The sixth-largest U.S. school district redistributes authority to local groups.
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona commended Puerto Rico’s release of their plans for the Initiative for Decentralization of Education and Autonomy of Regions (IDEAR). He said that he “looks forward to supporting Puerto Rico” as the territory begins taking steps to reorganize its education system.
Puerto Rico is currently the sixth-largest school district in the United States, overseen exclusively by the Puerto Rico Department of Education. However, having a single organization manage such a large school district has a number of drawbacks, which were greatly exacerbated in the wake of COVID-19 and recent extreme weather.
Puerto Rico decided that the solution to these issues is to redistribute a number of its powers to local decision-making groups. They hope this will give communities significantly more autonomy as they manage their local schools while still reporting to the Puerto Rico Department of Education.
“This plan is an important step in raising the bar to provide students, teachers, school leaders, and families in Puerto Rico with the education system they deserve,” Secretary Cardona said. “The recommendations presented set the course for a transformed system that will ensure resources get directly to school communities and that decisions are made at the local level.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Puerto Rico’s Governor Pedro Pierluisi as he oversees the island territory’s recovery.
- For Secretary Cardona as he supports the reorganization of authority within the Puerto Rican school district.
Sources: Department of Education
