BREAKING: 24 of 38 Providence Schools Labeled Failing
Friday, July 13, 2012
The list of Providence public schools in need of an intervention more than doubled today when 15 additional schools were added to the list, according to a letter sent to city employees by Mayor Angel Taveras and Superintendent Susan Lusi.
24 of the city’s 38 public schools are now considered persistently low-performing by the state.
In Providence, the newly identified Focus schools include: George J. West Elementary; Harry Kizirian Elementary; Frank D. Spaziano Elementary; Nathan Bishop Middle; Esek Hopkins Middle; Providence Career & Tech Academy; Hopes Arts; Central High; and Hope Information Tech.
The new Priority schools include: Mary Fogarty Elementary; Robert Bailey Elementary; and DelSesto Middle.
The new Warning Schools include: Asa Messer Elementary; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary; and Alan Shawn Feinstein Elementary.
Following a diagnostic screening process of the Focus and Priority schools, one of three intervention models will be selected: Closure; Restart, where the school district would converts or reopens a school new management; or Flex, where the district must select a comprehensive package of strategies from RIDE.
The letter says the city does not consider closing any more schools an option.
“With more than half of our schools identified as needing bold and swift intervention, we are reminded that there is an urgency to fix a broken system,” the letter states. “We must concentrate efforts and resources in our neediest schools, promote district-wide improvements, and maintain a relentless focus on results. We are encouraged by the progress that we are seeing in the district’s Innovation Schools through the implementation of several critical reforms: more learning time for students and staff; robust partnerships that support students’ academic, social, and emotional development; and teacher assignment based on student need, to ensure the best teachers in front of the classroom.”
It continues: “Today’s announcement, while disappointing, is not surprising and it provides a new opportunity to build on recent reforms and implement a district-wide, K-12 reform plan that improves educational outcomes in every school. We must simultaneously invest in the district’s most struggling schools, while also building district capacity and infrastructure to promote excellence system-wide.”
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Comments:
Charles Drago
12:10pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
Before and during his 2010 congressional campaign, David Cicilline to us that he was "proud of" what he did to Providence's public schools.
Conditions were as bad then -- and perhaps even worse -- than they are now.
David Cicilline lied to us -- SURPRISE! -- directly and by attempting to misdirect the conversation.
David Cicilline did to Providence's schools what he did to Providence's economy: HE RUINED THEM, and HE LIED ABOUT IT.
Bernie McCrink
1:04pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
You'd think some of these administrators and politicians would realize the "reforms" are part of the problem rather than use them to justify their jobs or to pontificate on education. If they were really interested in improving the schools, they'd reintroduce structure, discipline, tracking, and student accountability the way those things used to be implemented.
jon paycheck
3:28pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
meltdown....
Chris MacWilliams
3:43pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
Being a sanctuary state means change. Get used to it.
Ed Jucation
6:27pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
Agrees with Bernie but it ain't gonna happen. RIDE will not enforce Title 16-19-1 requiring REGULAR ATTENDANCE and it sets penalties for parents and students who are chronically truant. Why does the state not enforce a law on the books for a reason: REGULAR ATTENDANCE IS NECESSARY. Learning is hard work. In the inner-city the word "work" is meaningless due to rampant public assistance. Follow the law, prosecute the offenders, and stop blaming the people in the trenches trying to actually teach.
pearl fanch
8:39pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
Wow, this story is SHOCKING. NOT.
Providence is a pit. Always was, always will be.
The more time goes on, the worse it gets.
Just remember, GOLOCALPROV had it listed as the 3rd best city to live in. Makes you wonder just what they were smoking that week.
tom brady
9:30pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
I want some.
Todd B
6:56am on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Chris hit the nail on the head. Providence is a sanctuary city with a fairly high population of first-generation kids who can't speak fluent English, much less perform academically. Providence's leadership made that choice in exchange for political support and it's just going to have to deal with the ramifications.
Unlike the immigration boom at the start of the 20th Century, there aren't very many entry-level manufacturing jobs in mills and many immigrants aren't legal, so Providence is going to have to figure out how to support these immigrants on fairly limited tax base. The city may be able to overcome its economic problems in a generation or two as the immigrant population assimilates.
Ed Jucation
8:24am on Saturday, July 14, 2012
But Todd, they WON'T assimilate. They will NOT learn English as there is no need to. We give them paperwork in their native language. We provide interpreters in court and in the schools. Assimilation means they may actually have to get off their butts and get a job! No way man, getting that welfare check and food stamps is a much easier lifestyle. Throw in some section 8 housing, free medical, WIC, etc and it's no wonder we're in the shape we're in. Our leaders LET this happen.
Edward Smith
11:58am on Saturday, July 14, 2012
They will assimilate because the already are assimilating. Generations ago people like you said your grandparents wouldnt assimilate either. The difference is this time around it takes a little longer because there are no longer a million factory jobs to get everyone started down that path like before. That doesnt mean it wont happen.
Ed Jucation
6:28pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
I'm sorry but the entitlement attitude is firmly entrenched and is passed onto the kids. They get FREE breakfast at school, FREE lunch, a FREE education, FREE medical, FREE prescriptions, FREE food stamps. With such a system in place, there is little incentive to assimilate or try to improve oneself. That is the sole reason many of them come to Providence Rhode Island. Sanctuary city in a welfare state.