Teachers, workers at child care centers, school bus drivers and others could soon be required to submit fingerprints for criminal background checks in Massachusetts. Governor Deval Patrick said yesterday that he would likely sign the legislation detailing the updated procedures. The fingerprint background checks would also apply to everyone seeking to adopt children or become [...]

Cyber Security Foundations Committee Will Announce Winners Today

US Representative Jim Langevin is set to announce the winners of the state’s third annual cyber security contest this morning. The Cyber Foundations Competition tests skills in networking, operating systems and system administration and is aimed at sparking interest among students in the field of cyber-security. Over 100 students from eight schools took part in [...]

RI Foundation Funds 12 Journeys of Self-Reflection and Development

The Rhode Island Foundation has named 12 fellows who will take part in a leadership development program. The Initiative for Nonprofit Excellence (INE) fellows come from organizations including the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, the Providence After School Alliance, the Providence Children’s Museum and College Visions. Each fellow will get a stipend of 10,000 [...]

Warwick school board votes against the creation of Providence charter schools

The school board in Warwick has voted against the creation of so-called mayoral academies in Providence that would draw students from its city.
The Providence Journal reports that the school committee said Wednesday that the two charters in Providence would cost Warwick schools nearly $2 million a year in education funds.
The board also questioned using public [...]

Do you think you have what it takes to become a member of the Providence School Board?

The School board is looking for individuals to fill three seats.
The board’s nominating commission has begun accepting applications for the three board positions.
The application deadline is Dec. 7.
Candidates whose applications meet basic qualifications will be invited to attend a public forum Dec. 14.
Mayor Angel Taveras will select nominees from a list of finalists.
The City Council [...]

RI seeks federal education waiver

Rhode Island plans to seek a waiver that would grant the state flexibility on some provisions in the federal No Child Left Behind education law.
The Providence Journal reports that Education Commissioner Deborah Gist will apply for the waiver in February.
She told the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education she intends to seek input [...]

New School Contract

The Cranston City Council has approved a two-year school contract that freezes teacher pay and requires teachers to pay more for their health care. The Providence Journal reports that the Council voted unanimously Monday to approve the contract. Several council members urged President Anthony J. Lupino to abstain because his wife is a teacher. He [...]

Taveras to Talk at Education Nation

The mayor of Providence is a panelist at a national education summit that is bringing together politicians, business leaders, parent activists and students to discuss the state of education in America. Mayor Angel Taveras is scheduled to serve on a panel Tuesday at the NBC News Education Nation Summit in New [...]

Obama to Announce Reform to No Child Left Behind

Rhode Island Gov. Chafee will be joining President Obama at the White House in a few short hours for an announcement on changes to federal education policy.
Obama is scheduled to announce that states will be able to seek waivers to get around provisions in the federal No Child Left Behind law. Passed in 2001, the [...]

Board of Governors for Higher Education announce higher tuition

Tuition at two of Rhode Island’s public universities will go up.
The Board of Governors for Higher Education voted Monday night to increase the tuition of the University of Rhode Island by 8 percent and the tuition of Rhode Island College by 4 percent.
In-state students at URI will pay $9,780 annually plus fees starting this fall, [...]