Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera Announces Report Revealing “Systemic Failures” in Central Falls Public Schools

Report highlights low academic performance, inadequate special education and multilingual services, and financial mismanagement – and outlines next steps to improve student outcomes

Central Falls, RI — Mayor Maria Rivera has released a report highlighting “systemic failures” in Central Falls Public Schools that have impacted students since the state assumed control of the district in 1991. This report, “My Heart Is Here,” A Community-Centered System Analysis of the Central Falls School District, was developed during an extensive year-long effort to deeply understand the challenges facing Central Falls Public Schools. Now, the city is moving forward with a community-driven approach to design effective, long-term solutions.

Key findings of the report include:

• Over 30 Years of Systemic Failures: Decades of underfunding, state intervention, and governance challenges have created obstacles that continue to impact students, educators, and families.

• Gaps in Support for Multilingual Learners and Students with Special Needs: Severe shortcomings in resources and tailored programs have left these students, and the teachers who serve them, without adequate support.

• Low Academic Performance: During the 2022-2023 school year, and continuing in 2023-2024, Central Falls ranked last among all Rhode Island traditional or regional school districts in all subject areas (English Language Arts, Math, Science) on State standardized testing.

“My heart aches for the challenges our students face, but I stand ready to accept responsibility for fighting for their future,” said Mayor Rivera. “I believe in the potential of Central Falls because our students, teachers, and families are talented, determined, and capable. Every child here deserves an education that opens doors, preparing them to stand alongside their suburban peers, and our teachers need the resources to make that vision real. This effort is about ensuring every child in Central Falls has the chance to thrive.”

In October 2023, Mayor Rivera launched an “all hands on deck” comprehensive initiative to address the challenges facing Central Falls Public Schools. The effort–led by Dr. Sarah Friedman, a proven and respected education leader– was supported by partners including the Rhode Island Foundation, family engagement leaders, and local and national policy experts.

The resulting report, based on interviews, focus groups, and listening sessions with more than 700 educators, students, families, and community leaders, underwent a rigorous external review process to ensure fairness and accuracy. It provides an in-depth analysis of the community’s strengths and the challenges Central Falls students face.

“As I walked through classrooms and spoke with teachers, families, and students, I was deeply moved by the incredible talent, commitment and hard-work stories and experiences they shared,” said Dr. Sarah Friedman, Chief of Education Strategy. “Our mission is to remove the systemic barriers holding back our students and create an environment where teachers can do what they most want to do–ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed.”

To build a sustainable path forward, Mayor Rivera and the Central Falls Office of Education Strategy will:

1. Establish a Community Advisory Board: The Community Advisory Board will include Jim Parisi from the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals (RIFTHP), local teachers, families, youth and community leaders, to lead reform, placing teachers, students, and families at the center of the decision-making process to build a shared vision for the district’s future.

2. Advocate for a Transparent Audit of MLL and Special Education Services: The report recommends that the District conduct an in-depth audit of Multilingual Learner (MLL) and special education services to identify gaps, assess resource allocation, ensure families’ rights are honored, and resources are used effectively to support all students.

3. Ensure Strong Financial Management and Create a Plan for Sustainable Funding: Implement measures to investigate and address financial mismanagement, ensuring transparency and responsible use of funds in the district. Develop a plan to ensure adequate and fair funding across the schools in Central Falls, with special consideration for the impact of a large and growing charter sector on district resources.

4. Engage Stakeholders and Work with Experts: Hold town hall meetings, focus groups, and information listening sessions to share the complex findings in accessible ways, ensure all voices are heard, and keep incorporating new voices into the reform efforts.

5. Return to Locally Accountable Governance: The Community Advisory Board will work with legislative leaders, state and education officials to restore local accountability in a manner that aligns with Central Falls’ financial capacity, creating a sustainable, innovative and effective governance model for the future.

Mayor Rivera also announced a collaboration with Dr. Ken Wong, the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Chair for Education Policy at Brown University, to explore different governance and sustainable funding models for the school system. This research will inform the Community Advisory Board’s work to decide on future strategies to ensure sustainable and effective changes.

The Community Advisory Board will be tasked with exploring new governance structures, sustainable funding plans, ways to ensure the students and teachers in the district schools can be successful given the high density of charter schools already in the city, and outline specific necessary reforms to improve outcomes for students.

“As a mother of two autistic, non-verbal twins, I’ve fought for years to get them the services they deserve in Central Falls schools,” said Isabel Amado. “Despite my efforts, they’ve been denied the support they need to thrive. This isn’t just my fight—it’s every parent’s fight. Our children deserve better, and we must hold the system accountable for failing them.”

“I moved here from Colombia three years ago, and learning English while balancing family responsibilities has been a challenge. My school in Medellin was academically rigorous, and I had studied English there for many years. Still, it felt overwhelming to grow my language skills while also keeping up with my classes. There were times when I doubted I’d ever be as good as my classmates,” said Central Falls High School sophomore Sofia Roca Ruiz. “I often feel behind, even though I work hard. Students like me need schools that truly see us, support us, and believe in our potential. Every child in Central Falls deserves a chance to thrive.”

Secretary of State Gregg Amore stated, “I applaud Mayor Rivera and her team’s efforts to really listen to teachers, respect and honor their expertise, and put students at the center of the work to address long-standing issues in the Central Falls Schools. This report gives us all a chance to hear from real teachers facing real issues everyday alongside powerful data about the school system. I look forward to supporting their work as they partner with the teachers and families to craft solutions that match their community.”

Frank Flynn, President of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals (RIFTHP) said, “Rhode Island Federation of Teachers is grateful for Mayor Rivera’s leadership and investment in teachers in Central Falls Schools. RIFTHP’s Jim Parisi will be an active member of the Community Advisory Board, alongside Mayor Rivera, teachers and families from Central Falls. We are committed to taking the important findings of this report to create a viable, innovative pathway forward to ensure all the children and the teachers who serve them have what they need to succeed.”

National Education Association of Rhode Island President Valerie Lawson said, “I support any effort by a city or town seeking to truly listen to the educators, understand their day-to-day realities, and advocate for what children need. Mayor Rivera is acting as a responsible civic leader, seeking to work with teachers and families. This report identifies the significant issues facing educators and students, and makes proactive plans with them to improve what have been long-standing systemic failures.”

Patrick Crowley, President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, said, “The strength of this report is that it elevates the voices and experiences of hundreds of educators, students, and families. It’s heartwarming to read about the positive relationships CFSD students have with their teachers and heartbreaking to read how stressful navigating the system is for everyone involved. I hope this report generates a new direction in the discussion of public education in Rhode Island.”

“This report represents the most comprehensive community-driven account of what Central Falls envisions for its schools since the state took over the public school system,” said Domingo Morel, Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Service at New York University and Author of Takeover: Race, Education, and American Democracy. “Unlike other school district reports, where the sole focus is on proposing recommendations, the Office of Education Strategy developed a process where engaging and fostering community voices was itself an essential outcome. They also engaged in a rigorous external review process to ensure fairness and accuracy. The process provides a national example of how to engage a community in the work of improving their own education system.”

For more information or to access the full report, please visit centralfallsri.gov/education.