Latest news with #AngélicaInfante-Green
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Providence teachers to vote on new contract
It is expected to carry the union through the 2026-2027 school year. The state is widely expected to turn control of the district back over to Mayor The bigger picture: One of Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green's top goals when she led the state takeover was to Advertisement That never happened. Between the COVID-19 pandemic and the gubernatorial transition from Gina Raimondo to Dan McKee, priorities (and strategies) changed. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up The state lost its desire to have a prolonged battle with the union, and the union (even through its own leadership changes) held firm. The contract saw minor tweaks during the takeover, but nothing close to what Infante-Green promised (or threatened) back in 2019 and 2020. The negotiations for the deal that will be voted on next week moved slowly in part because both sides knew there wouldn't be very much extra money since pandemic-era federal funding has dried up. What's next: The teachers' union vote is scheduled for June 9. Getting a deal done now is beneficial to Infante-Green and McKee, who won't have to worry about a contentious contract battle as he seeks reelection next year. Advertisement Mayor Brett Smiley and the City Council have not been involved in the negotiations, but if the school system returns to their control next year, they'll have a major say over the next contract. This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Dan McGowan can be reached at
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Too many absences? RI students may be held back under new policy
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Students in Rhode Island who miss too many days of school or aren't testing at grade level could be at risk of being held back under a new policy. Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green announced the new policy in an effort to combat chronic absenteeism in the state. Infante-Green emphasized that students who are chronically absent tend to score about 20% lower on state assessments and are more likely to drop out. TARGET 12: RI students missing school at record-high levels, sometimes for months For years, the Rhode Island Department of Education has pushed the message: Attendance Matters. But despite efforts to incentivize showing up for school, the problem still persists. Starting next year, students who miss 18 or more days of school and do not meet grade-level benchmarks may not be allowed to move on to the next grade. 'Learning matters': State leaders recognize decline in chronic absences 'Sending a kid to third grade that hasn't mastered what happens in second grade … that child will always be behind,' Infante-Green said. 'It's very unlikely that they will catch up.' However, some parents and educators believe the policy is prioritizing the wrong issue. Instead, they believe the state should be looking at why students are missing school in the first place, not just what happens when they do. 'I think the policy is too harsh because there's things that happen in life. There's people that are dying. There's homelessness. There's shelters,' Kim Jemmott told 12 News. 'There's a lot of things that happen in life that we can't control.' Infante-Green clarified that the decision to hold a student back would be made on a case-by-case basis, and only used as a last resort. 'This is not about penalizing. This is about ensuring that our students get what they need, and there will be countless supports at the school,' she said. 'I think that when we have kids that reach the 8th grade and can't read on grade level, we're doing an injustice to our students.' By implementing this policy, Infante-Green expects to boost test scores and graduation rates. NEXT: 10 takeaways from this year's RI Kids Count factbook Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
RI's Pre-K lottery open for 2025-26 school year
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island families with children turning 4 before the fall can now apply for the state's Pre-K lottery. The programs, offered in 20 participating communities, provide 'free, high-quality learning opportunities' for young kids, according to the R.I. Department of Education. To be eligible, a child must be 4 years old as of Sept. 1, 2025. Spots are limited, so filling out an application is required. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on June 22. RI Pre-K Lottery: How to apply 'The high-quality learning opportunities that are offered through our RI Pre-K program allow children to develop the academic and social-emotional skills they need to succeed throughout their educational journeys,' R.I. Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green said in a press release. 'All students, no matter their background, benefit from early learning experiences,' she added. 'I invite all Rhode Island families with eligible children to enter the lottery for a chance at a free seat.' The state-funded pre-K programs are offered at public schools, Head Start agencies and child care centers in the following cities and towns: Bristol-Warren Central Falls Coventry Cranston East Providence Johnston Lincoln Middletown Newport North Kingstown North Providence Pawtucket Portsmouth Providence Smithfield Warwick West Warwick Westerly Woonsocket RELATED: RI Senate passes universal pre-K, constitutional right to education Visit the state's website to learn more, or send questions to RIPre-K@ Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rhode Island schools should heed state's nondiscrimination laws, say state officials
