Officials react to Providence school funding agreement
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The City of Providence and the Providence Public School System said they have reached an agreement to provide additional funding to schools in the city over four years.
The city will give an additional $4 million immediately and $11 million more in 2025.
Mayor Brett Smiley said the agreement provides a sense of relief after months of dispute.
“Moms and kids would come up to me and say ‘Mayor, I don’t care whose fault it is, just figure it out,'” Smiley said. “It wasn’t easy, but the adults got in a room and we finally figured it out.”
In addition, starting in the 2026 budget year, the city will provide a total of $147 million dollars in funding to the schools, and will contribute the same amount in 2027.
Smiley said that there will likely be a significant tax increase to make up for the additional funding, adding most of the constituents he’s spoken to are “very willing to pay more taxes for better schools.”
Providence Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez said the agreement is a “step in the right direction” for the community.
“This funding would allow us to make sure that we continue with winter and spring sports, provide RIPTA bus passes, secure special education teacher assistance, and continue with the ESL certification reimbursement for our educators,” he explained.
Smiley said the city will closely monitor how money is being spent by the district.
“One of the components of the agreement that was ordered by the court based upon on our request is that there be a fiscal review of the school department’s budget,” he said. “That has been agreed upon and that will commence very soon.”
A full statement from Superintendent Montañez can be read below:
Today, the Providence Public School District and Rhode Island Department of Education reached a settlement agreement with the City of Providence that will award the District millions in additional municipal funding, helping us avoid proposed in-year cuts to essential student services and programs like sports and bus passes.
The settlement agreement better prepares PPSD for the future and ensures additional resources through Fiscal Year 2027 which will allow the district to budget and plan with clarity. As part of the settlement agreement, the City of Providence will provide PPSD an additional $11 million for Fiscal Year 2025, bringing the total awarded for this fiscal year to $146.5 million. This funding will enable the District to:
- Proceed with winter and spring sports
- Provide RIPTA bus passes to all students who live 1 mile or more from school
- Secure essential special education teacher assistant positions
- Continue English as a Second Language (ESL) certification reimbursement for our educators to ensure our multilingual learners have appropriately licensed and trained educators
- Avoid potential furlough days for central office and non-union school staff
- Preserve our Capital Revolving Fund which allows us to address school building needs.
We have collaborated in good faith to reach a fair compromise that prioritizes our students and ensures that our District can continue to make progress and provide all students a high-quality education. We are grateful to the Rhode Island Department of Education and the City of Providence for working with us on this settlement agreement, and moving both our city and our district forward in the best interest of all our children.
This is a step in a positive direction for our community and I am encouraged that the District is now in a better position than it was yesterday. As a Providence taxpayer, parent and grandparent, I remain committed to working with all Providence stakeholders to continue to move Providence Public Schools forward. I want to take this opportunity to reiterate my deep appreciation for the outpouring of support and tireless advocacy of countless students, parents, and staff members who support our schools everyday.
The city council will review the agreement to decide whether or not to sign off on the figures presented.
