The United States Department of Education released the Puerto Rico Educational Transformation Guidebook, providing recommendations for a clear pathway for local leaders to continue the decentralization of education implementation efforts on the islands. The guidebook, addressed to Governor-elect Jenniffer González-Colón (NPP, R), provides key actions that will be essential to ensuring a successful continuation of the decentralization work. These actions will support Puerto Rico’s goal of launching the first autonomous Local Educational Agency (LEA) by July 2025.
“This historic transformation of the Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE) will catalyze change and create a system that empowers school communities, makes better use of precious federal and island resources, increases accountability and trust, and most importantly, improves student opportunities and outcomes. The federal commitment to unprecedented support will continue alongside the very capable leaders in Puerto Rico as this transformation continues,” wrote Secretary Miguel Cardona in the guidebook.
Puerto Rico is the seventh largest school district in the United States and has been undergoing a transformation of its education system, supported by the department. After natural disasters and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Puerto Rico’s current unitary education system has struggled to overcome longstanding challenges that prevent it from delivering a high-quality education to its students.
Following the May 2023 commitment by the government of Puerto Rico to decentralize the education system, there have been key accomplishments of this process. This guidebook builds on the progress since the announcement, highlights recent implementation accomplishments, and urges leaders in Puerto Rico to continue to drive this work forward.
Be the first to add context