Angélica Infante-Green, Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, speaks at a press event on Feb. 10, 2025, at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School in Providence. Infante-Green, along with the state's Attorney General, is advising schools to hold off on adopting federal directives regarding LGBTQ+ and DEI policies. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Rhode Island's Attorney General and K-12 education commissioner have teamed up once again, urging schools to think carefully before changing LGBTQ+ and diversity-related policies following recent executive orders by President Donald Trump. 'The children of Rhode Island's public schools deserve a safe and inclusive learning environment — no matter who they are, what they look like, or where they come from,' Attorney General Peter Neronha and state education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green wrote in their guidance to schools. The 10-page document arrived Friday morning, the same day as a federal deadline to eliminate diversity, equity or inclusion-related school programming or possibly lose federal funding, as originally outlined in a Feb. 14 letter from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR). This the second time the attorney general and education commissioner have co-authored guidance for schools, following a Jan. 27 letter regarding concerns on deportation or detainment by federal immigration officials. The federal education department's letter, Neronha and Infante-Green wrote, 'is not by itself an enforcement mechanism,' and along with recent executive orders that target DEI and LGBTQ+ policies, 'infringe upon the authority of state and local governments over the education of children.' The guidance also discusses four executive orders President Donald Trump issued between Jan. 20 and Jan. 29, that target DEI spending, gender identity and racial politics in schools. Among the orders discussed specifically is 'Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government' issued on Jan. 20 during Trump's first day back in office. The gender order asserts that federal law will only recognize two sexes, and commands agencies to restructure laws and policies accordingly. Neronha and Infante-Green emphasized that, even with these federal changes, Rhode Island laws and protections remain unchanged. They reassured schools that they are not legally required to alter existing policies right now, especially as some of the education department's letter and some of the executive orders face court challenges. 'While the courts continue to rule on the legal effect of the Administration's actions, any attempt by state or local officials to comply with important aspects of these Executive Orders or the OCR Letter would be premature and potentially contrary to state and federal law,' the guidance reads. The guidance noted that Rhode Island's LGBTQ+ regulations in public schools are instituted by the Rhode Island education commissioner and 'have the force and effect of law. … Until a court holds otherwise, these state laws and regulation continue to govern.' In 2001, Rhode Island was the second state to include transgender people in its nondiscrimination laws, which prohibits discrimination in public spaces. The guidance noted that restrooms, including those in public schools, are public places protected by anti-discrimination laws. The guidance will be updated as legal challenges to the federal directives unfold, the attorney general and commissioner wrote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Classical High School unveils $40M in renovations
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Classical High School recently underwent a $40 million makeover. The Providence Public School District celebrated the major milestone in its ongoing efforts to modernize the city's educational facilities with a ceremonial ribbon cutting Thursday afternoon. RELATED: Smiley still pushing to take back Providence schools in July The district received $33.2 million from the state to renovate Classical High School. Those renovations included building a state-of-the-art media center and library, as well as making key infrastructure upgrades, like adding central air conditioning, to ensure a student-centric learning environment. The high school's classrooms have also each been upgraded to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. MORE: RIDE, McKee open to returning Providence schools to city in 2026 R.I. Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green said these renovations come after more than 50 years of the high school seeing minimal improvements. She added that this marks the first step in the state's overarching plan to have students learning in brand new or like-new schools by 2030. 'The days of Band-Aids approaches and solutions are behind us,' Infante-Green said at the ribbon cutting ceremony. 'We're focused on 21st century spaces like this one.' Though the bulk of the renovations have been completed, additional improvements are expected to be made in the coming years. Classical High School Principal Scott Barr revealed that there are plans in the works to upgrade the gymnasium and auditorium. The high school also plans to create a maintenance plan to make sure the renovations last well into the future. NEXT: Smiley says survey supports local control as RIDE counters with same data Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
