Thursday, April 10, 2025
Report Outlines Integration of Systems, Operations and Management for a Successful Transition to Local Management
Mayor Brett P. Smiley today joined City Council Pro Tempore Juan M. Pichardo to announce the release of Providence’s multi-pronged plan for returning the Providence Public School District (PPSD) to local control ensuring an effective integration of systems, operations and management to support a world class education for Providence students. Providence’s Plan for Our Schools marks a critical step as leaders from the City, City Council and School Board collectively prepare to transition PPSD from State intervention to local control and continue the progress of the district’s Turnaround Action Plan (TAP). The report outlines the Mayor’s priority actions to respond to community feedback and prepares for a successful governance transition to the Providence School Board.
“We have worked diligently for two years listening to the voices of our teachers, students, families and community members and their message has been clear: it is time for the Providence Public School District to transition to local management,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “The report we are releasing today underscores that the City is ready for that transition. Outlined in these pages is our path forward, ensuring a smooth and integrated approach with strong leadership and a commitment to improving educational outcomes for every student in Providence. Today, we stand in unison with our partners in the City Council and the Providence School Board to highlight our proactive, thoughtful and community-driven plans to successfully manage our schools and give Providence students the world-class education they deserve.”
Since taking office, Mayor Smiley has made education a top priority. In his first week in office, he welcomed over 200 community members to the Administration’s first Education Workshop, which aimed to collect feedback from Providence students, parents, educators and community members on how the City could improve learning opportunities outside the classroom and continue investments in school facilities. In the Fall of 2023, the City established the Return to Local Control Cabinet, an intergovernmental working group of School Board members and senior staff from both the City Council and Mayor’s office to review internal processes, operations and supports that the City is positioned to improve to prepare for the return of PPSD to local control. The Cabinet developed a workplan that focused on addressing inefficient and burdensome City systems, supporting implementation of the Turnaround Action Plan and engaging with the community to develop responsive solutions that improve student-based outcomes.
In preparation for local management of the District, the City engaged over 1,200 community members through a comprehensive survey and a series of in-person Community Conversations on Education. This feedback, detailed in the Community Engagement on Education Report released in February 2025, helped guide the City’s priorities for the transition. Key findings revealed that nearly 90% of community members want to see schools returned to local control. Additionally, more than 55% believe schools have moved in the wrong direction under State intervention. Concerns were also raised about PPSD’s management and budgeting priorities. The community’s feedback was instrumental in guiding the topics of the technical review, which are now in the plan. This engagement ensures that the City’s goals align with the priorities of Providence’s families, students and educators.
“Our students deserve a public school system that’s worthy of them, that will give them the tools they need to pursue their goals and dreams. This is an essential promise that all local leaders make from the moment we’re sworn in,” said City Council Pro Tempore Juan M. Pichardo (Ward 9). “The city council is ready to work with the mayor, school board, teachers and students to fulfill that promise — and that starts with ensuring this necessary transition back to local control is as smooth as possible.”
The plan includes priority actions related to systems, operations and governance of PPSD. These priorities respond to long-standing, structural issues and concerns from the 2019 John Hopkins review of the District and the 2024 SchoolWorks report. The City’s actions will prepare for the District’s return to local governance, allowing educators and administrators to focus on delivering high-quality, personalized education for every student in Providence.
Earlier this year, the City, RIDE and PPSD collaborated to develop a robust onboarding and professional development program to prepare the new hybrid school board for success while providing the necessary tools and resources to govern effectively. These trainings began with an introductory two-day orientation sessions centered on student outcomes focused governance. Additional training session topics have included ethics, finances, open meetings and the Turnaround Action Plan. These foundations will ensure continuity and effective leadership as the District fully integrates to local control.
“As President of the Providence School Board, I believe deeply in the power of our community to lead. “The Year of We” is not just a theme—it’s a commitment to collective action, where students, families, educators, and community members come together to support our schools and ensure every student has the tools to thrive beyond the diploma,” said Providence School Board President Ty’Relle Stephens. “I am committed to ensuring that our Board is fully prepared to lead with vision, accountability, and purpose, and that we are equipped to make student-centered decisions that reflect the needs, values, and best interests of the people we serve.”
This plan prioritizes improving operational functions critical to student outcomes and student and teacher experience, such as purchasing, budgeting, facilities management and data systems. This includes streamlining purchasing processes in partnership with PPSD’s Purchasing Department and supporting a coordinated approach to human resources and benefits with the Department of People and Culture, the City’s human resources department.
This document will emphasize four common themes:
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- Trusting Experts: The City will rely on education experts to lead on academic matters.
- Supporting Systems: The City will bring the best of our own expertise to support departments across PPSD.
- Community: The City is committed to continue engaging with the community throughout this process.
- Resources: The City will work with PPSD to understand what resources are needed and find those resources.
In addition to this, the plan outlines key priorities to deliver a quality education for all Providence children and youth:
- Supporting Learning at PPSD: During the State intervention, the City will continue to support key programs, such as after school tutoring and homework help at Recreation Centers to support progress on the Turnaround Action Plan. Once the District returns to local control, the City will work closely with PPSD leadership to ensure the continued implementation, focusing on improving student outcomes and increasing student achievement, particularly for middle school students, through the Pre-K through 8 model. In all of this work, the City will prioritize support for students who are multilingual learners and students receiving special education services and behavioral health support and their families.
- Funding and Finance and City of Providence Budget Support: The City remains committed to honoring the current PPSD funding settlement with the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), including a fiscal year 2027 commitment to increase the local contribution to PPSD in line with State aid increases. The City is also investing more than $1 billion in school facilities and continues to support after school and summer programs. Upon the District’s return to local management, the City will integrate PPSD into the City’s budget process, ensuring collaboration between the Mayor, School Board, City Council and the District, and build upon ongoing efforts for school-based budgeting for principals and administrators.
- Supporting Talent at PPSD: The City is committed to supporting educators and school-based leaders in delivering high-quality instruction. The City will support PPSD’s efforts to build and retain a professional educator workforce, where the District leadership, school-based leaders and community partners collaborate to improve student outcomes.
The transition plan outlines the City’s strategy for management of the school district and emphasizes continued implementation of priorities of the Turnaround Action Plan, empowering a student outcome focused approach to governance of PPSD and streamlining systems and operations between the City and District as we together work to offer a high-quality and personalized public education to every student in Providence. This plan will guide the next phase of work, which includes developing a comprehensive transition plan in partnership with RIDE, PPSD, the School Board and City Council and ultimately establishing a timeline for transition.
As the City moves into the next phase of this process, Mayor Smiley is committed to continuing robust community engagement so that our work is responsive to the community and the evolving needs of Providence’s students and families, both through the State intervention and after PPSD transitions back to the City’s management. There will be opportunities for community members to share their perspectives on education with the Mayor and Administration, including on May 17, from 10 AM to 12 PM, where the City will host another Community Conversation on Education at the Providence Career and Technical Academy. The City will engage families and caregivers to actively participate in the process and build a stronger, more responsive school system for our students.
To register for the Community Conversation and see a full version of the plan, visit the city’s website at providenceri.gov/tap for English or Spanish.