public education

CF Charter Schools Get Cash Infusion

Elisabeth Harrison — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:02:30 +0000

Charter Schools in Central Falls, Pawtucket and Cumberland will have $10 million to make building improvements, thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Foundation is providing the money in the form of low or no-interest loans, to increase the number of charter schools seats available for Central Falls students.

Charter School Applications Rise 20 Percent

Elisabeth Harrison — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:26:49 +0000

The number of Rhode Island Families hoping to get their children into Charter Schools continues to increase, according to the Rhode Island League of Charter Schools. The group is reporting a 20 percent jump in applications for 2013 for a total of 7,900 applications, up from 6,500 applications in 2012.

NECAP scores expected Friday

Elisabeth Harrison — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:46:25 +0000

State education officials plan to announce results from the latest round of state-wide standardized testing, unless a blizzard gets in the way. The Department of Education says Governor Lincoln Chafee and Education Commissioner Deborah Gist will release the numbers at the statehouse on Friday morning.

If the weather cooperates, we will soon know just how many high school juniors are at risk for not graduating, under a new state rule that requires a score of two or better on the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) exam.

Gist joins panel on school leadership

Elisabeth Harrison — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:03:24 +0000

State education Commissioner Deborah Gist is slated to discuss Rhode Island’s controversial teacher evaluations during a panel discussion this morning at the Fordham Institute in Washington, DC, a conservative public policy think-tank.

Class notes: school closures, high stakes testing

Elisabeth Harrison — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 14:16:29 +0000

Schools close as budgets stretch and buildings age

East Providence is closing Oldham Elementary School citing the high cost of upgrading the building. The district has faced serious deficits in the past, contributing to municipal financial woes. The Providence Journal reports that district officials Oldham would have needed an estimated $2 million in renovations to stay open. As a result of the closure, some students will be shifted to other schools.

To test, or not to test?

Elisabeth Harrison — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:51:36 +0000

State education officials are defending standardized testing as a graduation requirement starting with the class of 2014. Students opposing so-called "high stakes testing" staged a protest yesterday at the Statehouse.

State Education Commissioner Deborah Gist responded by saying her goal is to make sure students finish high school with the right skills for college or a career. If the testing rule took effect this year, 44 percent of seniors would be at risk for not graduating.

Battle over high stakes testing begins anew

Elisabeth Harrison — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:21:01 +0000

A group calling itself the Providence Student Union will ask for an end to high stakes testing this week. Starting with the class of 2014, Rhode Island students will not be allowed to graduate unless they get a score of "partially procficent" on the standardized test known as the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP).

Class notes: school safety after Newtown

Elisabeth Harrison — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 14:47:39 +0000

Gist: Mandatory school safety plans unlikely

Gist takes message to YouTube

Elisabeth Harrison — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:44:07 +0000

Rhode Island Education Commissioner Deborah Gist speaks directly to teachers about a controversial new evaluation system. The video first appeared on YouTube earlier this month.

Rhode Island sees greater gender gap for dropouts

Elisabeth Harrison — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:31:09 +0000

More boys are dropping out of school than girls, and the disparity is greater in Rhode Island and Connecticut than anywhere else in the country, according to a new report from the Federal Department of Education.