Providence voters to elect half of school board

For the first time since the 1960s, voters in Providence, Rhode Island, will elect half of the city’s school board, giving them a partial voice as the district remains under state control. With challenges including budget deficits, low test scores, and charter school debates, the elected board members will face limited authority and will work alongside mayor-appointed members. Candidates, endorsed by either the Providence Teachers Union or charter advocacy group Stop The Wait, reflect divisions over expanding charter schools or reinforcing traditional public education. State control, recently extended by the Rhode Island Department of Education, has fueled debate on governance and funding. Brown University’s John Papay believes this elected board could strengthen governance and prepare for a potential future return to city control.