Rhode Island Should Empower Mayors to Expand Pre-K Options

Last week the Rhode Island legislature passed legislation to allow the creation of “Mayoral Academies,” a new type of charter schools that would allow Mayors to recruit high-quality, nationally proven charter school operators to open new charter schools in their cities. Its a great idea that should help foster quality growth in what’s currently a relatively weak charter school sector in Rhode Island. Previously, all charter schools in Rhode Island had to be approved by the State Department of Education, and that, combined with a moratorium on new charter schools that is set to expire this month, have kept the number of charter schools small. Evidence from Indianapolis, where the Mayor is authorized to grant school charters, suggests that enabling Mayors to authorize charter schools can produce good results.

Here’s an idea that would make it even better, though: Allow the new Mayoral Academies to serve pre-kindergarten students. Currently, Rhode Island is one of only 11 states nationally that don’t invest in state pre-k programs. Nationally, Mayors, such as Denver’s John Hickenlooper, or former San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, have taken the lead in supporting quality early education when states fall behind. And, as we’ve previously argued here, charter schools are a natural partner in expanding quality pre-k. Charters have played an important role in expanding quality pre-k options in Washington, D.C., New Orleans, and elsewhere. Given all that, it would just be common sense for Rhode Island to allow its mayors to authorize charter schools for pre-kindergarteners. Allowing new Mayoral Academies to enroll pre-k students–and to receive state funds to do so–would be a great first step towards moving the pre-k ball forward in Rhode Island.