Central Falls releases report on public schools, finds ‘systematic failures’

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WLNE) — Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera has released a report highlighting “systemic failures” in Central Falls Public Schools.

According to the report, titled “My Heart Is Here, A Community-Centered System Analysis of the Central Falls School District,” Rivera highlights low academic performance, inadequate special education and multilingual services, and financial mismanagement. 

“My heart aches for the challenges our students face, but I stand ready to accept responsibility for fighting for their future,” said Mayor Rivera.

The report was developed during an extensive year-long effort to deeply understand the challenges facing Central Falls Public Schools.

According to Rivera,  the city is now moving forward with a community-driven approach to design “effective, long-term solutions.”

To build a sustainable path forward, Rivera said and her offices will establish a Community Advisory Board, while also collaborating with Dr. Ken Wong, the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Chair for Education Policy at Brown University, to help explore different governance and sustainable funding models for the school system.

In a response, a RIDE spokesperson said they’re aware of the challenges the Central Falls School District has faced historically, and the agency has worked collaboratively with local stakeholders in several ways to enhance instruction and learning with the goal of improving student achievement.

The spokesperson said that RIDE has taken action to support the district improve outcomes, which includes supporting CFSD leaders who oversee day-to-day operations and the Board of Trustees which maintains “broad authority over the operations of the district, with coordination with the superintendent.