- Mayoral Academy
Mayoral Academies are publicly funded
charter schools in the state ofRhode Island that have been freed from some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to othercharter schools in order to better attract nonprofit charter management organizations with a track record of success. The legislation creating mayoral academies was championed by a coalition of community and business leaders led byCumberland, RI MayorDaniel McKee and passed into law as part of the 2009 Rhode Island state budget, which was approved on June 17, 2008.History
The mayoral academy idea in Rhode Island was originated by Mayor Daniel McKee and developed by a coalition of Rhode Island mayors and town administrators, Cumberland Director of Children, Youth, and Learning Michael Magee, Progreso Latino CEO Ramon Martinez, and policy experts
Bryan Hassel of Public Impact and Martin R. West ofBrown University .The eight Rhode Island municipal leaders supporting the plan were Joseph Almond, Town Administrator of
Lincoln, RI ; James E. Doyle, Mayor ofPawtucket, RI ; Daniel J. McKee, Mayor ofCumberland, RI ; Charles Moreau, Mayor ofCentral Falls, RI ; David Cicilline, Mayor ofProvidence, RI ; Charles Lombardi, Mayor ofNorth Providence, RI ; Michael T. Napolitano, Mayor ofCranston, RI ; and Joseph M. Polisena, Mayor ofJohnston, RI .Prominent business and community leaders working on behalf of its passage included Alan Hassenfeld, Chairman of the Executive Committee at
Hasbro ; Angus Davis, Rhode Island Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education; Laurie White, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce; Stephanie Chafee, Founder, Rhode Island Free Clinic; and Ron Wolk, Founder ofEducation Week and Chairman of The Big Picture Company.The legislation creating the academies was introduced as H7874 in the Rhode Island House during the 2008 legislative session. With the support of Majority Leader Gordon Fox and Majority Whip Peter Kilmartin, it was subsequently added as Article 38 in the state budget.
See also
* Charter School
External links
www.mayoralacademies.org
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