Rhode Island cannot afford to continue expanding charter schools while neighborhood public schools face declining enrollment, rising costs, and increasing student needs.

Right now, billionaire-backed interests are paying for more than a dozen lobbyists to push charter expansion at the State House. Meanwhile, Rhode Island communities are speaking out. Mayors, city councilors, and school committee members have testified in support of a charter moratorium and reducing the charter cap because they see the real impact on local budgets and schools.

Public schools serve every student, including those with the highest needs. Testimony before the General Assembly has raised serious concerns about charter schools excluding high-need special education students or pushing students out of their programs, leaving district schools to absorb the responsibility without adequate resources.

Rhode Island also cannot sustain parallel school systems. The state now has 64 local education agencies, creating duplicative administrative costs and inefficiencies. At the same time, taxpayers have invested over $1 billion in public school facilities—an investment that is undermined when students and funding are diverted out of district schools.

The General Assembly can act now to protect public education by passing the charter school moratorium and cap reduction.

👉 Send a message to your legislators and tell them to stand with Rhode Island communities—not billionaire-backed charter expansion.

Learn more about the campaign:
https://ricommunitiesfirst.com/