State of Rhode Island Archives: on Education
Barry Hinckley:
Give a grant to every family to choose school
A moderator asked both candidates why they chose to send their children to private school. "I want the best education that I could get for them," said Whitehouse, who then touted efforts, like Race to the Top, which aim to improve public education.
He said the next step should be extending those programs to middle school.Hinckley, who sends his children to
Parochial school, said it was important to him that his children be raised in faith. He then pointed out that many families can't afford to send their children to private school and are stuck with failing schools.
He proposed giving a grant to every family in Rhode Island, so parents can choose which schools they send their children.
Source: WPRI Eyewitness News on 2012 R.I. Senate debate
Oct 23, 2012
Bob Flanders:
Parental school choice: federal funds follow students
As a former chair of the Rhode Island Board of Regents, I recognize that public education is the appropriate responsibility of state and local governments. While America spends more on education than nearly every other developed country, many of our
schools are failing our kids. The following steps will help reform schools by empowering parents and local communities again:- Support and provide technical assistance to schools and educators striving to implement high standards and superior
student performance.
- Secure resources and technical support to close the performance gap facing disadvantaged children.
- Create education-innovation labs to develop new ways to deliver quality educational programs.
- Promote parental school choice
by having federal funds follow students more closely and thus create opportunities for students to attend schools that best meet their educational needs.
- Earmark a percentage of federal infrastructure funds for school modernization and security.
Source: 2018 R.I. Senate campaign website FlandersForSenate.com
Nov 1, 2018
Bob Flanders:
Simplify aid; subsidize students who can't afford college
The federal government plays an important role in higher education. Traditionally it has supported college and university research and provided subsidies for students who could not afford college.
These federal programs have unlocked the doors to opportunity and innovation and they should be enhanced.
Which college to attend and how to pay for it is a stressful decision facing Rhode Island families and students. We must make the progress easier by looking to simplify aid forms,
streamline the loan process, provide families with market information about schools they are considering, and promote an accreditation process that provides students with affordable options.
Source: 2018 R.I. Senate campaign website FlandersForSenate.com
Nov 1, 2018
Carl Sheeler:
Educate children about sex rather than moralizing
Indicate which principles you support regarding education. - Support national standards and testing of public school students.
- Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and
HIV/STD prevention methods.
- Sheeler adds, “Practical realities of equitable education compensation weighed with quality and measurable results. It is more important to educate children of risk & responsibility of sex then moralize.”
Source: 2004 R.I. Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 7, 2004
Gina Raimondo:
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
Lincoln Chafee:
Fund special education before tax cuts for the wealthy
Q: Your views on tax cuts?CHAFEE: You want to return any kind of tax cuts you can to the citizens and every politician likes to do that. That's popular. But at the same time, I wanted to be responsible, having been a mayor and then going to the
Senate, my view was let's help the property taxpayer before we help the tax cuts for the wealthy. The way we do that is fund a program that the Congress started in 1970 for the special education that helps in our schools which is all the property taxes
and fund that special education. We promised in 1970 to get to 40%. We're not above 20%. So I said before we cut the taxes for the wealthy, let's fund this special education program. Get it up to the 40% we promised back in 1970, and that goes right to
the property taxpayer before we help the wealthy.
LAFFEY: First, Chafee failed on funding the IDEA program. Two, he has voted for No Child Left Behind which is about $27 billion and counting unfunded mandate that's going on seemingly forever.
Source: 2006 R.I. Republican Senate Primary debate on WPRI
Aug 24, 2006
Luis-Daniel Munoz:
Change educational funding formula for needs of municipality
- Change the educational funding formula to ensure that allocations are proportionate to the needs of a municipality.
- Empower parents and students with a clear process in how they can contribute to decisions impacting their children
-
Restructure R.I. Promise Program, to extend this unique opportunity to working adults who can only attend part-time
- A state-wide after school program with the use of public & private infrastructure across universities and colleges in Rhode Island
Source: 2021 R.I. Governor campaign website LuisDanielMunoz.com
Jun 7, 2021
Mark Zaccaria:
Supports vouchers but not charters
Q: Do you support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students?A: No.
Q: Do you support federal funding for universal pre-K programs?
A: No.
Q: Do you support federal funding for charter schools?
A: No.
Q: Do you support federal funding for K-12 school vouchers?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support federal financial aid for college students?
A: Yes. Federal aid for tuition to college students should be merit scholarships, not general entitlements.
Source: R.I. Congressional 2010 PVS Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2010
Sheldon Whitehouse:
Extend "Race to the Top" to middle school
A moderator asked both candidates why they chose to send their children to private school. "I want the best education that I could get for them," said Whitehouse, who then touted efforts, like Race to the Top, which aim to improve public education.
He said the next step should be extending those programs to middle school.Hinckley, who sends his children to
Parochial school, said it was important to him that his children be raised in faith. He then pointed out that many families can't afford to send their children to private school and are stuck with failing schools.
He proposed giving a grant to every family in Rhode Island, so parents can choose which schools they send their children.
Source: WPRI Eyewitness News on 2012 R.I. Senate debate
Oct 23, 2012
Stephen Laffey:
Chafee failed on funding the IDEA program and the NCLB Act
Q: Your views on tax cuts?CHAFEE: You want to return any kind of tax cuts you can to the citizens and every politician likes to do that. That's popular. But at the same time, I wanted to be responsible, having been a mayor and then going to the
Senate, my view was let's help the property taxpayer before we help the tax cuts for the wealthy. The way we do that is fund a program that the Congress started in 1970 for the special education that helps in our schools which is all the property taxes
and fund that special education. We promised in 1970 to get to 40%. We're not above 20%. So I said before we cut the taxes for the wealthy, let's fund this special education program. Get it up to the 40% we promised back in 1970, and that goes right to
the property taxpayer before we help the wealthy.
LAFFEY: First, Chafee failed on funding the IDEA program. Two, he has voted for No Child Left Behind which is about $27 billion and counting unfunded mandate that's going on seemingly forever.
Source: 2006 R.I. Republican Senate Primary debate (x-ref Chafee)
Aug 24, 2006
Helena Foulkes:
Fund universal Pre-K, public preschool for three-year-olds
Helena will invest an additional $300M in public education through the state budget. She will transform early childhood education by fully funding universal Pre-K and creating a new state program to provide public preschool for three-year-olds.
She will also propose changes to the state funding formula to finally provide sufficient resources for special education and multilingual learning and dedicate state funding for dual language and community school models.
Source: 2022 R.I. Gubernatorial campaign website HelenaFoulkes.com
Oct 3, 2022
Dan McKee:
Plan to reach Massachusetts education levels by 2030
In Providence there are already eight new or like new construction projects in progress with additional new schools in the early planning stages. And I'm proud to say that soon, Providence will have 50 percent of its students in new facilities--a
tenfold increase from 2017. This is progress and we're going to stay the course. And this isn't just happening in Providence. Statewide, 22 major new school projects are currently under design or construction.
It is time for us to make a targeted modification to the funding formula to improve outcomes and support students with greater needs. The budget will invest an additional $57 million in K-12 education and another $4 million for out-of-school learning
programs. We will fully fund our multilingual learners and high-cost special education to address the needs of these students. Within the first 100 days of my full term, we will be outlining a plan to reach Massachusetts education levels by 2030.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the R.I. legislature
Jan 17, 2023
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026