Helena Buonanno Foulkes Calls on Governor McKee to Present Comprehensive Plan to address COVID Learning Loss

PROVIDENCE, RI – In light of recent reporting by WPRI showing that school districts in Rhode Island—including the state-controlled Providence Public Schools—have spent less than 10% of the most recent round of federal pandemic relief dollars, Democratic candidate for governor Helena Buonanno Foulkes is calling on Governor Dan McKee to publicly present a comprehensive plan to address COVID learning loss. That plan should include specifics on how he will use the Governor’s office to help districts get these critical dollars out the door to support teachers with student achievement.

“It’s unconscionable that at a moment in time when only one out of five Rhode Island public school students can do grade level math and districts have $500M sitting in their accounts to support students and teachers, there is no plan of action or accountability from this Governor,” said Helena Buonanno Foulkes. “Rhode Island parents will send their kids back to underperforming public schools next week–and that is not a reflection of their teachers or school staff, but of Governor McKee’s continual failure to lead when it counts. Rhode Islanders deserve better than a governor with no plans.”