Planning Underway for De La Comunidad Bilingual Charter Public School
Rhode Island's first K–12 dual-language, full-service community school announces roadmap to fall 2027 opening and leadership team
PROVIDENCE, RI, – De La Comunidad Bilingual School (DLC-B) has entered its planning phase following preliminary approval by the Rhode Island Council on Elementary and Secondary Education in January 2026. When it opens in fall 2027, DLC-B will be Rhode Island's first K–12 dual-language, full-service community school, serving 628 students from Providence, Pawtucket, and Cranston. Like all charter public schools in Rhode Island, DLC-B will be tuition-free and open to all students in the communities it serves.
"Our community has long advocated for inclusive bilingual public school options, and we are thrilled to get to work making the vision for De La Comunidad Bilingual School a reality," said Victor Capellan, founder and CEO of Rhode Island Education Collective, which developed the proposal for DLC-B and is managing the planning work. "This school will fill a critical gap in what's available to families and prepare all learners to graduate biliterate, college-ready, and community-minded."
As a full-service community school, DLC-B will combine rigorous dual-language academics with comprehensive wraparound support for students and families, including after-school enrichment, physical and mental health services, financial literacy programs, housing assistance, and adult education. Research shows that dual-language instruction boosts academic achievement, biliteracy, and cognitive development while supporting long-term career and college success. The community school model is proven to strengthen family engagement, promote equity and access, and support the whole child, addressing not just classroom learning, but the full range of factors that shape student success.
The Path to Opening
As the Collective leads the planning work for DLC-B, community involvement and participation will be essential. To guide this next phase, the Collective is convening a diverse planning team composed of parents, educators, community leaders, and partners who bring a range of perspectives and expertise. This team will help shape the school’s vision, academic model, student experience, and community partnerships, ensuring that DLC-B is grounded in the needs, strengths, and aspirations of the families it will serve. Work is also underway to secure a location for the school.
Families interested in attending DLC-B will be able to apply in November 2026 through Rhode Island's charter public school admissions process. Admitted students will be selected through a lottery in spring 2027, and DLC-B will open its doors in fall 2027.
DLC-B’s Leadership Team
DLC-B will be led by two seasoned education leaders with deep ties to the communities the school will serve. Joshua Laplante, currently the Collective's chief innovation officer and previously head of school at The Greene School and principal of Central Falls High School, will serve as DLC-B's superintendent. The school's founding principal will be José L. Valerio, a bilingual educator and former dual-language school principal who has held leadership roles at Providence Public Schools’ Alfred A. Lima Sr. Elementary School and Lillian Feinstein at Sackett Elementary School, as well as Veterans Memorial Elementary School in Central Falls.
“José Valerio is someone who not only understands the research behind bilingual education, but has lived it, led it, and seen its power to transform communities, and Joshua Laplante is someone who not only understands what it takes to design and lead strong schools, but has done so at every level, as a teacher, principal, and head of school, and has seen firsthand how thoughtful leadership can expand opportunity for students and families,” said Carol Aguasvivas, board chair for DLC-B. “We are thrilled to have such exceptional founding leaders for De La Comunidad Bilingual.”
To learn more about DLC-B, visit dlcbilingual.org and follow DLC-B on Instagram and Facebook.
