Last night, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed an historic budget bill that significantly expands public school choice for Rhode Island families and takes a significant step towards ending educational inequity and closing the achievement gap in our state. Key to this momentous leap forward was a phenomenal speech from House Majority Leader Gordon Fox (D-Providence) who inspired us with his vision of hope for Rhode Island families desperate for better educational options. He moved some of us to tears as he spoke eloquently on the issues of educational inequity that motivate us all.

The ban on public charter schools in Rhode Island is over.

A bill to expand the charter school law by eliminating restrictions on charter schools pertaining to tenure, “prevailing wage,” and a ban on defined-contribution benefit plans has passed after the lengthiest debate of the evening.

Mayors in the state of Rhode Island will now be able to apply to open public charter schools in partnership with non-profit organizations such as Democracy Prep, KIPP, Achievement First, and others.

This is the culmination of a massive effort by a broad group of people too numerous to mention in a single post. The leadership of our legislature has changed the direction of our state, despite opposition from defenders of the status quo. Reformers owe thanks to Speaker Murphy, Majority Leader Fox, House Finance Chair Costantino, and the other members of the leadership who stood with them, courageously.

Nobody thought we could do it. We did it. You did it. Now we need to see this bill through to pass the senate and enter into law with the Governor’s signature. We also need to secure proposals from high performing charter school operators and secure private funding for the kick-start to these schools.

A bright day is ahead, and it would not have been possible without your support!

For the record, the members of the house voting against an amendment to scuttle the bill includes the following 41 supporters of educational options for Rhode Island children (the folks who supported the expansion of our charter school law):

Rep. Almeida (D-Providence)
Rep. Baldelli-Hunt (D-Woonsocket)
Rep. Brien (D-Woonsocket)
Rep. Caprio (D-Narragansett, South Kingstown)
Rep. Carter (Exeter, North Kingstown)
Rep. Coaty (R-Newport)
Rep. Coderre (D-Pawtucket)
Rep. Corvese (D-North Providence)
Rep. Costantino (D-Providence)
Rep. Dennigan (D-East Providence, Pawtucket)
Rep. Ehrhardt (North Kingstown)
Rep. Fox (D-Providence)
Rep. Gablinske (D-Bristol, Warren)
Rep. Gallison (D-Bristol, Portsmouth)
Rep. Gemma (D-Warwick)
Rep. Gorham (D-Coventry, Foster, Glocester)
Rep. Jackson (Middletown, Newport)
Rep. Jacquard (D-Cranston)
Rep. Kilmartin (D-Pawtucket)
Rep. Loughlin (Little Compton, Portsmouth, Tiverton)
Rep. Malik (D-Barrington, Warren)
Rep. Mattiello (D-Cranston)
Rep. McCauley (D-Providence)
Rep. McManus (D-Lincoln, Pawtucket)
Rep. McNamara (D-Cranston, Warwick)
Rep. Melo (D-East Providence)
Rep. Mumford (R-Cranston, Scituate)
Rep. Naughton (D-Warwick)
Rep. O’Neill (Pawtucket)
Rep. Petrarca (Johnston, Lincoln, Smithfield)
Rep. Rose (East Providence, Pawtucket)
Rep. Serpa (Coventry, Warwick, West Warwick)
Rep. Shanley (South Kingstown)
Rep. Silva (D-Central Falls)
Rep. Slater (D-Providence)
Rep. Story (Barrington, East Providence)
Rep. Trillo (R-Warwick)
Rep. Vaudreuil (D-Cumberland)
Rep. Watson (East Greenwich, West Greenwich)
Rep. Williamson (Jamestown, Middle tow)
Rep. Murphy (D-West Warwick)

That’s 41 supporters of expanding educational choice and ending educational inequity in Rhode Island!

Opponents to the proposal to expand charter school flexibility, who sought instead to maintain the status quo for charters included:

Rep. Ajello (D-Providence)
Rep. Amaral (R-Portsmouth, Tiverton)
Rep. Church (Burrillville, North Smithfield)
Rep. DeSimone (D-Providence)
Rep. Diaz (D-Providence) <– yet her own child went to a charter school!
Rep. Fellela (D-Johnston)
Rep. Ferri (D-Warwick)
Rep. Giannini (D-Providence)
Rep. Handy (D-Cranston)
Rep. Kennedy (D-Hopkinton, Westerly)
Rep. Lally (D-Narragansett, North Kingstown South Kingstown)
Rep. Lima (D-Cranston)
Rep. Long (R-Jamestown, Middletown)
Rep. Menard (D-Cumberland, Lincoln)
Rep. Moffitt (R-Coventry)
Rep. Pacheco (D-Burrillville, Glocester)
Rep. Palumbo (D-Cranston)
Rep. Rice (D-Portsmouth)
Rep. San Bento (D-North Providence, Pawtucket)
Rep. Savage (R-East Providence)
Rep. Segal (D-Providence)
Rep. Singleton (D-Cumberland)
Rep. Smith (D-Providence)
Rep. Sullivan (D-Coventry, West Greenwich)
Rep. Ucci (D-Cranston, Johnston)
Rep. Walsh (D-Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Wacerly)
Rep. Wasylyk (D-North Providence, Providence)
Rep. Williams (D-Providence)
Rep. Winfield (D-Glocester, Smithfield)