With New Providence Public School Board Formed, State Officials, Parents, and Community Leaders Announce “Path to Local Control” Framework

Academic, governance, financial, and infrastructure commitments will enable conditions for a successful transition while further positioning PPSD for long-term success post-intervention

PROVIDENCE, RI – With the newly-formed Providence Public School Board scheduled to convene for their first meeting later this week, today, Governor Dan McKee, Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, State Board of Education Chair Michael Grey, Providence Public School District (PPSD) Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez, and PPSD Districtwide Advisory Council (DWAC) Chair Donna Huntley-Newby joined parents, educators, and community partners to announce a “Path to Local Control” framework that will enable a successful transition while further positioning PPSD for long-term success post-intervention. At the event, the coalition of PPSD stakeholders underscored that, as detailed in two independent reports from SchoolWorks and Harvard, irrefutable progress has been achieved under the State intervention, and the proper systems and structures must be in place to ensure the District does not backslide under the control of local stakeholders. Leaders convened for the event at PPSD’s first national Blue Ribbon Award elementary school in history, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School.

“From greater access to brand new, state-of-the-art buildings to thousands of more students learning in higher performing schools, there is clear evidence that with the help of the State, PPSD has made progress,” said Governor Dan McKee. “A lot of work and collaboration among State, City, and school leaders and students, families, and teachers has better positioned PPSD for success, but we want to ensure that the right conditions are in place for a return to local control in 2026, so the district does not regress. The state needs assurances from the City and the School Board that certain steps will be taken to ensure the momentum in PPSD continues.”

“When I first arrived in Providence, countless community members demanded better from their school system after more than 30 years of underperformance and dysfunction,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “Since the State began supporting PPSD, we have made historic investments in our students and educators promoting academic excellence, improving facilities, enhancing academic and social-emotional supports, and finding efficiencies that have benefited the entire PPSD community. All of this great work happened despite the challenges presented by the global pandemic. The State intends on returning the District, but any transition to local control must be strategic and safeguard the progress we’ve made. We have established clear parameters to help local leaders build a comprehensive transition plan and develop a clear and cohesive vision for the future of PPSD. I’m confident local leaders will work towards meeting the requirements we’ve outlined and that could be as soon as summer 2026.”

As part of the framework, State officials noted that they expect all stakeholders to work together for the good of the students and educators of PPSD with: 

• The City taking leadership of developing and empowering a strong Providence Public Schools Board who is an effective and productive governance partner;
• The Board voting to commit two years of training and support by a Student Outcomes Focused Governance (SOFG) coach;
• By fall 2025, the Board will spend 50 percent or more of their meeting time discussing and monitoring progress toward their goals in partnership with the Superintendent and the Superintendent’s team;
• The City agreeing to fully honor, irrespective of return date, the settlement agreement between City and PPSD and RIDE including the Fiscal Year 27 commitment to increase local contribution by the same percentage as the total increase of state aid;
• The City providing further detail and make public the minimum local contribution they intend to provide to PPSD through Fiscal Year 30;
• The City working to get all school construction projects currently in Phase 2 and Phase 3 back on track and ensure they remain on track to completion;
• The City making public their commitment to achieving the goal of delivering new or like new buildings for 100 percent of PPSD students;
• The City making public its commitment to performance-based outcomes for all contracts including custodial services for PPSD schools; and
• The Mayor’s Office partnering with City Council, RIDE and PPSD leadership and engaging the voices of the community to publish a transition plan that addresses questions regarding the City’s vision for Pre-K-12 education, process to appoint professionals with education experience and expertise to help guide local stakeholders, and strategies to continue to better serve historically underserved students such as multilingual learners.

“The Council on Elementary and Secondary Education has heard clearly from the community that PPSD cannot go back to the ways of the past,” said Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Member and RI Board of Education Chair Grey. “The Council established a transparent process for a transition that sought to ensure local stakeholders are prepared and able to sustain and build on the progress that has been made under the state intervention. We recognize that without the proper planning and commitments from local stakeholders, there is a risk that PPSD may reverse course. All stakeholders should be thoughtful and intentional about carrying out a robust process that ensures the best conditions for all Providence students.”

In August 2024, the Council unanimously approved an extension of the intervention and approved a legal process for a transition to local control. In September 2024, the Commissioner issued formal communication to City and District leaders informing them of expectations for a transition period which would ensure stakeholders are ready and able to lead PPSD. The Commissioner identified five clear areas of focus, based on the findings from the independent reviews and community feedback, that must be prioritized and addressed by local leaders as part of any transition planning. This included:

1. Funding: providing adequate and equitable funding for students;
2. Facilities: revitalizing school facilities;
3. School Board Capacity: strengthening School Board capacity aligned to governance and school board best practices;
4. Turnaround Action Plan (TAP) Progress: continuing the progress with a focus on teaching and learning, aligned to the TAP; and
5. Collaboration and Communication: establishing effective systems and structures for cross governance collaboration and communication.

“For the last few years, I have poured my heart into my service as the leader of the Providence Public Schools, and I am committed to making sure we continue to build a stronger, more resilient PPSD even when the state is no longer involved,” said Superintendent Dr. Montañez. “As Superintendent, I have a deep understanding of the students, families, and educators who make up our school community, and I know that due to their needs and priorities, a transition is not as simple as a flip of a switch. I’m committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to continue to put our children first and craft a strong transition plan and vision that meets the requirements laid out today. It’s on all of us to make sure PPSD continues to march forward.”

“The District-Wide Advisory Council has witnessed the progress the District has made in recent years with the help of RIDE, and we want to ensure we stay the course no matter who is leading PPSD,” said DWAC Chair Dr. Donna Huntley-Newby. “We believe that through continued collaboration and with the ‘Path to Local Control’ framework, Providence Public Schools can be left on strong footing for future success. That said, any transition should not be rushed, and with the newly announced requirements, local stakeholders have clear goals they need to work towards that will prevent backsliding.”

Recently, PPSD released its latest progress report, “Building on Hope,” which highlights notable progress made under the state intervention in improving student outcomes, reducing chronic absenteeism, better supporting multilingual learners, and modernizing school facilities. Furthermore, PPSD recently gathered feedback from the school community through a survey that sought input on where improvements have been made and where stakeholders would like the District to focus continued efforts. Notably, 68% of PPSD families who completed the survey reported that their child received the requisite support they needed and 70% of PPSD families reported that their school shares academic strategies they can use with their child at home.