The Providence City Council has an opportunity to approve a lease that will give more of our city’s children access to a great public school. It’s a win for families, students, and taxpayers—and serves as an example for how district and charter schools can collaborate on behalf of children and families. In today’s education climate, that kind of collaboration shouldn’t be remarkable—but it is, and it’s worth fighting for.
The former Carl G. Lauro Elementary School in the Federal Hill neighborhood has become a costly liability for the city. For two years, the Lauro building has sat vacant and deteriorating, while families across the city have called for more high-quality school options. Starting in August, that could change. If the Providence City Council approves this agreement, Excel Academy, a high-performing, tuition-free public charter school, will lease the Lauro building for 35 years and invest millions of dollars toward renovations. For the first five years of the lease, Excel Academy will co-locate with the Providence Public School District (PPSD), with Asa Messer Elementary School occupying half of the building while the district moves forward with plans to build a new facility.
Partnering with Excel Academy allows the Lauro space to be utilized again while reducing the financial burden on the city and creating new opportunities for collaboration that serves all students. Between Excel’s rent payments, capital improvements, facility costs, planned annual neighborhood beautification projects, and philanthropic support, the total investment coming into our city will be around $80 million.
Excel Academy–which is open to any student from Providence, North Providence, and Central Falls, with the majority coming from Providence–is one of the top 10 schools in Rhode Island for student growth in both math and English language arts. Ninety-five percent of students identify as students of color, and many will be the first in their families to go to college.
Rhode Island Education Collective, a nonprofit I founded to ensure that every child in our state—regardless of their race, economic situation, or where they live—can attend a great public school, is contributing $1.25 million to support the collaboration between Excel and PPSD in the Lauro building. As a product of the Providence Public School District, I’m proud to support an investment that benefits both PPSD and Providence.
This shared space agreement creates a meaningful opportunity for charter and district schools to collaborate in the way they were always meant to—by exchanging ideas, sharing resources, and learning from each other to better serve all students. Placing two strong schools under one roof creates a culture of partnership rather than competition, setting a powerful precedent for education across Rhode Island. Together, these schools can show how alignment between charter and district models can elevate instruction, enrich school culture, and expand access to high-quality education in Providence. It’s the kind of innovative, student-centered cooperation our public education system urgently needs.
This lease agreement also offers clear financial benefits. At a time when the City of Providence is facing serious fiscal challenges, including a request before the General Assembly to raise the local tax levy cap, this plan is a win-win. It invests in our students, revitalizes a neglected public building, reduces municipal costs, brings in private investment to support the public good, and eases the financial burden on the city and taxpayers.
It shouldn’t be revolutionary for a school district and a charter school to work together to do what’s best for our children. I hope what’s planned for Lauro becomes the first of many examples of our city’s leaders coming together to put our students’ needs first and ensure every child has access to the high-quality education they deserve, whether they attend a district, charter, or any other public school.
Victor F. Capellan is the founder and CEO of Rhode Island Education Collective.He was the former superintendent of schools in Central Falls and has been a leader in education for 25 years in various capacities in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York.