October 23, 2026
As charter public schools, we understand that educating Rhode Island’s future leaders is a privilege and a responsibility—and we take this charge seriously. This statement outlines the League’s core beliefs on charter public school accountability.
Every charter public school in Rhode Island was founded on a promise to its community.
Charter public schools were created to reach students who are historically under-served, tackle disparities in academic outcomes, or offer programming and educational models in response to family and community needs. That promise is codified in each public school’s unique “charter” and mission. School leaders and charter public school boards must use evidence and community feedback to determine whether they are delivering on that promise.
Charter public schools welcome accountability from our school communities, our volunteer boards of directors, and the state.
We think every public school, including charter public schools, should be held accountable for its outcomes. Like every public school, community members provide regular oversight through participation in open meetings and service on school boards. And as charter public schools, we accept additional oversight.
Charter public schools are held to the highest standard of any public school in the state. Charter public schools are subject to stringent annual performance reviews in addition to the same accountability system as district public schools. These reports require school leaders and boards to submit detailed documentation, including annual financial audits, lottery data, compliance with specific regulations, accountability results, and annual reports focused on progress toward academic and organizational goals. And, at least once every five years, every charter public school is required to undergo a high stakes, comprehensive, state-led performance review.
Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) has applauded Rhode Island’s charter public school accountability system as one of the most rigorous in the nation. Under the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE)’s Charter School Performance Review System, every school is evaluated across three areas: academic, financial, and organizational performance, plus compliance with federal and state requirements.
- Academic performance is the primary criterion. The school’s star rating, and the academic proficiency and academic growth measures that contribute to it, are primary indicators of academic performance. The review also considers the extent to which each school is progressing toward its own mission-aligned goals.
- Financial performance includes reviews of cash reserves, debt load, operating margins, and annual audits.
- Organizational performance covers school leadership and board quality, the learning environment, and family access. Compliance with federal and state requirements rounds out the picture.
Rhode Island’s current charter public school accountability process, while imperfect, produces both celebrations of excellence and tough, honest conversations about where a school needs to head next.
The process recognizes strong performance, identifies areas requiring improvement, and can lead to consequential actions when schools do not meet expectations. Charter public schools welcome constructive feedback and take seriously the implications of performance reviews. As a sector, we know there is room for continuous improvement. No charter public school leader is satisfied with the status quo.
Embracing rigorous oversight means supporting accountability even when it leads to difficult decisions.
When there is clear, unbiased evidence that a school’s performance is consistently poor across multiple measures, even after opportunities to improve, then timely, evidence-based action is needed. At times, this can mean school closure. Assessing a school’s performance honestly—and closing it when necessary—is difficult. But it is critical.
All accountability decisions, but especially school closure, must be grounded in data and RIDE’s Charter School Performance Review System. Decisions to close any charter public school must be transparent, objective, devoid of political influence, and centered on student well-being.
Decisions must consider the effect on students. Priority must be placed on clear timelines and transition plans to ensure that every one of that school’s students is able to easily transition into a public school option that is right for them. A smooth transition requires accessible school options, transportation, continuity of special education and multilingual learner services, and transitional support for families.
Because Rhode Island students should be at the center of every educational decision.
We will keep asking hard questions of ourselves, keep improving, and keep working every day to earn the trust Rhode Island families have placed in us.
Written by school leaders from member schools and staff members of the Rhode Island League of Charter Public Schools
Posted by Lauren Matlach, Deputy Director