Governor McKee produces the hoops Providence must jump through to regain control of its schools

"We’re here today to tell the story from the perspective of the core group that has been in charge of this school for the last couple of years and the progress that has been made."

Today, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee produced a list of nine conditions the City of Providence must agree to before schools are released from State control and given back to the City. It is unclear if the list of demands is an opening bid in discussion with the City or absolute demands that must be met without compromise. The Governor gave confusing answers to reporters’ questions when pressed on this.

At no point in creating this list of demands did the Governor or the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) contact the Smiley Administration, the City Council, or the new School Committee for input.

What seems clear is that the Governor has a story to tell: A story about how the State takeover of Providence Schools was a success, not a failure. Here’s a little bit from the question and answer portion of the press conference in which he lays out his hope of controlling the narrative:

Governor McKee: We needed to get out in front of this issue. The school board will be in place, and we need to lay out the storyline you heard today, which shows great success in the Providence schools.

I oppose having a quick 2025 start to the governance [of the schools] going back to the City. When Mayor Smiley asked me that in my office, I said, “I can’t support that, and if it comes to my desk, I wouldn’t.”

Today, we’re laying out that we’re open to a discussion to determine the determinants that will lay the groundwork for continued success. We’re here today to tell the story from the perspective of the core group that has been in charge of this school for the last couple of years and the progress that has been made.

Reporter: You’re talking a lot about collaborating with the City, but there’s a noticeable absence of collaboration here today.

Governor McKee: No, we were very specific about that question. I knew that would come up - that we would open up conversations with the new school board and municipal leaders. That’s what the school board members will receive in my letter before they start their deliberations on Wednesday evening. It’s spelled out in our communications that we expect that to happen.

Reporter: Governor, you have listed nine conditions here. Will you refuse to give the schools back in 2026 if all nine are unmet, or is this up for negotiation?

Governor McKee: I think everything is up for negotiation, but we’ve got to be very strong in our commitment. I’ve been publicly saying I will follow the lead of the Commissioner, along with the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education. I also have a background in school improvement. I expect that my voice will be heard as well. Still, we have to make sure about the conditions set forth and that there’s an agreement from municipal leaders, the school board, and my office that we have confidence that this progress you just heard about will continue.

Reporter: Is this your opening offer to City leaders?

Governor McKee: No, I don’t consider it that at all. We need to agree on something in the best interest of the students who live and attend school in Providence. My goal in the State of Rhode Island is to ensure we’re meeting or exceeding Massachusetts’ levels by 2030, and we’re open to many bold ideas. But guess what? You can’t get there unless you continue the progress that we’re making in Providence. And so that’s a top priority for me.

Council President Rachel Miller Responds to RIDE “Path to Local Control” Announcement

“Today, RIDE and the Governor unveiled a series of conditions the City must meet before regaining control of our schools, without engaging City leaders or addressing us directly. The City Council and the Mayor’s administration weren’t briefed on this framework. Instead, we learned about it from the press.

“The City has repeatedly extended our hand to RIDE—ready, eager, and committed to working in partnership to ensure the best path for Providence students—but they have repeatedly refused to take it. This blatant lack of transparency and collaboration only deepens distrust—a clear disservice to our work to improve student outcomes.

“While we welcome the prospect of an earlier return to local control, this process cannot exclude the municipal decision-makers who will implement the transition. The State’s failure to engage directly with City leaders affirms the Council’s position that Providence Public Schools must return to local control in July 2025.”

Here’s Governor McKee’s press conference video:

Here’s the Rhode Island Department of Education Press Release:

With the newly-formed Providence Public School Board scheduled to convene for their first meeting later this week, today, Governor Daniel McKee, Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, State Board of Education Chair Michael Grey, Providence Public School District (PPSD) Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez, and PPSD Districtwide Advisory Council (DWAC) Chair Dr. Donna Huntley-Newby joined parents, educators, and community partners to announce a “Path to Local Control” framework that will enable a successful transition while further positioning PPSD for long-term success post-intervention. At the event, the coalition of PPSD stakeholders underscored that, as detailed in two independent reports from SchoolWorks and Harvard, irrefutable progress has been achieved under the State intervention, and the proper systems and structures must be in place to ensure the District does not backslide under the control of local stakeholders. Leaders convened for the event at PPSD’s first national Blue Ribbon Award elementary school in history, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School.

“From greater access to brand new, state-of-the-art buildings to thousands of more students learning in higher performing schools, there is clear evidence that with the help of the State, PPSD has made progress,” said Governor McKee. “A lot of work and collaboration among State, City, and school leaders and students, families, and teachers has better positioned PPSD for success, but we want to ensure that the right conditions are in place for a return to local control in 2026, so the District does not regress. The State needs assurances from the City and the School Board that certain steps will be taken to ensure the momentum in PPSD continues.”

