As PVD School Takeover Begins, Looking At Lawrence MA Rhode Island is now in control of the Providence Schools. Education commissioner Angelica Infante-Green now has broad authority to control budget, personnel and other aspects of the district, but details for her plans remain scant. State leaders, including Governor Gina Raimondo have referred to the Lawrence Massachusetts […]
John Bender
Reporter
John Bender was the general assignment reporter for The Public's Radio for several years. He is now a fill-in host when our regular hosts are out.
Posted inArticle
New Agreement Holds Off Lawsuit, Could Pave Way For Wyatt Sale
The Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls can now be sold to a private company, after a vote by the board Wednesday. The board voted to accept a new agreement with UMB Bank of Missouri, which is owed more than $100 million dollars from Wyatt Detention Facility. The agreement allows for the sale of the […]
Posted inArticle, Education
Ed. Commissioner Makes Offer For PVD Superintendent
Rhode Island Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green has made an offer to a candidate for the superintendent of the Providence Schools. However there will be no new schools head for the start of the state takeover, which begins November 1st.
Posted inArticle
RI Dept. Of Corrections Sued Over Use Of Solitary Confinement
The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island and the nonprofit organization Disability Rights Rhode Island, are suing the state corrections department for their alleged poor treatment of inmates with severe mental health issues. In the class action lawsuit, filed in U.S. District court, the ACLU alleges the use of solitary confinement for inmates with […]
Posted inArticle, Politics
Regional Vaping Regulations Possible, As RI, MA Tackle New Industry
The governors of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut all met in Providence on Thursday, sharing ideas on common issues from jobs to climate change. Efforts to regulate vaping products were at the top of their agenda.
Posted inArticle
No Charges Filed In Wyatt Detention Center August Protest Case
In a decision leaving activists deeply unhappy, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office will not be pressing charges against any of the guards who dispersed protesters at an August protest in front of the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls.
Posted inArticle, Education
With Five-Year Time Frame, PVD Takeover Could Become Political Fodder
The state takeover of the Providence Schools begins November first. Across the city, parents, students, the mayor and city council are banking on this takeover to turn the failing district around. But research suggests that state takeovers don’t always work, and in some cases, have negative impacts on the community.
Posted inArticle, Education
RI Standardized Test Scores Improve Slightly, That May Be Due To Familiarity
There was a slight uptick in the RICAS scores from 2018 in both math and reading across the state, but most students in Rhode Island continue to perform well below grade level. There was an increase of five percentage points in English, pushing state proficiency levels to 38 percent. A two-and-a-half point increase for math […]
Posted inArticle, Education
Reporter Debrief: A Look At The Providence Schools Takeover
In two weeks, the state will take the unprecedented step of stripping power over the Providence Schools from the city council, school board, and the mayor’s office. The state takeover follows is an attempt to address a host of issues that have plagued the failing district for decades, which have plagued it for decades, ranging from […]
Posted inArticle, Education
State Takeover Of Providence Schools To Begin In November
Starting November 1st, Rhode Island Education Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green will take control over the district. State intervention will last at least five years, with the opportunity to extend control if changes have not led to improvements.