law is a national outlier. The proposed reforms are based on the law of Massachusetts.
2. Expedited Due Process
The second would establish a program of expedited due process for the review of teachers whose performance does not meet professional standards. Current law requires multiple layers of review that can require years to bring about resolution. Based on the law of Massachusetts, this Section would establish an arbitration process enabling these decisions to be made fairly and promptly.
Section Three presents a framework for a successful return to local control on July 1, 2026 based on the following expectations:
· 1. The School Board will:
· a. Devote its primary focus to reviewing and improving student achievement outcomes;
· b. Will work with the Superintendent in a collaborative partnership, including but not limited to the formation of the District’s strategic planning and priorities, and the preparation of meeting agendas.
· 2. The Providence School Department will:
· a. Adopt policies and procedures to promote labor-management collaboration, including developing performance evaluation criteria for administrators that place a greater weight on advancing collaboration with teachers;
· b. Adopt policies and procedures that promote greater site-based management;
· c. Place a greater priority on promoting educational initiatives at the building and classroom levels by granting teachers greater flexibility in the delivery of education to students.
· 3. The City of Providence will:
· a. Provide generous local support for the Providence Public Schools budget. Instead of limiting its contribution to the lowest possible “maintenance of effort” allowed under State law, the City will, at a minimum, increase its annual contribution per student to align with either inflation or the overall increase per student of State aid to the Providence Public Schools.
D. Next Steps
The bill is pending before the Senate Education Committee, and likely will be heard later this session. |
