Rogers High School Principal Jared Vance has been placed on administrative leave through the end of the school year following an independent investigation into the October 2025 assault of a student with special needs in the boys locker room. The investigation, conducted by former Rhode Island State Police Colonel Steven O'Donnell, found systemic failures in communication, supervision, and disciplinary accountability, and issued 27 recommendations for reform.

rhodeislandcurrent.com

Aimee Duarte, Interactive Digital Media teacher at Cranston Area Career and Technical Center, was recognized as Rhode Island's 2026 Computer Science Teacher of the Year. Duarte has expanded computer science curriculum at Cranston High School West over nearly 30 years, partnering with URI to bring college credits and training teachers statewide.

Education advocates argue that Native American history and culture should be integrated throughout K-12 curriculum rather than limited to single lessons, citing research showing improved outcomes for Native students and better cultural understanding for all students when Indigenous perspectives are woven throughout social studies, science, and other subjects.

The Trump administration has dramatically reshaped federal education policy in its first year through cuts to grants for deaf and blind students, rural teacher programs, and Wi-Fi hotspots, while closing five of ten Head Start regional offices, freezing billions in school funding, and redirecting civil rights enforcement away from equity programs toward investigations of diversity initiatives and transgender student policies.