education reform

Board of Ed Tackles Guns, Gist and Science

Elisabeth Harrison — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:29:20 +0000

There’s a meaty agenda on tap this week at the State Board of Education. The group is scheduled to vote Thursday on a controversial proposal to allow police to carry guns on state college campuses. The board is also scheduled to vote on adopting new science standards and consider a contract extension for Education Commissioner Deborah Gist.

Teachers to Sound Off on Education Policy

Elisabeth Harrison — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:23:51 +0000

Rhode Island’s two teachers’ unions are holding a forum for teachers to discuss their dissatisfaction with new policies in the state’s public schools.

Teachers have complained about the pace of changes under State Education Commissioner Deborah Gist, and they are particularly concerned about new annual teacher evaluations, which include test scores as one measure of teacher effectiveness. The teachers have asked the state to slow down implementation of the evaluations, saying they are time consuming and need adjustment.

As RI Rolls Out Common Core, Are New Science Standards Next?

Elisabeth Harrison — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:44:59 +0000

Rhode Island is one of 26 states that have promised to consider new science guidelines known as the Next Generation Science Standards. The standards were developed by the same organization that created the Common Core, a group of national standards many states including Rhode Island are now adopting for Math and English.

Business Supports Gist

Elisabeth Harrison — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:50:10 +0000

Business leaders are coming out in support of Deborah Gist, the state’s controversial education commissioner. The Providence Journal reports that two dozen business organizations have asked the State Board of Education to renew Gist’s contract, which is currently under review.

Controversy Follows Gist to the Statehouse

Elisabeth Harrison — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:17:17 +0000

Rhode Island Education Commissioner Deborah Gist urged lawmakers to pass a series of bills aimed at improving school safety in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting during her State of Education speech on Tuesday. She also urged passage of the governor’s budget which increases funding for public schools, colleges and universities.

Senator Seeks to Limit Test Scores in Teacher Evaluations

Elisabeth Harrison — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:37:02 +0000

A bill scheduled for debate Wednesday on Smith Hill would make student test scores no more than one third of a teacher’s annual evaluation. The bill’s sponsor is Senator Michael McCaffrey, a democrat from Warwick. The measure is slated for a hearing this afternoon in the Senate Education Committee.

Bill to End "Caruolo Act" Scheduled for Hearings Tomorrow

John Bender — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:52:08 +0000

Hearings on the bill that would repeal the “Caruolo Act” are scheduled begin Tuesday at the State House.

The “Caruolo Act,” enacted in 1995, allows local school committees to sue their towns for more funding.

Representative Patricia Morgan (R Coventry, Warwick, West Warwick) who introduced the bill speaks from experience when describing what she sees as the act’s potentially negative effects.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan praises RI's progress

Elisabeth Harrison — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:19:02 +0000

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan speaks with Rhode Island Public Radio’s Elisabeth Harrison about the progress the Ocean State is making in education.

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@ripr.org

Panel tonight: educating workers for the 21st century

Elisabeth Harrison — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:50:24 +0000

Stop by the Providence Athenaeum at 6 p.m. tonight! We'll be discussing how schools are changing to prepare students for 21st Century jobs.

I'm looking forward to a spirited conversation about what skills students will need as technology quickly transforms the world around us. We'll explore the value of a liberal arts degree, changes to curriculum in K-12 schools and what employers are seeking and finding in Rhode Island graduates. Join us!

The panelists are:

Education secretary cancels trip to RI

Elisabeth Harrison — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:31:57 +0000

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will have to forgo his trip to Rhode Island, no thanks to the weather. Duncan was scheduled to attend a town hall-style meeting tonight on school safety and to headline a Tuesday morning event at the Rhode Island Convention Center. His office says the secretary's flight to Rhode Island was canceled.