Results: Education in Rhode Island 2001 report

Results 2001 is part of RIPEC’s ongoing effort to provide policymakers, educators, and the general public with timely and relevant information concerning Rhode Island’s public school system. In the Report, RIPEC reviews how Rhode Island’s education spending compares, how well are students doing on state and national assessments, and analyzes Rhode island school district finances and performance.

Mr. Gary Sasse, Executive Director of RIPEC, stated that "Rhode Island’s competitiveness is directly linked to the quality of its workforce – and it starts with a high performing public school system. While the State has experienced some improvement in the 1990s, our student performance continues to trail our neighboring states.

As RIPEC’s Results 2001 Report finds, the State has put in place the resources, the authority and the framework for improving student performance, which represent the essential elements of a performance-based school accountability program. However, the road to a sustainable, high-quality public education begins with high expectations. Therefore, to round out Rhode Island’s performance-based accountability program, the State needs to:

• Establish specific statewide performance goals based on national assessments;
• Implement meaningful consequences or sanctions for consistent failure;
• Develop a predictable funding process; and
• Enhance adult literacy programs throughout the State.