Providence Teachers Union responds to plan to return PPSD to local control

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Providence Teachers Union has responded to Mayor Brett Smiley’s plan to return control of Providence Public Schools to the city.

In a nearly 60 page plan released on April 10, Smiley outlined how control will return to the city, with the main objectives of the plan including “trusting experts to lead” academics, engaging the community, and funding schools adequately.

According to PTU, the outline fell short in “several key areas,” and said the plan was created “without authentic input from Providence educators, lacks specific strategies for implementation, and does not provide a clear commitment to securing adequate funding for schools.”

PTU said that the transition to local governance relies on “three essential priorities:” sustained funding for classrooms and support services, investment towards keeping experienced educators and building a “strong, diverse workforce,” and “real” collaboration with teachers, students, and families.

PTU President Cynthia Robles released the following statement:

“The Providence Teachers Union welcomes the return of our schools to local control as a long-overdue opportunity to rebuild our district with the respect, trust, and collaboration our students and educators deserve. But this moment demands more than symbolic change—it requires a real plan rooted in transparency, equity, and shared responsibility.”

“Educators were not meaningfully included in developing this plan, and it shows. It’s vague where it needs to be specific and silent where it needs to speak boldly—especially when it comes to how we’ll fund the schools our students deserve.”

“Now is the time to invest—not just in buildings and systems, but in people. We’re not just reclaiming control—we’re reclaiming hope. The PTU stands ready to work with city and district leaders to ensure this transition delivers real change, not just rhetoric.”