What we have learned Through more than a year of reporting, we responded to some of the initial concerns and raised other issues. Most parents are pleased with their children's teachers and with the public schools in their community. When poverty and other demographics are taken into account, Rhode Island's students perform far below the national average. Only 1 of 10 teachers is trained in how to use technology in the classroom. Most teachers wish they'd had better training in classroom management.
Most school districts offer only one or two days for teacher education, and some offer none at all.
Using their political clout, the teachers' unions have blocked bills that would have created more charter schools, ended lifetime teacher certification and clamped down on teacher strikes. Some proposed strategies Several ideas have been raised by the series. Expand the state's pre-kindergarten and early childhood education programs. Continue to work toward smaller schools and lower class sizes, particularly in the elementary schools and the urban districts. Include family centers, adult-education programs and other social services in more of the urban schools.