ANGÉLICA INFANTE-GREEN Providence Public School District

Commissioner Office of the Superintendent

797 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903-4045
JAVIER MONTAÑEZ tel. 401.456.9211
Acting Superintendent fax 401.456.9252
www.providenceschools.org

August 5, 2022

Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green

R.I. Department of Education
255 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903

Subject: High School Credits and Graduation

Dear Commissioner Infante-Green:

A serious matter was brought to the School Board attention involving high school credits and graduation.
Specifically, students who may have not earned credits that were placed on their transcripts. I am aware that School
Board president Kinzel Thomas met with both Superintendent JAVIER MONTAÑEZ and yourself on Friday, July
21st, 2022 to express his concerns.

 Graduation inflation misrepresents data, and directly harms students

We are Rhode Island’s capital, and we should have a school system that we should be proud of. Given the lack of
transparency and clarity around this process, I earnestly request that you carry out the following:

 Independent investigation to avoid a conflict of interest and make sure that there is integrity throughout the
process
 Any administrators who failed to disclose information related to this matter should be placed on
administrative leave effective immediately, pending the outcome

I appreciate you taking the time to read this letter. Please email me back if you have questions or if I can be of any
further help on this topic.

With warm regards,

Ty'Relle Stephens
Providence School Board Member

Cc’d

RI Governor Daniel McKee

RI Senator Joseph DiPalma
RI K-12 Council Chairwoman Patricia Dicenso
PPSD Superintendent Javier Montanez
PPSD Deputy Superintendent of Operations Zach Scott
General Counsel Charles A. Ruggerio
PVD Mayor Jorge Elorza
PVD City Council President John Igliozzi
PVD School Board President Kinzel Thomas

An Equal Opportunity Employer. The Providence School Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, national origin, color, disability or veteran status.