WATCH: Here’s How We Celebrate School Choice in Rhode Island

Posted Jan. 30, 2015 in Charter Schools

Erika Sanzi is a former teacher and school board member, a mom of three boys, and a fierce advocate for great public schools and the right of every parent to choose their child’s education. Full profile →

National School Choice Week marks an annual celebration at my kid’s school. Parents and staff proudly don the trademark yellow scarves and many reflect on what school choice means to them, why it’s important, and why it’s worth protecting and expanding.

Blackstone Valley Prep (BVP) is an intentionally diverse public charter school in northern Rhode Island that serves two urban and two suburban districts.

Unlike most charters, BVP is a Rhode Island Mayoral Academy, defined in their own words as “high-performing, diverse, regional public schools governed by mayor-led school boards.” These mayoral academies are unique to Rhode Island (at least for now) and at the moment, BVP and Achievement First (Providence) fall under their umbrella. (RISE Academy has preliminary approval and is already accepting applications for next fall.)