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Gina Raimondo on Education
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Made community college tuition free before most states
We increased the number of high-quality career and technical training programs in our high schools by 60%. Later this year, we'll cut the ribbon on another education center in Woonsocket--replicating the successful model that has already provided
skills for new jobs to over 3,000 students. We took bold steps to make community college tuition-free for every high school graduate. At the time we did that, few states had taken this path. Now our country looks to us as a model.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Rhode Island legislature
, Feb 3, 2021
Additional $30 million to support schools statewide
Schools in every community have to do better, so I am announcing an additional $30 million to support students and teachers in every community. In every district across the state, we'll invest in high-quality curricula and ensure more students have
access to advanced classes in high school. We'll invest to support multilingual learners for whom the playing field is still devastatingly unequal. We'll increase the number of mental health professionals in our schools.
A very bright spot in our education system is our public PreK. Rhode Island is a nationally recognized leader. The problem is, for too many people, it's unaffordable.
So let's invest in what we know works. Kids shouldn't have to be lucky or rich
to get a strong start. Tonight, I'm proposing a more than 50% increase in the number of high-quality public PreK classrooms throughout the state. That's taking a big step forward toward our goal of Universal PreK for every 4-year-old in Rhode Island.
Source: 2020 Rhode Island State of the State address
, Jan 14, 2020
Make scholarships for community college permanent
A few years ago, we tried something new to help more young people get a college degree and training for a good job. We enabled high school graduates to enroll at CCRI tuition-free. Today, the Promise Scholarship is a proven success. CCRI's
graduation rate has tripled. That scholarship is set to expire. Let's make the Promise Scholarship permanent and cement affordable higher education and job training into the very foundation of our economy.
Source: 2020 Rhode Island State of the State address
, Jan 14, 2020
Replace freeze with major investment repairing schools
One of the first things I did as Governor was to end the previous administrations' freeze on school construction. Let's make a once-in-a-generation investment in our schools. Let's commit to investing $1 billion over the next five years to fix &cour
public schools. We have a detailed plan that outlines how we can invest more and do it smarter so that we protect taxpayers at the same time. Every year we wait, we waste millions of dollars putting band aids on our crumbling schools.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Rhode Island legislature
, Jan 15, 2019
More pre-K classrooms; free community college
We've made record investments in education, and we're committed to ensuring that everyone has a shot to continue their education past high school: Today, there are three times as many public pre-K classrooms as there were four years ago.
We've guaranteed all-day kindergarten for every child in Rhode Island. And more than 1,500 Rhode Islanders are getting a shot at a career because we made community college tuition-free. But there's so much left to do. So let's keep going.
Source: 2018 Rhode Island State of the State address
, Jan 16, 2018
Major investment to repair crumbling schools
Let's make a once-in-a-generation investment in our schools. Together with our cities and towns, let's commit to investing $1 billion over the next five years to fix our public schools. Don't let anyone tell you we can't afford to do this. We can.
We have a detailed plan that outlines how we can invest more and do it smarter so that we protect taxpayers at the same time. Every year we wait, we waste millions of dollars putting band aids on our crumbling schools. So let's act now.
Source: 2018 Rhode Island State of the State address
, Jan 16, 2018
PrepareRI Dual Enrollment: free tuition for high schoolers
When I was my kids' age, most jobs in Rhode Island required nothing more than a high school degree. But, for my kids and yours, that's not the case anymore. The reality is that most jobs being created now in Rhode Island will require some degree or
certificate beyond a high school diploma.I set a goal to ensure that by 2025, at least 70% of Rhode Island adults have some degree or credential beyond high school. To achieve that goal, we've taken strides to make college more accessible and more
affordable. We now offer the PSAT and SAT, free of charge, in every public high school. We provide student loan relief for recent graduates who live and work in RI.
PrepareRI Dual Enrollment: Last year, nearly 4,000 students were able to take college
courses for free. These students earn college credits while they're still in high school, and some are able to get a full semester of college under their belt before they graduate high school. The budget I will propose expands funding for this program.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Rhode Island Legislature
, Jan 17, 2017
All-day kindergarten for all; computers in every school
Our schools are getting stronger. To set all of our students out on the right path, we've made important investments in their success. We came together two years ago to guarantee that every child is able to attend all-day kindergarten.
And we've made new investments to triple the number of public Pre-K classes.By the end of this year, Rhode Island is going to be the first state to offer computer science classes in every public school around the state.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Rhode Island Legislature
, Jan 17, 2017
Treat teachers as professionals; rebuild school classrooms
A quality K-12 education system is the bedrock of Rhode Island's future economic success. We need quality, flourishing schools that teach our students the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century. No one knows how to teach these skills to our
children better than our state's hard-working teachers. But right now, we spend too little time listening to our teachers, and we fail to give them the resources they need to do their jobs.As governor, Gina will:-
Treat teachers as the professionals they are, by providing them with the resources and support they need to be successful, and most importantly, listen to their ideas and incorporate their feedback into educational priorities.
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Invest in extracurricular and enrichment opportunities, which are essential to a quality education.
- Rebuild crumbling schools and classrooms, and improve them with access to technology and personalized learning tools like tablets and laptops.
Source: 2014 R.I. Gubernatorial campaign website, GinaRaimondo.com
, Nov 4, 2014
Page last updated: Aug 31, 2021