We need to be more like Massachusetts. If every Rhode Islander had a nickel for every time we’ve heard that, our piggy banks would runneth over. But the truth is, when it comes to our schools, Rhode Island absolutely missed the boat by not following in Massachusetts footsteps sooner and our children—and our economy—continue to… Continue reading My District Just Cancelled Field Trips—Good Move or What the Hell?
Any time there is energy in the Rhode Island legislature about substantive education reforms, there is reason to cheer just a little. God knows we haven’t been busting out the pom poms over our state’s student outcomes in decades—if ever—but the wake up call of last year’s RICAS results seems to have finally awoken the… Continue reading My Wish List for the Package of Education Reform Bills About to Be Unveiled
Parents appreciate a quick snapshot of the school their children attend, or might attend. Community members appreciate information about how the schools their tax dollars fund are actually doing and local leaders rely on the information to make decisions about education policy and capital expenditures. It’s helpful to know whether a school earned 4 stars… Continue reading New School Rating System Has One Major Flaw
By Lauren Matlach, Daniela Fairchild, and Sarah Whiting We’ve all witnessed the education blame game. Our education system is imperfect and, at times, it’s easier to blame someone else than to own the part we play in failing our students. Over the past few years, teacher preparation programs have become a favorite punching bag of… Continue reading What Happens When PK-12 Educators and Preparation Programs Work Together?
#1 Scholarship Time It’s that exciting time of year when high school seniors wait on pins and needles to see if they’ve been accepted to the colleges and universities of their choice. And it is also the time of year when the state’s largest philanthropic organization, The Rhode Island Foundation, reminds those headed to college… Continue reading NewsReel: RI Foundation has $1.8 million for scholarships, More Support for #freecollegeRI, and a Bachata Snow Day Video
#1 On The Rise Rhode island’s high school graduation rates continue to rise. That is good news. The state now boasts a rate of 85 percent, up from 77 percent in 2011 and some schools and districts have seen double digit gains in recent years. While we didn’t see any drops based on race or… Continue reading Grad Rates are Up and Moody’s Gives Nod to Free College
