March 22, 2023 TO: House Committee on Education FROM: Mike Stenhouse, CEO, RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity

However, since the General Assembly in 2019 granted authority to the RI Department of Education to develop and mandate curricula to every school district, the quality of a public school education has suffered greatly and is certain to continue to shortchange students and teachers … even more so if this bill is not passed. [...] Return the curriculum decisions to the districts!! Please reverse the General Assembly’s 2019 decision to allow the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) to develop curricula for various subjects to every school district in the state. [...] They need to commit to the philosophy that their profession is to set curriculum based on the input from the local citizens that attend the local schools. [...] I am asking that you support House Bill H5498 to repeal the RIDE curricula mandated to every school district in the state and return authority over school curricula decisions to the local school committees, local school officials, and local parents. [...] Please give the power of educational curricula to the Parents and the local school committees and officials.