A new report from Brown University's Annenberg Institute for School Reform recommends significant changes to professional development and teacher learning programs to improve educational outcomes across Rhode Island's school systems.
While a federal court has temporarily blocked government shutdown layoffs, education policy experts warn that key U.S. Department of Education programs remain at risk, potentially affecting funding and support for schools nationwide including Rhode Island.
Rhode Island College (RIC) will waive its $50 application fee on October 15, 2025, for the fourth annual Apply to RIC for Free Day. The waiver applies to all Rhode Island residents applying to undergraduate, graduate, or Bachelor of Professional Studies programs, including transfer students. Applicants should use code APPLYFREE25 when submitting applications except graduate students who do not need a code. RIC President Jack Warner notes the school welcomed 2,000+ new students this fall, the largest incoming class in 15 years. The college recommends beginning applications in advance and saving progress before submitting on October 15. Source: rhodeislandcurrent.com
The ACLU of Rhode Island sent a letter to Brown University President Christina Paxson urging her to "forcefully and publicly reject" a new Trump administration "compact" sent to nine universities that would impose conditions to receive federal funding. The compact would restrict university employees from speaking out on political issues, limit foreign student enrollment, and require the university to deny the existence of transgender students while claiming to promote a "marketplace of ideas" that prohibits anything that would "belittle" conservative ideas. ACLU Executive Director Steven Brown argues Brown's previous capitulation has emboldened the administration to demand more, warning that universities' response may determine higher education autonomy for decades. Source: steveahlquist.substack.com
Brown University will eliminate 48 positions and leave 55 vacant jobs unfilled as part of efforts to trim spending by 2.5% and close a $30 million shortfall in fiscal year 2026 operations. The cuts, announced in a September 22 letter from President Christina Paxson and university leadership, come despite an August agreement with the federal government that restored NIH funding in exchange for ideological concessions including binary gender definitions in athletics and housing. Additional cost-cutting measures include consolidating health benefits to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, monetizing real estate holdings, and pausing net-zero carbon emission spending. Source: rhodeislandcurrent.com
Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Angelica Infante-Green outlines the state's strategy to address science achievement, where about two-thirds of students miss proficiency benchmarks. Rhode Island includes science assessment results in school accountability ratings and has strengthened graduation requirements to specify multiple required lab classes. The state has expanded career and technical education programs by 60 percent since 2019, now offering over 318 programs connecting to high-demand STEM fields. Infante-Green, who serves on the National Assessment Governing Board, emphasizes integrating more hands-on scientific inquiry experiences and high-quality instructional resources. Source: thehill.com
Stefanie Steffan, coordinator of elementary literacy for Missouri's Rockwood School District, shares how their approach of keeping students together in grade-level cohorts with flexible, needs-based small groups has produced impressive results. The district's kindergarteners outperformed national proficiency averages in every skill group by more than 17 percentage points in some areas, while first and second graders outpaced national averages across nearly every domain. Rather than grouping readers by ability across grade levels, Rockwood provides whole-class instruction with evidence-based curricula followed by targeted intervention or enrichment based on real-time data. Source: the74million.org
Seven months after the Trump administration eliminated hundreds of jobs at the U.S. Department of Education and gutted research contracts, several developments offer researchers cautious optimism. The department plans to reinstate 20 of the 100+ canceled research contracts and is seeking public guidance on modernizing the Institute of Education Sciences. Researchers note recent poor NAEP results have catalyzed support for IES, though severe staff shortages continue threatening data quality and research progress. The American Educational Research Association rates the current situation at 3 or 4 on a scale of 10, compared to 1 a month ago. Source: the74million.org
Commentary argues that the Providence City Council's opposition to charter schools is exacerbating the district's fiscal crisis and limiting educational options for families. The analysis suggests that anti-charter sentiment is preventing potential solutions that could help address Providence Public School District's financial challenges while providing alternative educational opportunities. The piece examines the tension between traditional public school advocacy and school choice policies, highlighting how political positions on charter schools may be affecting practical solutions to educational and fiscal problems in Rhode Island's largest school district. Source: rhodeislandcurrent.com
Block Island High School athletes demonstrate exceptional resourcefulness and dedication to compete despite the unique challenges of their remote island location off the Rhode Island coast. The small school's athletic programs require creative solutions for transportation, scheduling, and facility limitations, with students and coaches showing remarkable commitment to maintaining competitive sports programs. The story highlights how geographic isolation creates both obstacles and opportunities for character development, with Block Island students learning valuable life skills through their athletic experiences that extend far beyond traditional sports competition. Source: abcnews.go.com