Gov. Donald L. Carcieri (R) • Jan. 22
Faced with budget pressures and and opposed to raising taxes, Gov. Carcieri called for a comprehensive review of school funding. He offered no specific restructuring plans, but pointed out that Rhode Island’s per-pupil spending is the ninth highest in the nation—in part, he said, because its 150,000 students attend 36 separate school districts. Fairfax County, Va., he noted, serves roughly the same student population with one district. A coalition of mayors has already begun lobbying the legislature to authorize a network of regional charter schools. (“Rhode Island Coalition Aims to Start Network of Regional Charters,” Dec. 19, 2007.)
