Legislation provides school choice option for all school children

3/2/2015

News

STATE HOUSE – Representative Michael Chippendale (R-District 40, Coventry, Foster, Glocester), Representative Raymond Hull (D-District 6, Providence) and Senator Marc Cote (D-District 24, North Smithfield, Woonsocket) announced the introduction of legislation that provides school choice options for all Rhode Island parents with students in grade K – 12.

“I am pleased to be working with Rep. Hull and Senator Cote to introduce legislation that furthers the spirit and intent of National School Choice Week that we just honored in the House of Representatives this past January. Education provides critical building blocks for great opportunities ahead and every Rhode Island student deserves those opportunities,” said Chippendale.

“We have so many great schools across our state, its time that we expand opportunities for parents to choose the school that they believe will best meet their children’s needs.”

“Folks may recall media coverage years back about some parents seeking ways to enroll their kids in a traditional public school outside of their district by using an address in their district of choice. It didn’t work out too well.” Chippendale explains, “This legislation creates an open enrollment process that lets students attend a school of choice within and outside their own school district.”

“There were approximately 13,000 applicants for 1000 open seats in our charter schools in 2014. While our bill does not include charter schools, this tells us that there is a significant demand for school choice in our state. This bill addresses this demand by providing, for example, up to a six thousand dollar scholarship for parents to use toward attendance at a public school in another district, a private school or to cover educational related expenses for home schooling.”

“As a parent of 2 public school children, and a product of the public school system myself – I’m dedicated to improving the public education system while offering parental choice so that families can decide what type of education is the right fit for them.” continued Chippendale.

Rep. Chippendale adds, “This is a win-win-win education bill for students, their parents, schools, cities and towns.”

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For more information, contact:
Lisa Blais, House Minority Office
State House Room 106
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2259

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In 1636, Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, established the first working model of Democracy after being banished from Massachusetts for his “extreme views” concerning freedom of speech and religion. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams publicly acknowledged Williams as the originator of these concepts, along with the freedom of public assembly, in the First Amendment in the United States Constitution. Today, Rhode Island House Republicans uphold the liberties designed by our Founders and preserved in our Constitution, and are the primary legislative body promoting lean government, fighting for lower taxes, and advocating for initiatives and policies that improve the economy and in turn, the lives of Rhode Islanders. As members of a part-time assembly, we are small business owners, retired educators, community activists, lawyers, farmers, military service veterans, volunteers, former local officials, retired social workers, coaches, musicians, churchgoers and board directors -- bringing these community engagement and professional experiences to our work, on your behalf, at the Rhode Island State House.