The U.S. Department of Education has expressed its support for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico's commitment to decentralize the Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE).
"Our goal is to enable the decentralization of our education system so that all our students, as well as their parents, and their teachers, can have the confidence that their school can respond directly to their needs and aspirations," said Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi.
"We want the day-to-day decisions to be made at the regional level and the resources to reach our children directly in the public education system," he added.
According to a news release issued on May 22, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona praised Pierluisi for taking this bold step toward decentralizing Puerto Rico's education system. Cardona emphasized that students thrive when schools are attuned to their needs and work closely with parents, families, and communities.
The department has pledged its assistance in facilitating this transition and collaborating with the PRDE to reimagine Puerto Rico's school system, placing students at the forefront.
As the sixth largest school district in the nation, the PRDE currently operates as a unitary education system, serving as both the State Educational Agency (SEA) and the Local Educational Agency (LEA). The PRDE's decision to decentralize the system aligns with the intention to enable schools to respond directly to the needs and aspirations of students, parents and teachers.
This plan involves shifting decision-making processes to the regional level and ensuring that resources reach children in the public education system effectively.
The Initiative of Decentralization of Education and Autonomy of Regions (IDEAR) will be launched to implement the decentralized model. IDEAR will present a detailed plan to the Puerto Rico secretary of education and governor within 90 days, outlining short-and long-term milestones toward decentralization.
Future development will be done collaboratively, involving students, teachers and education stakeholders to ensure it is responsive to the needs of teachers and centered around students.
According to the release, full implementation of the decentralization process will facilitate the swift and effective deployment of federal resources, empowering regions and schools with increased autonomy. This transformation aims to create greater opportunities and outcomes for students throughout Puerto Rico.
Ultimately, the decentralization of Puerto Rico's education system holds the promise of empowering schools and regions to better serve their students, leading to improved educational opportunities and outcomes for the youth of Puerto Rico, commonwealth educators say.
