Articles from Rhode Island Education News

New research examines the correlation between declining student math performance and ongoing pedagogical debates over math instruction methods, alongside challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified math teachers. The study highlights how contentious curriculum disputes and teacher preparation issues may be contributing to nationwide decreases in mathematical proficiency, with implications for educational policy and teacher training programs across states including Rhode Island. Source: the74million.org

Governor Dan McKee signed legislation allowing retired school staff to work as long-term substitutes without risking their pension benefits, extending the sunset provision until July 1, 2026. The law removes the previous 90-day limit, permitting retirees to teach for a full school year while maintaining their state pensions. However, despite this measure to address staffing shortages, Rhode Island continues to face hundreds of classroom vacancies across the state, raising questions about whether the policy will be sufficient to resolve the ongoing teacher shortage crisis. Source: wpri.com

The Barrington school district has hired an external investigator to examine a teacher's social media activity following concerns raised about online posts. The investigation reflects growing challenges school districts face regarding educators' digital presence and the intersection of personal expression with professional responsibilities. The case highlights ongoing debates about teacher speech, social media policies, and the boundaries between personal and professional conduct in educational settings. Source: wpri.com

Rhode Island's chronic absenteeism rate for public school students fell to 22.1% in 2024-25, marking the third straight year of decline. Providence Public Schools saw particularly significant improvement, with their chronic absenteeism rate dropping nearly 7 percentage points from 36.2% to 29.3%, though rates remain above pre-COVID benchmarks of under 20%.