Chamber of Commerce Supports Rhode Island’s Race to the Top Grant Application

The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce today commended Rhode Island Commissioner of Education Deborah Gist, the Providence Teachers Union and the many other business and labor leaders, elected officials, educators, parents, students and community members who have signed on in support of Rhode Island’s Race to the Top grant application. Delivered to Washington D.C. Tuesday, the application is Rhode Island’s proposal to be part of a national competition among states nationwide to capture a piece of the federal $4.35 billion in stimulus funding for education.

The Chamber, and more specifically its Board of Directors, signed on to support the program last week.

“The Chamber is proud to be part of this collaborative effort that has the potential to effectively transform Rhode Island’s educational system for the betterment of our students,” said Laurie White, president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. “Real change is only achieved when all of the stakeholders come to the table. This effort is doing just that.”

The four objectives as outlined in the application include ensuring educator excellence, accelerating all schools toward greatness, achieving world class standards and assessments and developing user friendly data systems. White noted this is especially important in providing Rhode Island’s youth with the necessary education and skills for the jobs of the future which will require achieving increasingly higher educational attainment levels.

“Real reform in our educational system is a significant issue for the business community,” White said. “Our goal needs to be providing a well educated and trained workforce to meet our employers workforce needs now and in the future.”

For more information on Race to the Top visit the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Web site at http://www.ride.ri.gov/