RI Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Votes to Approve De La Comunidad Bilingual School and Reject New England Technical Academy

Providence, RI — The Rhode Island Council on Elementary and Secondary Education voted yesterday to approve De La Comunidad Bilingual School (DLC-B), the state’s first K–12 dual-language, full-service charter public school, which will serve students from Providence, Pawtucket, and Cranston. The Council also voted to reject New England Technical Academy (NETA), a proposed early-college charter public high school integrating rigorous academics with high-quality career and technical education (CTE) that was sponsored by the New England Institute of Technology (NEIT),

The approval of De La Comunidad Bilingual School (DLC-B) marks a major milestone for families seeking culturally responsive, bilingual public school options.

“Today’s decision is a win for families who have long advocated for an inclusive, bilingual, public education option,” said Victor Capellan, founder and CEO of Rhode Island Education Collective, which helped develop the proposals for both schools. “De La Comunidad Bilingual will empower students with the language skills, cultural confidence, and academic foundation they need to succeed in college, career, and community life.”

DLC-B will provide rigorous academics combined with comprehensive support for students and families, including after-school enrichment, physical and mental health services, financial literacy programs, housing assistance, and adult education. Students will graduate biliterate, college-ready, and community-minded, filling a long-standing gap in Rhode Island’s educational landscape.

“Research shows that dual-language instruction boosts academic achievement, biliteracy, and cognitive development, while also supporting long-term college and career success for both multilingual learners and English-dominant students,” said Carol Aguasvivas, president of Community Angels and board chair of De La Comunidad Bilingual. “By delivering high-quality dual-language instruction from kindergarten through grade 12, De La Comunidad Bilingual will maximize student growth and prepare students to thrive after graduation.”

As the state’s first CTE public school without admissions requirements, the proposed New England Technical Academy (NETA) would have expanded equitable access for special education and multilingual learner students as early as fall 2026; its rejection, despite offering pathways to college credit and industry-recognized credentials, is a loss for families and Rhode Island’s workforce.

“Last night’s vote was profoundly disappointing, not only for the hundreds of families seeking CTE opportunities, but because no rationale was offered and the process appeared influenced by forces outside the public record,” said Capellan. “Decisions about children’s futures should be made in the open, based on need and quality, not politics.”

“This decision represents a significant missed opportunity for both our students and our state,” said Amy Grzybowski, vice president of workforce development and community relations at New England Institute of Technology and board chair of New England Technical Academy. “At a time when the state faces growing workforce shortages and businesses are struggling to find skilled talent, New England Technical Academy was designed to meet that need by expanding access to high-demand, high-wage career pathways and directly supporting Rhode Island’s goal of building a skilled workforce.”