McKee Administration Releases Built to Learn, Built to Last Report Highlighting Historic Transformation of Providence Public Schools

McKee Administration Releases Built to Learn, Built to Last Report Highlighting Historic Transformation of Providence Public Schools

Published on Friday, March 27, 2026

PROVIDENCE, RI - Governor Dan McKee, Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) were joined by state, local, and school officials today to release Built to Learn, Built to Last, a new report detailing the progress and impact of Providence Public Schools' $1 billion facilities investment, marking one of the largest school construction efforts in Rhode Island history. 

The report outlines how coordinated state, city, and district action has helped address decades of underinvestment with a long-term strategy focused on delivering greater access to safe, modern, and student-centered learning environments across Providence. 

Released at Providence's Jorge Alvarez High School, which will use grant funding to construct modern lab spaces for its high-demand CTE healthcare program, the report documents a shift away from a "band-aid" approach for school building improvements toward a multi-year capital plan that is producing new and like-new school buildings, upgraded infrastructure, and improved learning spaces throughout the district. 

"There is no greater investment in Rhode Island's future than the education and wellbeing of our children," said Governor Dan McKee. "Students deserve safe, modern, and high-quality learning environments. Through strong partnerships with leaders in communities across the state, Rhode Island has made real progress upgrading school facilities, including a remarkable transformation in Providence. This work reflects a shared commitment to giving students the spaces they need to learn, grow, and succeed, and that commitment will continue." 

"The progress we are seeing in Providence and the upgrades happening statewide reflect our unwavering commitment to a student-first approach to school infrastructure," said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. "RIDE is working collaboratively with districts to dismantle longstanding barriers that have delayed critical improvements for our most vulnerable students, including those in Providence. The investments we're highlighting today recognize that high-quality learning environments strengthen instruction, and they will benefit generations of Rhode Island students." 

"From new 21^st-century school buildings to assessment scores, graduation rates, and attendance levels that have rebounded above pre-pandemic benchmarks, there are clear signs of momentum in Providence," Commissioner Infante-Green added.

"The investments we are making in Providence's school facilities are vitally necessary to meet the evolving needs of Providence's students," said Mayor Brett P. Smiley. "From our youngest learners to those gearing up to graduate, our students deserve to learn in safe, modern classrooms that support their growth and inspire them to strive for success. I'm thrilled at the community-driven progress we have already made to improve school infrastructure and look forward to the work to come this year.

"Investing in education today is investing in jobs. It's investing in the economy. It's investing in Providence," said Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5). "It's the best way to spend our money because we are literally putting money into the next generation of professionals."

"After decades of advocacy, we are finally making historic investments in our school facilities with state support," said Superintendent Javier Montañez. "In my 25 years here, the need for these improvements has always been clear. Today, we are delivering modern learning spaces that empower the academic growth, attendance, and graduation success we're already seeing across our capital city."

"The Providence School Board is proud to stand as a partner in this critical work that has led to historic investments in our school buildings," said School Board President Ty'Relle Stephens. "For too long, too many of our students learned in spaces that did not reflect their potential. Today, we are seeing what is possible when a community comes together with a shared purpose. Each of these projects is more than progress, it is a promise to our students, our families, and our educators that we will continue to build a future worthy of their talent, their resilience, and their dreams."

Facility Opportunity Initiative Grant Awards

As part of the event, state leaders also announced the awarding of more than $6.5 million in new Facility Opportunity Initiative (FOI) grants, providing upfront capital to accelerate critical school facility improvements in high-need communities across the state. 

Since 2021, the FOI, administered through RIDE's School Building Authority (SBA), has provided more than $40 million statewide, allowing districts to begin projects without waiting for traditional reimbursement timelines. FOI investments focus on high-impact spaces that improve learning conditions for students in communities with high concentrations of low-income students, multilingual learners, and differently abled students. 

The latest FOI awards will benefit nearly 10,000 students in the following districts: 

• Providence: $856,996 

• Central Falls: $2,497,246 

• Woonsocket: $2,062,461 

• Pawtucket: $815,000 

• West Warwick: $320,202 

Built to Learn, Built to Lastdetails Providence Public Schools' progress toward the goal of ensuring every student has access to a new or like-new school building by 2030. Since the start of the state intervention, the district has opened six new and like-new schools, with ten additional projects currently in design, alongside districtwide upgrades to technology, safety, and outdoor learning spaces. 

Prior to the state intervention, Providence opened just one new school building in the previous 15 years, leaving many students learning in facilities described in a 2019 Johns Hopkins report as "visibly crumbling" and, in some cases, "dangerous." 

With nearly $500 million already invested by Providence taxpayers and voter approval of an additional $400 million bond in 2024, these combined investments represent an unprecedented commitment to student success and long-term sustainability.

"I am so relieved and gratified to see this overdue investment in our city's schools," said Sen. Ana B. Quezada (D-Dist. 2, Providence). "Environment has a tremendous impact on a student's engagement and academic performance, and I look forward to seeing new learning centers designed specifically for this purpose. It's a tremendous victory for education in Providence."

"For far too long, the students of Providence have had to learn with subpar facilities and low investment in their educational environment. Thankfully, times have changed and Providence schools are receiving the facility investment and support that our students deserve. This new funding is a true collaboration between the state, the city, the school department and the community, and while everyone benefits from improved school facilities, the true beneficiaries of this funding are our current and future students. Our kids should be proud of their schools and now, they will be," said Rep. Scott A. Slater (D-Dist. 10, Providence).

In alignment with this overwhelming voter support, RIDE has invested $50 million directly into PPSD through the FOI and other state-led facility initiatives.

According to the report, Providence construction associated with the capital plan has generated more than 1,000 local jobs, including $80 million in contracts for women-owned and minority-owned businesses.