Letter to the Rhode Island Department of Education — Maintenance of Equity (April 28, 2023)

Summary

A letter dated April 28, 2023 from the U.S. Department of Education, signed by James F. Lane, Senior Advisor, Office of the Secretary, to Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green of the Rhode Island Department of Education. It recognizes Rhode Island's ongoing commitment to the maintenance of equity requirements under section 2004(b) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and its early work to implement them. The letter credits cooperative efforts involving Governor McKee, appropriators in the General Assembly, and State educational agency staff. It looks forward to implementing the second year of the requirements in fiscal year 2023.

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“Letter to the Rhode Island Department of Education — Maintenance of Equity (April 28, 2023).” Original at www.ed.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/department-of-education-4-28-2023-used-www-ed-gov-2042eca133-6b353e65d5/, SHA-256 56009087931af120acd5b860b8afb1a15b56eded51d0ef7f861c25508a7ed158.

Full text

                          UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


                                            April 28, 2023

The Honorable Angélica Infante-Green
Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
Rhode Island Department of Education
255 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903

Dear Commissioner Infante-Green,

I am writing to recognize Rhode Island’s ongoing commitment to the maintenance of equity
requirements under section 2004(b) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP). Knowing the
numerous, competing priorities facing States, State educational agencies, and local educational
agencies, Rhode Island’s early work to implement these new, critically important resource equity
requirements is appreciated. We note that Rhode Island’s action is a result of cooperative efforts
involving Governor McKee, appropriators in your General Assembly, and State educational agency
leadership and staff.

ARP maintenance of equity requirements help ensure that State and local education funding
supports students who experienced longstanding opportunity gaps before, and were
disproportionately impacted by, the COVID-19 pandemic. In implementing these provisions
through a mix of data quality efforts, engagement with Department-provided technical assistance,
and maintenance of State education funding for the communities and students who need it most,
Rhode Island is taking critical steps to accelerate academic recovery and close opportunity and
achievement gaps.

My team looks forward to continuing our work with yours in implementing the second year of
maintenance of equity requirements in fiscal year 2023. Thank you for your collaboration, and all
you do for Rhode Island’s students, educators, and families.

                                               Sincerely,


                                               James F. Lane, Ed. D.
                                               Senior Advisor, Office of the Secretary
                                               Delegated the Authority to Perform the Functions
                                               and Duties of the Assistant Secretary for
                                               Elementary and Secondary Education


CC: The Honorable Daniel McKee
   Governor of Rhode Island
   82 Smith Street
   Providence, RI 02903

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