“When I first arrived in Providence, countless community members demanded better from their school system after more than 30 years of underperformance and dysfunction,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “Since the State began supporting PPSD, we have made historic investments in our students and educators, promoting academic excellence, improving facilities, enhancing academic and social-emotional supports, and finding efficiencies that have benefited the entire PPSD community. All of this great work happened despite the challenges presented by the global pandemic. The State intends to return [school control to] the District, but any transition to local control must be strategic and safeguard our progress. We have established clear parameters to help local leaders build a comprehensive transition plan and develop a clear and cohesive vision for the future of PPSD. I’m confident local leaders will work towards meeting the requirements we’ve outlined, and that could be as soon as summer 2026.”

As part of the framework, State officials noted that they expect all stakeholders to work together for the good of the students and educators of PPSD with:

• The City is taking leadership in developing and empowering a strong Providence Public Schools Board that is an effective and productive governance partner;

• The Board voted to commit to two years of training and support by a Student Outcomes Focused Governance (SOFG) coach;

• By fall 2025, the Board will spend 50 percent or more of their meeting time discussing and monitoring progress toward their goals in partnership with the Superintendent and the Superintendent’s team;

• The City agrees to honor fully, irrespective of the return date, the settlement agreement between the City and PPSD and RIDE, including the Fiscal Year ‘27 commitment to increase the local contribution by the same percentage as the total increase of State aid;

• The City provides further detail and makes public the minimum local contribution they intend to deliver to PPSD through Fiscal Year 30;

• The City is working to get all school construction projects currently in Phase 2 and Phase 3 back on track and ensure they remain on track to completion;

• The City is making public its commitment to achieving the goal of delivering new or like new buildings for 100 percent of PPSD students;

• The City is making public its commitment to performance-based outcomes for all contracts, including custodial services for PPSD schools and

• The Mayor’s Office partnering with City Council, RIDE, and PPSD leadership and engaging the voices of the community to publish a transition plan that addresses questions regarding:

  • the City’s vision for Pre-K-12 education,

  • process to appoint professionals with education experience and expertise to help guide local stakeholders,

  • and strategies to serve historically underserved students such as multilingual learners.

“The Council on Elementary and Secondary Education has heard clearly from the community that PPSD cannot go back to the ways of the past,” said Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Member and Rhode Island Board of Education Chair Grey. “The Council established a transparent process for a transition that sought to ensure local stakeholders are prepared and able to sustain and build on the progress made under the State intervention. We recognize that without the proper planning and commitments from local stakeholders, there is a risk that PPSD may reverse course. All stakeholders should be thoughtful and intentional about carrying out a robust process that ensures the best conditions for all Providence students.”

In August 2024, the Council unanimously approved an extension of the intervention and approved a legal process for a transition to local control. In September 2024, the Commissioner issued formal Communication to City and District Communications, addressing expectations for a transition period to ensure stakeholders are ready and able to lead PPSD. Based on the independent reviews and community feedback findings, the Commissioner identified five areas of focus that local leaders must prioritize and address as part of any transition planning. This included:

1. Funding: providing adequate and equitable funding for students;

2. Facilities: revitalizing school facilities;

3. School Board Capacity: strengthening School Board capacity aligned to governance and school board best practices;

4. Turnaround Action Plan (TAP) Progress: continuing the progress with a focus on teaching and learning, aligned to the TAP; and,

5. Collaboration and communication: establishing communication structures for cross-governance cooperation and communication.

“For the last few Communication poured my heart into my service as the leader of the Providence Public Schools, and I am committed to making sure we continue to build a stronger, more resilient PPSD even when the State is no longer involved,” said Superintendent Dr. Montañez. “As Superintendent, I deeply understand the students, families, and educators who make up our school community. Due to their needs and priorities, a transition is not as simple as a switch flip. I’m committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to continue to put our children first and craft a strong transition plan and vision that meets the requirements laid out today. It’s on all of us to ensure PPSD continues to march forward.”

Recently, PPSD released its latest progress report, "Building on Hope," highlighting notable progress made under the State intervention in improving student outcomes, reducing chronic absenteeism, better supporting multilingual learners, and modernizing school facilities. Furthermore, PPSD recently gathered feedback from the school community through a survey that sought input on improvements and where stakeholders would like the District to focus continued efforts. Notably, 68% of PPSD families who completed the survey reported that their children received the requisite support they needed, and 70% of PPSD families reported that their school shares academic strategies they can use with their children at home.