Friday, January 24, 2025   

            

PROVIDENCE, RI – The Providence Public School District (PPSD) has released its latest progress report, "Building on Hope," which highlights notable progress made under the state intervention in improving student outcomes, reducing chronic absenteeism, better supporting multilingual learners, and modernizing school facilities. The update follows the release of two independent reports from  SchoolWorks and Harvard which detailed that improvements have been made at PPSD and identified areas of strength and of persistent challenges for the District. The independent reports served as the basis of the Rhode Island Council on Elementary and Secondary Education’s unanimous vote to extend the state intervention last August and helped shape the process and requirements that must be met by local stakeholders for an eventual transition back to local control. Furthermore, PPSD recently gathered feedback from the school community through a survey that sought input on where improvements have been made and where stakeholders would like the District to focus continued efforts. Notably, 68% of PPSD families who completed the survey reported that their child received the requisite support they needed and 70% of PPSD families reported that their school shares academic strategies they can use with their child at home. 

 

“The latest Providence Public Schools progress report demonstrates that with the help of the state, PPSD is moving forward in meeting ambitious goals that will promote greater student achievement,” said Governor Dan McKee. “PPSD’s progress is a reflection of our unified commitment to put students first and address longstanding challenges that have hindered the quality of education students in the capital city receive. I’m pleased PPSD is headed in the right direction and look forward to ongoing collaboration to keep the momentum going.“ 

 

“The improvements highlighted in the Building on Hope report are a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire Providence community. Under state intervention, we have seen meaningful changes that are positively impacting our students’ educational experience, and I’m deeply appreciative of all the students, families, school staff, and partners who have helped us make these strides,” said Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “We remain committed to supporting PPSD as it continues on this path toward excellence and following the Turnaround Action Plan. Our priority remains to ensure that the right systems and structures are in place so that PPSD continues to make progress and does not backslide.”  

 

“PPSD has made irrefutable progress, but we are clear-eyed about the work that remains ahead. Our goal remains ensuring equitable and excellent education for all students. This report outlines the milestones we’ve achieved together and the steps we must take to sustain and accelerate this progress,” said PPSD Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez. “While we are proud of our progress, we know PPSD can easily revert if the right systems and structures are not in place. This is a pivotal moment for Providence, and we are committed to accelerating improvements in partnership with our families and city and state leaders.” 

 

Among the notable achievements detailed in the report is the significant reduction in chronic absenteeism in PPSD. Since 2021-2022, absenteeism rates have decreased by more than 20 percentage points, bringing the current rate below pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, five schools across the District demonstrated meaningful gains in student achievement in English Language Arts and mathematics, with marked improvements in academic engagement. 

 

Another milestone celebrated in the report is the recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School. MLK became the first elementary school in district history to earn the national award. This distinction reflects the school’s exceptional progress in closing achievement gaps and underscores the District’s commitment to educational excellence. Furthermore, in the 2024 Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS), PPSD students demonstrated gains. Providence Public Schools was the only local school district in the state to improve their outcomes on RICAS ELA and Math and SAT ELA and Math. 

 

The report also highlights the expansion of high-quality early learning programs including PPSD’s first two 5-star Pre-K programs and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Since the state intervention began, PPSD has increased the number of CTE offerings by 40%, providing more students with access to career pathways and industry-recognized credentials.  

As part of its long-term vision, the District aims to continue building on these programs to ensure students are well-prepared for both college and the workforce. Additionally, PPSD recently announced that it reached an agreement with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to exit federal monitoring that was part of a settlement agreement entered by City of Providence in 2018, prior to the State intervention, for federal non-compliance issues and failure to properly serve multilingual learners. 

The full Building on Hope report is available on the PPSD website. Community members are encouraged to review the report and participate in upcoming discussions to help drive positive change for Providence’s students.

Providence Public Schools is committed to providing a world-class education for all students, preparing them for success in college, career, and life.  

For more information about Providence Public Schools, visit www.providenceschools.org. Follow Providence Public Schools on Facebook, X (@pvdschools), or Instagram (@pvdschools) for timely updates.