RIDE Professional Employees Union, Local 2012, AFT, Responds to Governor McKee’s State of the State Address: Recognizing the Work Behind the Progress

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 16, 2025

RIDE Professional Employees Union, Local 2012, AFT, Responds to Governor McKee’s State of the State Address: Recognizing the Work Behind the Progress

Providence, RI – The RIDE Professional Employees Union, Local 2012, AFT, representing the dedicated professional staff at the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) and a proud affiliate of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals (RIFTHP), responded today to Governor Dan McKee’s State of the State address. While the union applauds the Governor’s acknowledgment of educational progress, it emphasizes that these RIDE achievements are the result of the tireless work and expertise of RIDE professionals.

Governor McKee highlighted significant advancements, including narrowing the achievement gap with Massachusetts, reducing chronic absenteeism, and building community learning centers. These accomplishments, while worth celebrating, were made possible by the professionals at RIDE—members of Local 2012—who design and implement the policies and programs that drive these outcomes.

“Our members are the architects of Rhode Island’s educational progress,” said Peg Votta, president of the RIDE Professional Employees Union, Local 2012, AFT. “From improving student attendance to advancing equity and supporting district-level innovations, it is the professionals at RIDE who ensure that ideas are transformed into real-world results.”

Union Members’ Key Contributions to Progress

The Governor highlighted several areas of progress, each shaped by the work of RIDE professionals:

Reducing the Achievement Gap: RIDE professionals supported programs that helped narrow the RICAS English Language Arts gap with Massachusetts by 34% and the math gap by 18%.

Attendance Matters Campaign: This statewide effort, spearheaded by RIDE professionals, contributed to 244,000 fewer student absences and 1.3 million additional learning hours.

Recognition of High-Performing Schools: Union members worked to support schools like Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary, which became Providence’s first-ever Blue Ribbon school.

Community Learning Centers and Infrastructure: The planning and execution of state-of-the-art learning centers and school facilities are led by RIDE professionals, ensuring equitable access for students and families.

Comprehensive List of Union-Led Initiatives

To further highlight the essential contributions of Local 2012 members, the union has included an attachment with this release. This document provides a comprehensive list of accomplishments and initiatives cited by Governor McKee on 12/31/24, which were led by RIDE professionals, offering a clear view of the critical role they play in shaping the future of education in Rhode Island.

A Call for Continued Support

The RIDE Professional Employees Union calls on state leaders to prioritize the support and recognition of the RIDE staff who are critical to sustaining and building on this progress. Adequate resources, fair compensation, and respect for their contributions are necessary to continue moving Rhode Island’s education system forward.

“Rhode Island’s progress in education isn’t an accident—it’s the result of collaboration, expertise, and dedication,” said President Votta. “If we want to achieve the ambitious goals set for our state, we must invest in the people who make that progress possible.”

About RIDE Professional Employees Union, Local 2012, AFT

The RIDE Professional Employees Union, Local 2012, AFT, represents the professional staff of the Rhode Island Department of Education. As an affiliate of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals (RIFTHP) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the union is dedicated to advancing educational excellence and equity for every student in Rhode Island.

Attachment: Comprehensive List of Union-Led Accomplishments and Initiatives

Contact:

Jeremy Sencer

Communications Representative, RIFTHP

(401) 273-9800

jsencer@rifthp.org

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