New state test results highlight progress in Middletown
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Rhode Island School for Progressive Education (RISPE) continues to help school districts and their multilingual students defy expectations. With new statewide RICAS results released this week, RISPE is drawing attention to the success of its district partners, showing that focused investment in multilingual education can deliver measurable results.
“Everyone talks about the need for more multilingual learner teachers, but few know that RISPE is training them in numbers disproportionate to our organization’s size and the state’s investment in our programming, and with the strongest outcomes,” said Dr. Christine Alves, RISPE’s President. “Our programs are built around what districts actually need and the proof is in the classroom results.”
Middletown
Middletown and RISPE formalized their partnership in 2023 in order to support multilingual students. RISPE is working with the district to prepare more teachers to deliver English language instruction and strengthen connections with multilingual students’ families. Nearly 75 Middletown teachers completed RISPE’s MLL Endorsement programming in 2024 alone. This year, Middletown’s “huge achievements” on RICAS with multilingual students have been cited by Commissioner Angelica Infante Green as a success story for all students.
“63% of all Middletown educators are now either endorsed or currently enrolled in a program through the RISPE MLL program,” said William Niemeyer, Superintendent of Middletown Public Schools. “This partnership has been incredibly beneficial for not only MLL students, but all students in the district. In MPS we are focused on moving the needle on improving on instructional practices that are engaging and beneficial for ALL students. We believe our recently released scores reflect that growth.”
Track Record in Central Falls
Central Falls is RISPE’s longest-standing partner, and it is the district where the largest percentage of educators have completed RISPE programming, whether through the Accelerated Teacher Certification (ATC), ESOL, or MLL pathway. The work that Central Falls and RISPE began together in 2019 continues to yield positive results. In 2023, Central Falls saw a 10 percent drop in the number of students not meeting expectations in Math on the RICAS. In third grade, the share of students not meeting expectations in Math was cut in half. Several grade levels also made strong gains in reading. This growth is especially significant given that Central Falls has historically the highest levels of multilingual students and students living in poverty statewide.
At the same time that Central Falls was making progress, Rhode Island overall saw a decline in reading proficiency and only a slight increase in math scores from 2023 to 2024. Central Falls, in partnership with RISPE, continues to defy expectations.
Statewide Need
Rhode Island’s multilingual learner population continues to grow each year. New regulations now require districts to provide dedicated English language instruction, but many schools are struggling to find certified teachers. Since 2019, over 50% of newly certified teachers in English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) statewide have attended RISPE’s programming. RISPE’s ESOL Certification and MLL Endorsement programs are designed to fill that gap quickly by training educators who are already in classrooms.
“Our state cannot meet the needs of multilingual learners without a stronger teacher pipeline,” said Dr. Christine Alves, RISPE’s President. “RISPE is proving that with the right training and support, teachers are ready to help students succeed.”
About RISPE:
Founded in 2019, The Rhode Island School for Progressive Education (RISPE) prepares PK–12 educators through state-recognized ESOL Certification and Multilingual Learner Endorsement programs. RISPE partners directly with districts to align training with local needs and ensure teachers are ready to succeed on day one.
For more details, visit our website at rhodeislandspe.org.
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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
October 7, 2025
Press Contact:
Melanie Griffith, VP of Strategy and Partnerships
mgriffith@rhodeislandspe.com
401-500-2108
