Bill would put limits on pathways schools

WARWICK — School choice has always been a thorny issue in Rhode Island.

First, charter schools were the perceived threat, with critics bemoaning the loss of tuition dollars flowing from the district to the charter.

Now, “pathways schools,” a new version of career and technical education that offers strands of study in technology, engineering and the arts, is seen by some as the new enemy.

A bill sponsored by Rep. Evan Shanley on behalf of Warwick school officials would limit the growth of these programs because, he said, they are drawing students away from regional career and technical schools (like the one in Warwick) and taking tuition dollars with them.

Wednesday, a couple of busloads of students from Ponaganset High School, home to a flourishing “pathways” program, went to the State House to defend their school and its career offerings.

James Lavoie, 16, an honors student from Ponaganset, penned a letter to the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee, which heard testimony on the bill Wednesday.

“I see this bill ... as directly impacting Ponaganset by damaging if not stripping it of its pathways and transfer programs,” Lavoie wrote. “This bill exists only to siphon off the success of one school to support others not ready for the responsibility that comes with it.”

Ponaganset High School, part of the Foster-Glocester school system, offered its first career and technical education course eight years ago. Now, it has more than a half-dozen career majors or pathways — including agriculture, biomedical science, computer science, music and pre-engineering.

While traditional career and technical centers might offer the same classes, the technology at Ponaganset sets it apart from traditional vocational offerings. The music technology room has rows of electronic keyboards with the latest software to produce music videos. In another classroom, students build robots and use plasma cutters and laser engravers.

And there’s the hitch.

Warwick Supt. Philip Thornton said pathways schools such as Ponaganset are draining students away from his schools, to the tune of $1.4 million a year in lost tuition.

Tuition dollars follow the student when he or she moves from one district to another. Thornton said Warwick has “lost” 86 students to Ponaganset and North Kingstown. In a district facing significant financial challenges, that’s a lot of money.

Shanley, a Warwick Democrat, said the bill would require students to stay in their own school district if the home district has a similar program.

“If the student is placed out of district,” he said, “we’d like the state to reimburse the [home] district for 50 percent” of the tuition or cost per pupil. “There are schools that are using this as a money-maker to draw students from other districts.”

Parents, he said, see this as a way to get their children into higher-performing school districts.

State Education Commissioner Ken Wagner said he strongly opposes the bill.

“When there is a healthy pressure on a school, the system is forced to evaluate its offerings ... and improve their programs,” he said. “The mark of a great school is not one that locks its doors to keep kids inside. A truly great school is where the doors are open and students are free to leave, but choose not to.”

The bill, as written, would limit the growth of “pathways” programs by:

■ Explicitly stating that regional career and technical centers “are best equipped to provide career and technical education.”

■ That the programs must be four years long and must include five full-year courses.

■ Pathways programs can’t be offered if a similar program exists at the regional career and technical center.

After speaking with supporters of pathways programs, Shanley said he is willing to amend the language to soften its impact.

He said he is willing to grandfather in those students who are already enrolled in pathways programs.

“These programs are so important,” he said. “We don’t want to stifle them.”