Concern Over Education and Family Services in Rhode Island

Ahead of Election Day 2024, the Fulcrum launched We the People, a series elevating the voices and visibility of the persons most affected by the decisions of elected officials.

Providence, Rhode Island, founded in 1636, is one of the oldest cities in New England and one of the first cities in the country to industrialize, noted for its textile manufacturing and subsequent machine tool, jewelry, and silverware industries.

A deeply blue state, Vice President Kamala Harris won the Ocean State comfortably in the 2024 presidential election, including every county. Harris’s strongest showing was in Providence, where more than 73% of voters backed the Democratic nominee.

Despite the loss, Donald Trump decreased his margin of defeat by 7% compared to 2020. Trump improved his margin of support to varying degrees in all 39 cities and towns in Rhode Island.

Similar to voters in other states, many residents of the state’s capital went to the polls because of pocketbook issues. We spoke with individuals who also shared resources for families and children, including education, as motivations for voting.

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Rhode Island Republicans have praised the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. They say the move will empower states, communities, and parents to better customize education according to local needs.

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However, many are worried about the potential increases in class sizes, teacher layoffs, and reduced services for students. Shannon Gormley, a teacher in Rhode Island Public Schools, is among the concerned. "Nervous. My students come to me and say, 'Miss, are we still going to be able to have free lunch?' I think about our students who are in special education, and how the Department of Ed really helps our students in terms of individual education plans. So, for me, I guess the word would be nervous, worry."

Rhode Island House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale, a Republican representing District 40, acknowledged the concerns many people are having about Donald Trump’s heavy-handed approach and the speed with which changes are being implemented.

Chippendale said that the American public has started to become disenchanted with politicians who promise things that they never do. "He had to act quickly. He had to fulfill those promises," he said. "So, when he made such bold promises on the campaign trail and then immediately enacted so many of them, I think that weathered the people who are going to feel the pain from the economic policies enough to say, 'I'm going to be ok. I trust that he's going to do what he says he's going to do."

Secretary of State Gregg Amore, a Democrat, said he has spoken to many people who voted for Trump due to concerns about the cost of rent, food, and their healthcare challenges, and that some have expressed regrets. "There's some buyer's remorse here because the focus has not been on kitchen table economic issues," he said.

Amore and Chippendale agree that, regardless of the outcome of the 2024 presidential election and how Rhode Islanders voted, there is still room for improvement when it comes to people participating in the electoral process — and that begins with investing time with students.

Secretary Amore hosts the Rhode Island Civic Leadership Program, which State Representative Chippendale has participated in. The immersive, year-long nonpartisan initiative is designed to connect high school students to their government and build skills and habits that foster lifelong civic engagement.

Gormley was recognized by Secretary Amore in 2024 with the Rhode Island Civic Teacher of the Year Award. "I got excited about civic because I started to work with Generation Citizen," she said. The organization is committed to amplifying the voices of young people in our democracy. Gormley said her students get involved in their community. "They get to choose what they think is wrong in the community or an issue that they see."

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Editor's Note: Hugo Balta is the executive editor of the Fulcrum and a board member of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, the parent organization of The Fulcrum. He is the publisher of the Latino News Network and a trainer with the Solutions Journalism Network.