Federal judge rules Providence Schools are meeting special ed requirements

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Barbara Richardson’s son, Charles, lives with disabilities.

But she says a change in Providence’s schools has made a major difference in his life.

“Charles is a happy–go–lucky 21–year–old who has a desire to play basketball,” she said. “He likes to feel included.”

Richardson says when his school shifted from a sheltered model to an integrated model, it helped him grow and get a job.

“It gives them a sense of hope,” she says of students who’ve been part of that shift. “It makes them feel like they’re not different.”

“That story tells it all,” says Edda Carmadello, head of Specialized Instruction for Providence Public Schools. “They’re happy, they’re integrated in the community. Their families are happy. And that’s our job: to prepare students for life after high school.”

It took a federal court case to spark this turnaround.

In 2013, a judge found that Providence wasn’t meeting standards for special needs students.

Today, the court ruled that providence has hit every target — a year early.

“It’s a victory,” said Lisa Vargas – Sinapi, the former Director of Special Education for Providence Public Schools. “It’s a victory for our students, our families. We really worked hard, and our students benefitted from all the hard work. And now they’re prospering.”

Now that providence is free of this federal oversight, court officials say it’s just a matter of staying on track.

“I think one of the real challenges of systems change in human services in general is keeping the momentum going after you’ve gotten to where you want to get to,” said court monitor Charles Moseley.

Officials add the state takeover is not expected to disrupt these efforts.

©WLNE-TV/ABC6 2019