Commissioner of Education Angélica Infante-Green | Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The Providence Public School District has announced the formal closure of a federal class-action lawsuit related to early childhood special education services. This development comes after an independent monitor confirmed that the district had substantially complied with the terms of a settlement agreement.
Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green stated, “Over the past two years, RIDE has worked in close partnership with Providence Public Schools to directly address concerns related to early childhood special education, and we are pleased the progress we have made has led to the successful conclusion of court monitoring. With RIDE’s support, Providence Public Schools has expanded its evaluation capacity, improved placement timelines, and ensured that families have timely access to the services their children need. These meaningful improvements have strengthened and streamlined critical support for students and families. We remain committed to building on this progress and ensuring that all children, especially those with disabilities, receive the educational support they deserve.”
Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez added, "Early childhood education is instrumental and lays the foundation for a child's educational journey. With the support of our early childhood team and Commissioner Infante-Green, we were able to grow our Pre-K department and improve our pre-kindergarten evaluation systems to ensure that all Providence students have access to a quality early childhood education. We are committed to holding these structures in place, so we are able to serve our youngest students for years to come."
The lawsuit was filed in 2023 by parents along with organizations such as the ACLU, RI Center for Justice, and Parents Leading for Educational Equity (PLEE). The complaint alleged that Providence Public Schools did not provide timely special education services for preschool-aged children in Providence.
In response over two years, the district created a corrective action plan which included recruitment efforts aimed at hiring more qualified special education teachers for an expanding number of Pre-K classrooms. The district also developed new procedures designed to better meet the needs of three- and four-year-old children requiring special education services. As a result of these actions since the lawsuit began, there has been an increase in both Pre-K classrooms and seat capacity.
Providence Public Schools states it will continue working toward improving access to high-quality early childhood education for local students and families.
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