Providence School Board formally regains authority as state takeover ends

What happened

After nearly seven years under Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) receivership starting in 2019, Providence Public Schools returned to local control effective July 1, 2026. On July 16, 2026 the board's Committee of the Whole and a special meeting proposed authorizing the Board President to sign a revised superintendent employment contract that substitutes the School Board for the RIDE Commissioner as the superintendent's employer, formally completing the handoff of governing authority.

Why it matters to families

This changes who is actually in charge of Providence's public schools. For the past seven years, a state-appointed structure held final say over the district's budget, superintendent, and major policy; going forward, the locally elected-and-appointed School Board holds that authority directly, including hiring/evaluating the superintendent and approving the budget.

The evidence

The board's July 1, 2026 special-meeting agenda included superintendent and board comments on 'Return to Local Control' and a review of a 'Return to Local Control 90-Day Dashboard.' The July 16, 2026 Committee of the Whole/special-meeting agenda proposed authorizing the board president to execute a revised superintendent employment contract 'which substitutes and replaces the Commissioner with the Board as the Superintendent's employer, to reflect the return to local control.' RIDE's own K-12 Council order approved the transition to local control effective July 1, 2026.

The source